Bowling: Hall of Fame family affair for Behr

From left: Danny Behr, Brad Bridges, stepfather Tim Hartley, Andrea Behr holding her son Bradley, and Andrea’s mom Susan Hartley. Andrea joins Danny, Tim and Susan in the GDUSBC Hall of Fame this year. CONTRIBUTED

From left: Danny Behr, Brad Bridges, stepfather Tim Hartley, Andrea Behr holding her son Bradley, and Andrea’s mom Susan Hartley. Andrea joins Danny, Tim and Susan in the GDUSBC Hall of Fame this year. CONTRIBUTED

The Hall of Fame is a family affair for Andrea Behr.

Behr – who will soon be inducted into the Greater Dayton United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame for superior performance – will join her mom Susan Hartley (1993) and stepdad Tim Hartley (2015), both inducted for superior performance, and her dad Danny Behr (2014) who was recognized in the veterans division.

“It’s pretty special,” Andrea Behr said. “I don’t know how many people can say they have four family members in the hall of fame.”

While bowling was in her blood, the now 37-year-old spent many years on the soccer field before turning her attention to bowling.

“My average was 149 in the 2002-03 season,” Behr said. “So, even a few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought this was possible.”

But Behr quickly made a name for herself on the lanes. She was earned 11 city titles – all of them scratch – as well as five state titles. She won the competitive Angie Kreitzer Memorial Queens Tournament in 2018 and was a three-time champion of the Springfield Queens Tournament between 2011-2014. She also won a regional and national TNBA title.

Behr has tallied six perfect games and a pair of 800s series and earned a spot on the GDUSBC All-City Team seven times – five as a member of the 1st Team.

Her priorities and time commitments changed with the birth of her son Bradley three years ago.

“I haven’t bowled as much, really only one league a week, since he was born,” she said. “But, as a mom, this is really important to me because I want him to know you can achieve anything you put your mind to.”

Prior to her hall of fame selection, Behr had a tough time pinpointing the accomplishment she was most proud of.

“There were so many great memories,” she said.

But joining her family in the Hall of Fame tops them all.

“It’s such an honor and a privilege,” she said. “I have a competitive nature and bowling is in my blood, so adding this to my bowling resume is pretty incredible.”

Her family agrees.

“My mom cried when I told her,” Behr said, smiling. “They were just all over-the-top happy.”

Behr’s hall of fame celebration may be limited to family for the time being. Honorees are usually recognized at the annual GDUSBC banquet in late summer but plans are on hold for this year’s event as a result of statewide COVID-19 guidelines regarding large gatherings and social distancing.

Hall of Famer Andrea Behr by the Numbers

5: State titles

11: City titles

6: 300 games

219: Career high average

848: Career high series

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