Chuck Gardner Selected as 2026 BBIA Industry Service Award Honoree

The Billiard and Bowling Institute of America (BBIA) has named longtime bowling industry leader Chuck Gardner as the recipient of its 2026 Industry Service Award.

A lifelong contributor to the sport, Gardner has built a multifaceted career as a professional bowler, PBA and PWBA ball representative, bowling center proprietor and pro shop operator. Yet it is his dedication to coaching and mentorship that has become his hallmark.

Widely respected for his expertise, Gardner has been recognized repeatedly as a Top 100 Coach by Bowlers Journal International and holds USBC Silver Coach certification. His coaching reach extends internationally, with clinics conducted throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

In 2013, Gardner and his wife, Deborah, founded the Bow4Life Foundation, an organization committed to advancing youth bowling through high-quality instruction and scholarship support. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded close to $1 million in scholarships to young bowlers nationwide.

BBIA President Mark Buffa relayed the news to Gardner, who credited Deborah as the “workhorse of the foundation. You don’t do it for the recognition, but when it comes in, you sure do appreciate it and know that you’re doing the right thing.”

In addition to BBIA’s 2026 Industry Service Award, Gardner is also the recipient of the PBA Tony Reyes Community Service Award (2019), the Alberta E. Crowe Meritorious Service Award (2022) and The Friends of IBPSIA Award (2023). Additionally, Gardner was inducted into the South Carolina USBC Hall of Fame earlier this year.