Hank Marino

Who was Hank Marino?

Enrico "Hank" Marino was one of the world's top bowling champions of the 1930s, with a career lasted half a century.

Marino came to Chicago when he was 11 years old and gained prominence on the bowling circuit there before moving to Milwaukee in 1930.Marino originally moved to Milwaukee to open a bowling alley, but joined the Heil Products Team and soon became a global star on the bowling circuit. Between 1934 and 1938, Marino reigned as singles bowling champion, and in 1936, took the All Events Title at the International Bowling Tournament in Berlin, Germany.

Marino was the only bowler of prominence to spin the ball while it was hanging on his thumb. He was selected as the American Bowling Congress Bowler of the Year in 1941, Bowler of the Half Century in 1951, and was later named to Bowling Magazine’s Pre-1950 All-American team.

Marino captured 14 titles, had a high series of 833, rolled five 800 series and bowled 11,300 games during the course of his 50-year career. In 1971, he received the Flowers for the Living award and was inducted into the Wisconsin Bowling Hall of Fame in 1992.

Hank Marino died July 12, 1976, and was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.