Royal Pin Woodland released a statement following the death of Jim Doty on their official Facebook page, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Jim Doty, the former GM of Royal Pin Entertainment and a true icon in the world of bowling. Jim dedicated his entire life to the sport he loved, and his unwavering commitment helped make bowling the thriving industry it is today.
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“Jim was not just a leader, he was the face of our company and a true friend to everyone he met. His passion for bowling was infectious, and his vision and leadership inspired all of us to strive for excellence. He was a true legend in the bowling community and was inducted into the PBA and Indy USBC Hall of Fame for his remarkable contributions.
“We will miss Jim deeply, but his legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the impact he made on the sport of bowling. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
PBA Tour Commissioner, Tom Clark released a statement on Monday;
Very sad news in the bowling world.
PBA Hall of Famer Jim Doty has passed away.
Mr. Doty was the GM of Royal Pin Entertainment in Indianapolis, which includes, most notably from the PBA’s perspective, Woodland Bowl.
We were there just a few weeks ago for the U.S. Open, and as always, it was a pleasure to spend some time with Jim. I greeted him with “Hello, Mr. Hall of Famer.” We talked about how the great renovation of Woodland has been going, and he told me the story behind the center’s logo.
“Do you know why the ‘A’ in ‘Woodland’ is in red?” he asked me, and then answered his own question. “Because, the logo is the shape of a bowling pin laying sideways, and that’s the neck of the pin.”
Once again this year, Jim sat in the front row at the finals, and it was always fun to share the same back-and-forth, fun-loving jabs we have had many times during shows. When a player got a bad break and a stubborn pin wouldn’t fall, I would always jokingly blame Jim with, “That’s Woodland’s pins again.”
Jim would quickly remind me, “The PBA brings its own pins in for the shows.”
Right again, Mr. Doty.
Jim Doty touched many lives through his passion for the game, and he lead great bowling centers and wonderful staffs that hosted many of the most prestigious tournaments ever, not just PBA events.
But Woodland is the only bowling center to have hosted all five of the PBA major championships. And the center’s iconic “Beer Thirty” sports bar is adorned with the PBA champions banners from every player to have won a title there.
So, Woodland is a part of the fabric of the PBA. For most of us, it simply feels like home. This, largely because of Jim Doty, the perfect host. He loved the sport, treated our professionals with the utmost respect, and his business acumen and negotiations were always fair and accommodating.
Thoughts with his beautiful family at this time, and with everyone who has passed through the doors at Woodland and all the Royal Pin centers.
I am very proud that Jim is forever enshrined in the PBA Hall of Fame.
RIP Mr. Doty.
