In a bittersweet announcement, Randy Stoughton was named as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious John Davis Award. Randy’s niece, Lindsey Stoughton, and longtime friend, Ted Thompson, received the award on Randy’s behalf. This was the 22nd time the Award was presented, and it was also the first time that the voting was posthumously. Randy passed away on January 8, 2023, after a long illness. He was 68 years old.
CEO Chris Chartrand awarding the 2022 John Davis Award to Randy Stoughton accepted by Lindsey Stoughton and Ted Thompson on his behalf.
John Davis, the man who founded The Kegel Company, was involved in bowling for nearly his entire life. At an early age, his father taught him (and all his siblings) how to bowl. That “love affair” with the sport would span more than half a century, as Davis contributed his time, knowledge, and money to help better the sport of bowling on several levels. Even though Kegel was a relatively small company at the time, Davis’s investment in the industry was always unselfish and unmatched. His selfless innovations, inventions and contributions have been well documented, and his leadership in technology and humanity (in the United States and worldwide), made him perhaps the most sought-after figure in the game.
Randy was a USBC Gold Level coach and started at Kegel in 2003. He later became the Head Coach of the Webber International University Women’s team and immediately took them to its first of three ITC Championships. They also won the NAIA Titles in 2013 and ‘14. Prior to going to work at Kegel, he made a name for himself by bowling on the PBA Tour. then being the ball driller for Player Services on the traveling PBA “truck” for a few years before going to work for Ebonite International in the Southern Region. As part of those duties, he was also a Tour Representative for the PBA and PWBA tours. In 1997, he also squeezed in being the PBA Player Services Director on the PBA tour.
Del Warren, Vice President of the Kegel Training Center and long time friend of Randy, said:
“We are deeply saddened by Randy’s passing. He has been a vital part of the success of the Kegel Training Center. Randy was deeply devoted to bowling and to everyone he worked with and coached. He certainly was our gentle giant.”
Randy will forever be remembered by his coworkers for his passion for coaching, the great (real) scientific sport of bowling and for being a tireless worker. It is estimated that in his lifetime, he drilled over 100,000 bowling balls. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Davis’s behind-the-scenes committee work was always welcomed. Because of his vast accomplishments and devotion to the sport, the John Davis Award was established by Kegel to perpetuate his memory. Started in 2001, It has truly become a most prestigious honor that is presented annually to a deserving person (or couple) actively involved in trying to advance the sport. A beautiful, one-of-a-kind perpetual plaque, bearing each recipient’s name, is permanently displayed at Kegel in Lake Wales, Florida.
A celebration of life was held at the Kegel Training Center on Feb. 12. God Bless Randy.
FORMER RECIPIENTS OF THE JOHN DAVIS AWARD
2001 Joyce Deitch
2002 John Weber
2003 Ted Hoffman Jr.
2004 Jim Dressel
2005 Mark Gerberich
2006 Carmen Salvino
2007 Linda Davis
2008 Gary Parsons
2009 Len Nicholson
2010 Walt Steinsiek
2011 Gary Beck
2012 Kim Thorsgaard Jensen
2013 Barbara and Bill Chrisman
2014 Mark Davis
2015 Kevin Dornberger
2016 Chris Chartrand
2017 Lisa and Pat Ciniello
2018 Don Agent
2019 Tom Clark
2020 Frank DeSocio
2021 Dennis Sheirs
2022 Randy Stoughton
