The entire Gorman family has made a positive impact on five pin bowling and Don Gorman has become a central figure in the sport today.

Don was born in 1948 and the oldest of four children. His sister Diane, has already been recognized for her on-lane prowess with induction to the players division of the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers Hall of Fame in 1999. Beginning at Aprile Lanes in Scarborough, Don's parents, Audrey and the late Jim Gorman, worked with the youth program that was called The Canadian Junior Bowling Council and directed at Aprile by Verna Jessup.

For Don, bowling became a big part of his life from his earliest days. While in high school, Don both bowled in the Youth Bowling Council at Aprile Lanes and also worked there on a part time basis. By 1970, at just 22, Don took over the centre in partnership with Al Sharpe and ten years later, be was on his own until the centre closed in 1990.

On the lanes, Don began an adult career in the major leagues that included the Saturday afternoon major league and also major leagues on Sunday and Wednesday. Initially, Don joined the teaching division of the Master Bowlers Association and, after one year, transferred to the tournament division and immediately won the aggregate championship in 1973 with a dramatic one pin victory over another Hall of Famer Jerry Carlson. Don then bowled the Canadian championships in Kitchener and won a gold medal at the nationally televised event. Don advanced to the MBAC finals on two other occasions winning a bronze medal. Don appeared on television on several other occasions including the annual Grape and Wine Tournament that was also conducted by the Master Bowlers Association. Don finished third in the stepladder finals on two occasions. Prior to these events, Don, along with Hall of Famer and on-air colourman Ernie Roggie, appeared on mid-day talk shows on CHCH Channel 11 television to promote the event.

While Don was involved in the Masters, his organizational skills were developing and Don joined the MBAO Board of Directors and actually served as Executive Director for the fledgling organization in 1978 and stayed on the board for twelve years. Don became a regular representative at the provincial championships and qualified six times, including four as the singles representative while bowling for Scarborough, Agincourt and Toronto zones. The 1978 Toronto men's team won provincially but were denied national honours in Thunder Bay. Don also won an Ace Invitational Tournament and was a perennial entry in major events such as the O'Connor Open, the Dick Adams Tournament and bowled for twenty years in the prestigious Toronto City Major League. In 1972, Don had one of his best days on the lanes in the Saturday league as he not only bowled a perfect game but added on 1126 triple and 1562 five game score.

While Don was firmly positioned at Aprile Lanes as a proprietor, he took his organizational skills to the Bowling Proprietors Association of Ontario and began a twenty year involvement that continues to this day. Originally, Don was a director and Young Adult Bowlers Association chairman before assuming roles of treasurer, Youth Bowling Council chair and since 2002, the association president. Don's leadership has been noteworthy as his efforts have produced the largest partnership ever for the Bowling Proprietors Association of Ontario with their current arrangement with the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team the Jays Care Foundation.

Don is one of those unique individuals who not only bowls at a high level, but can also administer the league process, can teach the sport to all age groups, and also talk about bowling to the public and the media. As examples, Don has bowled and won nationally, held executive positions in Metro Major League and was president and secretary of the Scarborough Major League. Don not only coached in the youth program but, as proprietor, developed a coaching program for his senior and adult bowlers. On the promotional side, Don was a part of a two cable bowling television shows, at Royal York Bowl with Terry Noon and in Scarborough with Walter Valentan and Walter Heeney.

When Aprile Lanes closed in 1990, Don purchased Rouge Hill Bowl, a sixteen lane centre in the east end of Scarborough. At his centre, Don has continued with his involved philosophy and ran a decentralized association for fifteen years. Overall, Don has been a twenty five year volunteer with the O5PBA and was recognized with life membership by the Toronto 5 Pin Bowlers Association.

Today, Don, who is a father of two girls, a recently married Jamie & also Ronnie, continues to promote bowling. He realizes that more customers have to come through the door and, as well, bowling has to reach out to diverse groups and develop a strong bowler retention program. In his current position, he will certainly play a major role in an effort to meet these goals.