RALPH SUTTON MEMORIAL AWARD

BOB WILSON

A Carman Bowlers' Association member since the organization's inception in 1981, Bob Wilson has spent over 25 years dedicating his time and efforts to the sport of 5 pin bowling.

Introduced to the sport by his wife Laurie, Bob first started as a league bowler in 1977. He soon pursued the game further from an organizational standpoint, playing a prominent role in the creation of the Carman Bowlers' Association, and becoming the first CBA Secretary.

He has served in nearly every capacity since then, including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and currently as Fundraising Chairperson, helping raise over $25,000 in our community for charities including the Manitoba Society for Persons with Disabilities, and the Kids Help Phone Line. Along with Laurie, he also spent time as Bantam Supervisor within the Carman YBC.

Bob spent time as Tournament Director for the Manitoba 5 Pin Bowlers Association for 8 years, and he has also served twice on the Central Manitoba 5 Pin Bowlers Association, including a 2 year stint as Secretary, and another 2 years as President. On a more local note, he also served as the 5 pin Host Chairperson during the 1990 Manitoba Winter Games, right here in Carman. In 1988, Bob was named the Central Manitoba Sport Association's "Sport Builder of the Year".

Bob has spent many years as a coach at both the elite and the grassroots level. He has been an important member of more than 10 teams in the C5PBA Open Championships, including a 2003 visit to the National Championships in Surrey, BC. He has also coached youth to provincial championships in the C5PBA Youth Challenge. In 1988, Bob traveled with the Manitoba Boys Singles contingent to the YBC National Championships in Calgary, Alberta. Bob's other visit to Nationals was one of his favorite trips, as a part of Carman's Kids and Golden Agers team, also in Surrey, BC. Other memorable experiences as coach have come with Manitoba Winter Games teams, from both local, and other areas.

Welcome to the Online Home of the Carman Bowlers' Association

On April 28, 1999, with the blessing of his family, the Carman Bowlers' Association established the Ralph Sutton Memorial Award in his memory. The award will be presented annually in recognition of outstanding service and dedication to the sport of 5 pin bowling in the Carman area. In other words, it's the kind of award we should have

given to Ralph.