Most people pursue hobbies as a fun use of time. If you are lucky, you get to be quite good at them.
Andrew Cain, a U-Haul transaction processing director in Phoenix, is better than good at his favorite hobby. In fact, he is now a Hall of Famer.
The U.S. Bowling Congress (USBC), recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) as the country’s sole bowling governing body, recently inducted Cain into its Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service. The prestigious honor recognizes Cain for his astounding bowling ability — he was a five-time member of Team USA — as well as his years of service and dedication to the sport behind the scenes.
Experiences of a Lifetime
For Cain, bowling is more than a fun hobby. It’s in his blood.
“My grandma and great-uncle were both heavily involved in bowling, so it’s almost like a family tradition,” Cain said. “I began participating in bowling when I was 6 years old, and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Cain was a two-time, first-team All-American at Arizona State University and met his wife Jenniferat the Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC). At that point, he knew that he would be involved in bowling for the rest of his life.
“Bowling has taught me countless invaluable lessons, from how to be competitive to how to be a team player,” Cain added. “It’s helped me in every area of my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.”
While Cain has made many memories on the bowling lanes, his favorite experience was during the 2005 American Zone Championships in Costa Rica, when he won the singles portion of the event.
“I was standing on the winner’s podium and waiting for the U.S. national anthem to begin, but there was a technical issue where nothing was coming over the speakers,” Cain said. “So, my teammates and I sang the anthem together! To this day, it warms my heart to think about each of us coming together and representing the U.S. in that way.”
Opening Doors for Others
In addition to his achievements, Cain’s contributions to the sport of bowling include his pioneering work as a member of the USBC Board of Directors, where he served as president for nearly four years. During his tenure, he helped create the International Bowling Campus Youth Development program, which provides young people around the world with opportunities to join bowling leagues, gain experience and learn invaluable life skills.
“When I look back on the leadership experiences that I had with USBC, it’s easy to see how they prepared me to serve as a member of Team U-Haul,” Cain said. “I had to work with many different stakeholders and ensure that they had their needs met, all while constantly problem-solving and ‘rolling with the punches.’ Now, as U-Haul transaction processing director, I draw upon those skills every single day to ensure that I do my job to the best of my ability.”
Although Cain doesn’t bowl quite as often these days, he proudly serves as chairman of the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee and can still be found breaking records on the lanes. In 2017, he rolled a five-game Professional Bowlers Association record of 1,352 pins — including a 300 game — in the qualifying portion of a PBA National Tour event at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.
“If I had to pick the No. 1 thing I’ve learned from my bowling experiences, it would be that life is full of growth opportunities,” Cain noted. “It’s normal for our days to occasionally feel mundane or repetitive, but each day is still a chance to learn from life’s ups and downs, and to use what we learn to become better people. Whether I’m trying to bowl a strike, complete an important U-Haul project or do anything else, I always strive to keep that in mind.”
