LHS Graduate Inducted into Bowling Hall of Fame
Carolyn Dorin-Ballard, a 1982 graduate of Linden High School, was inducted into the Professional Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame in Chicago on May 17, 2022. She was actually notified of her pending induction for the Class of 2020, but due to Covid issues, the induction ceremonies were held up for two years. This was “the dream of a lifetime” coming true for this athlete. When her Linden High School World History teacher asked her what she planned to do upon graduation, Carolyn replied “I want to be the best female bowler in the country.”
Carolyn went on to attend West Texas State University in Canyon, TX, majoring in communications and marketing, both of which would help in her career years later. She was a three-time Collegiate All American, while leading WT5U to two national championships. Upon graduation from WTSU, she pursued a professional career in the bowling world. As a professional, Carolyn has 20 titles, was named “Bowler of the Decade” (2000’s) by Bowler’s Journal International, was named “Player of the Year” by the PWBA, is a member of the Linden Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Union County Bowling Hall of Fame, Texas State Bowling Hall of Fame and inducted into the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2001, Carolyn had won seven major titles and made the most TV appearances that year than any other pro bowler. In the meantime, that history teacher had retired and joined a bowling league. She met Carolyn’s mother, Maryann Dorin, a member of the Linden Board of Education at the time, at a teacher’s retirement dinner and remarked “I saw this large poster of Carolyn as the Player of the Year at the bowling center where I bowl; please tell her that she wasn’t meant for past history but preferred to make history and that I am very proud of her.”
Carolyn is married to Del Ballard Jr., also a professional bowler who is a member of both the PBA and the USBC Hall of Fame. For the last ten years, the Ballards have run a fundraising event for cancer research and development in Ft.Worth, TX where they reside. The proceeds are split between Baylor Hospital and Cancer Care. They were awarded the American Institute of Billiards and Bowling Service Award in Cancun, Mexico in May for their dedication to the bowling industry with their pro shop businesses and bowling clinics that they conduct throughout the country, and their off-the-lanes support to cancer research with their Ballard vs the Big C non-profit organization that has raised more than $700,000 to date.
The Ballards have one daughter, Alyssa, who is currently attending Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and is part of the school’s bowling team. She is also a member of the Jr. Team USA Bowling team, and so the beat goes on.
