PIONEER – BOWLING

Hiroto “Hiro” Hirashima was pivotal in obtaining equal rights and privileges for his fellow Japanese-American bowlers, as well as other minorities at a time when non-Caucasians were not eligible for American Bowling Congress (ABC) membership.

In 1963, he was elected to the ABC board of directors, becoming the first minority to serve on the board. With ABC’s racial barrier removed, he organized nine teams for the 1954 ABC Tournament in Seattle. They were the first Japanese-Americans to bowl in this event.