Veteran Senior Tour competitor Larry Graybeal of Elizabethton, Tenn., is the winner of the 2009 PBA Dick Weber Sportsmanship Award.
Graybeal, who turned 70 on Sept. 7, 2009, bowled in his 100th PBA Senior Tour event in the PBA Senior World Championship in Allen Park, Mich., in August. The 26-year PBA member won his only PBA title – a senior regional event – in Gastonia, N.C., in November 2006.
“I was kind of surprised, but I’m really honored to have an award with that man’s name (Dick Weber) on it,” Graybeal said.
The former textile printing supervisor fought and beat colon cancer in 2001, which proved to be a turning point in his life. “I decided after that I was going to do what I wanted to do with my life. I’m still at it, still trying to win,” he grinned. He acknowledged he’s a consistent Super Senior casher – the 60-and-older group who don’t cash in the regular prize list, “but that’s not what I’m shooting at.
“I try to be a nice guy,” Graybeal continued. “It’s not always the easiest thing to do when you’re a competitor. I guess you’d call it losing gracefully.”
Graybeal’s selection by his peers was the perfect choice, according to PBA Senior Tour Tournament Director Corey Kistner and PBA Regional and Senior Tours Director John Weber, the son of the award’s namesake.
“I’m really happy to see a guy like Larry win this award,” Kistner said. “He’s the epitome of what the sportsmanship award represents. He’s definitely deserving.”
“On behalf of the Weber family as well as the PBA, I’m really happy the players voted for someone as congenial as Larry Graybeal. All of the players look up to him. He’s just a pleasure to be around. I couldn’t be happier.”
