Ebonite

Jan 07, 2009

HOPKINSVILLE, Kent. – Richard Jerome Jr. was not supposed to be bowling that night.

He was just filling in for someone. His league bowls on Tuesday.

But Dec. 22, found Jerome at Brunswick Perry Hall Lanes in Baltimore by fate or luck or fortune, armed with an Ebonite NVD. He rolled a perfect game that night — not a first or even a second. He’d thrown two perfect games in a series before, he said.

The difference on this particular Monday night was that Jerome rolled three perfect games — in a row.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was indescribable. The whole bowling alley was watching me.”

Two leagues were already in play; two more leagues were coming in, he said, making for a full house at approximately 250 people.

“I realized about the seventh frame that it was possible,” Jerome said. “Monday Night Football was on and I was watching that between frames. I was just trying to stay focused.”

The 29-year-old Baltimore man started bowling at age 18 in a league with his parents and although he has thrown other bowling balls in the past, he has found himself more partial to the Ebonite brand. In fact, Jerome said, the majority of his honors have been with Ebonite balls.

“(Ebonite) is all I’ve been bowling with lately,” he said.

The company shares Jerome’s excitement, according to Ebonite Brand Manager Ed Gallagher.

“Ebonite is thrilled with this incredible achievement of bowling a 900 series,” Gallagher said. “And to do it with an Ebonite NVD is just terrific.”

Ebonite International, Inc. District Sales Manager Shawn Morris echoed Gallagher’s thoughts regarding Jerome’s accomplishment.

“(Jerome) is an extremely talented bowler,” Morris said. “… Bowling a 900 series is something all bowlers dream about.”

Ebonite released Jan. 6 its newest ball, The One Pearl; the company has also recently announced the upcoming release of the Magic. The Magic is set to be released in February.

Jerome said he is looking forward to the release of both balls.

“I can’t wait to get my hands on both of those balls,” he said. “I’ve seen The One Pearl roll. It’s really good and does everything they say it does.”

Now that Jerome has a perfect series under his belt he is planning to go higher in the sport. He will start preparing for eastern regionals coming this summer and hopefully begin a new chapter.

“Now it’s like ‘what’s the point?’” he said. “It’s time to try for something bigger.”

Based in Hopkinsville, Kent., Ebonite International is a privately-owned company that currently services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally. The company’s consumer product brands include Ebonite, Hammer, Robby’s, Columbia 300 and Track. Its commercial product brands are Ebonite VanTech Capital Equipment, Ebonite Bowling Center Direct and Powerhouse™. For more information, visit www.ebonite.com.

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