AT THE TIME OF INDUCTION ON MAY 9, 1998 -- Class of 1998...

SUMMARY

Wayne Kitts bowled from 1947 to 1983. He was an excellent team bowler and won many team championships. In the 1950’s, he often had the high series for the week in Kokomo.

SERVICE

According to Tom Dinwiddie, Wayne Kitts helped many people get started in bowling including Tom. He took aspiring young bowlers such as Dave Turner and John Hurst to team tournaments helping them get off to a good start. Wayne took the time to show them the right way to be a better bowler.

CAREER HIGHS

Game - 288

Series - 716

Average -

BOWLING PARTICIPATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Wayne had at least three 700 series and at least eleven other series over 675.

Wayne won the following Kokomo City Tournament events.

• 1957 Team Actual
• 1961 Team Actual
• 1955 Doubles Actual (1210) with John Dossett
• 1964 Doubles Actual (1211) with Tom Dinwiddie
• 1956 Singles Actual (654)
• 1959 All Events Actual (1813)
• 1951 Doubles Handicap (1353) with Bill Collins

Wayne participated in many team tournaments very successfully. Some of his team accomplishments are as follows:

• 1st place - Delaware Lanes - Indianapolis
• 1st place - Hillcrest Lanes - Peru
• 1st place - Celina Lanes - Celina, Ohio
• 1st place - Hasty Tasty Team Event - Fairborn, Ohio
• 1st place - Hoover Lanes - Dayton, Ohio
• 1st place - B & Y Classic - Indianapolis
• 1st place - Woodburn Team Classic - Woodburn, Indiana
• 1st place - Jay County Merchants Classic - Portland, Indiana
• 1st place - Shammy Burt Team Classic - Toledo, Ohio
• 1st place - South Gate Team - Bluffton, Ohio
• 1st place - Sports Bowl Classic - Middletown, Ohio
• 1st place - Arcanum Team Classic - Arcanum, Ohio
• 1st place - GM Tournament - a couple of times
• 1st place - BPAA Eastern - Detroit Michigan to qualify for Nationals
• 2nd place - BPAA - Middletown, Ohio; Streeter, Illinois; LaSalle, Illinois
• 6th place - BPAA Nationals - Burlington, Iowa (Wayne, Tex Thornton, Tom Dinwiddie, Mike Wikel and Don Johnson)

Wayne also won the following minor events:

• 1st place - South Gate Team - Bluffton, Ohio
• 1st place - Singles - Al Dlugosz Open - South Bend, Indiana
• 2nd place - Doubles - Al Dlugosz Open - South Bend, Indiana with Tex Thornton
• 2nd place - Doubles - Stones Classic - Cincinnati, Ohio (largest entry tournament in mid-US) with Tex
• 1st place - Arcanum Doubles - Arcanum, Ohio with Tex
• 1st place - Al Cohn Doubles - Dolton, Illinois (Chicago suburb) with Tex
• 1st place - Doubles - Huntington, Indiana with Tom Dinwiddie
• 1st place - Sycamore Lanes Doubles with Ed Pulver in 1956
• 1st place - New Years Doubles with Wes DeVee with a score of 1325 in 1958

Wayne was chosen to roll with the Kokomo team against the Falstaff’s in an exhibition in February 1957 and was high on the team with a 627 series.

Wayne tied for first in the Wapakoneta Singles Handicap tournament in 1959 and shot 1022 actual (1062 with handicap) the next year (5 games).

Shot 1489 to lead the Kokomo squad at the Peterson Classic in 1959.

Wayne shot 1655 in the eight-game Peterson Classic in 1960 to move into 4th place with about 10 weeks remaining. Wayne eventually finished in 5th place winning $1500.

Wayne took a half-squad to the Peterson for about 10 years.