GERRY PERRY
Inducted
1990 - Meritorious Service
Gerry Perry learned to bowl as a freshman at Rancho High School in North Las Vegas. The class met weekly at the bowling lanes on Second and Fremont Streets in Las Vegas. When that class was over, she didn’t take up bowling again until living in Reno as a mother of a toddler. Welcome Wagon came knocking on her door and enticed her with their beginner’s bowling league. Gerry became secretary of her first league and won five trophies that year. She was hooked. Back in Las Vegas, Gerry was asked to serve on the LVWBA Nominating Committee and from that service; it was a short hop to becoming a director on the LVWBA Board of Directors. Two years later she accepted the position of Association Secretary and eventually served as the LVWBA President. Gerry got involved with the youth program, and soon her two daughters were bowling every Saturday morning, with Gerry now serving as their coach. Her daughters both won their share of awards and honors, and that made Gerry proud. There was no question which was tougher, being President of a bowling organization, or being a Mom watching her kids compete; the Mom role resulted in many chewed fingernails. The Nevada WBA soon beckoned and in 1974 Gerry was serving as a director. She began moving up the ladder, eventually serving as Treasurer for six years and President for eight years. In addition to her participation with both the LVWBA and NWBA, Gerry went back to school to complete her education, an effort that would take several years to finish. In 1991, Gerry walked down the aisle, in front of her children and grandchildren, and received her diploma from UNLV. Gerry continues to be active in bowling management, serving on many committees for the Las Vegas WBA, the Nevada WBA, National Women Bowling Writers and WIBC. She was honored by both the Nevada WBA and the Las Vegas WBA for her service by being elected a Life Member of both organizations, and is a member of both organizations’ Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service.