Submitted photo: Chris Birnbaum (far right) stands with fellow Iowa State USBC Hall of Fame members from Fort Dodge (left to right): Charla Wilke, Tom Scott and Art Bacon.

Fort Dodge’s Chris Birnbaum was recently named the 2024 Male Meretorious Service Hall of Fame inductee by the Iowa State chapter of the United States Bowling Congress.

Birnbaum has a long track record in the sport, dating back 50 years when he started as a player in the AJBC junior leagues at the Rose Bowl in Fort Dodge. After attending school in Mason City, Birnbaum moved back to town in 1981 and has been an active member of the local bowling community ever since.

Birnbaum has served as a team captain every year since 1982, while also serving in several administrative roles. He was elected the fifth director of the Fort Dodge Bowling Association in 1986, and named president in 1990.

Birnbaum was a president and secretary in the East End Eight League during the mid-1990s, and served as the FDBA Hall of Fame liaison from 1996-2012.

During the merger, Birnbaum was on the transition committee and then became president from 2017-21. Birnbaum became director of the Iowa State Men’s Bowling Association in 2015 as well.

Birnbaum became vice president of the newly-formed Iowa State USBC in 2018, and is currently in his final year as the organization’s president. Birnbaum is also responsible for a multitude of tasks behind the scenes for the Iowa State Open, where he has also competed over 35 times.

As a bowler, Birnbaum is a multi-time local city tournament champion, and has two 300 games and over 50 series scores of 700 or more to his credit. His personal best is 784.

“Chris, a lifelong bowler and promoter of bowling at all levels, helps when and where needed, whether with paperwork or computer work or handling money,” Hall of Famer Charla Wilke said. “His long-time love of the sport here in Iowa and elsewhere and his dedication and service brought us to (the honor).”