All-Army champion in 1991, nine-time qualifier for the Team USA National Finals, Alaska State All-Star team and Fairbanks, Alaska Bowler of the Year, 30 perfect games, which includes back to back 300 games twice, 16 “800 series” and former state record holder for Kansas with an 887 series. This is just a handful of the accomplishments of the latest member of the Alabama State Bowling Hall of Fame.
Scott Huther, a country program manager for the Army Security Assistance Command’s EUCOM/AFRICOM directorate, was inducted July 23 at the U.S. Bowling Congress ceremony in Birmingham. In addition to the State Hall of Fame, Huther joined the City Hall of Fame for Huntsville in June 2009.
To be considered for the exclusive list of bowlers, a member must belong to their local Hall of Fame and be nominated to the USBC. Huther was nominated by fellow bowler and friend Ron Ware, a 1999 inductee.
“Scott is well-deserving of the award,” Ware said. “He’s one of the best in town, and one of the more polished bowlers from the Army team. His accomplishments are unsurpassed.”
Nominees are nominated for either superior performance or meritorious achievement. Huther was the only person named in 2011 for the superior performance category, including male and female bowlers.
“To be selected for the superior performance category you need so many points to qualify based on achievements such as honor scores or tournaments you have won,” Huther said.
Huther’s bowling career started as a junior bowler at age 8 in Rochester, N.Y. Bowling runs in Huther’s family. His father excelled at the sport and his son was an Alabama state All-Star last year. Huther bowls locally in three leagues at Huntsville’s Plamor Lanes and “participates in as many tournaments as I can on the weekends,” he added. Two years ago he joined the Senior All-Star Bowling Association, which hosts tournaments for players 50 years and older from around the country.
“I enjoy bowling,” Huther said. “You can meet people, see friends and travel. It’s just like any other hobby you like to do. If you’re good at it, that’s a bonus.”
Ware and Huther met each other through bowling and have played on the same team for more than 12 years.
“His attitude makes him a good player. He’s very positive on and off the lanes, and that attitude plays a big role in Scott getting to the level where he is at now,” Ware said.
Of all the championships Huther has won, the accomplishment he is most proud of is being an All-Army champion and six-time member of the All-Army team while on active duty.
“Qualifying for your service team and then beating the other services was a great feeling,” Huther said. He continues to bowl in the annual Military Championships held in Las Vegas.
“The championships bring together the best military retirees and it is an opportunity to see many of your old friends from active duty,” he said. “The only difference is I now bowl with three Air Force bowlers.”
When Huther isn’t on the road for a tournament or playing locally with his league teams, he is a country program manager for USASAC’s foreign military sales to African countries. The biggest lesson he has learned from bowling that applies to working is “try hard.”
“Just be the best at anything you do,” Huther said.
Now that he has received city and state Hall of Fame recognitions, Huther will continue playing at a high level in his leagues and at tournaments. Reaching the regional or national Hall of Fame is very difficult and usually obtained by professional bowlers, according to Huther.
“It’s definitely an honor to be included in the State Bowling Hall of Fame,” Huther said. Along with the recognition, he received two plaques, a bowling shirt and jacket. But, he added, “the biggest thing you receive is the honor of being included in this select group of bowlers.”
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