Aaron Smith USBC Communications

Gene Stus of Allen Park, Michigan, a United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame member, died Aug. 18. He was 74.

Stus, who won three titles in his USBC Open Championships career, was inducted to the USBC Hall of Fame in 2009. He was inducted into the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame in 2012 after putting together one of the most prolific careers in PBA50 Tour history.

Stus worked at General Motors before retiring at age 50 and making his run on the PBA50 Tour. He won 11 PBA50 titles, the fifth-most all time.

He was named the 1992 PBA50 Player of the Year after winning two titles and becoming the first PBA50 competitor to roll a perfect game on TV, defeating Don Gilman, 300-188, at the 1992 PBA Pacific Cal Bowl Senior Open. The nationally-televised perfect game earned Stus a $100,000 bonus from Brunswick.

At the Open Championships, Stus earned his first eagle as a member of the 1987 Team All-Events champion, and found success again in 1990 as a member of the Regular Team champion. At the 1992 event in Corpus Christi, Texas, Stus paired with Dave Bernhardt to capture the Regular Doubles title.

In 25 Open Championships appearances, Stus averaged 201.4.

Stus also was a member of the Taylor Sports, Greater Detroit Bowling Association and Michigan State Bowling Association Halls of Fame.

Services are pending.