David Codding was the seventh bowler inducted into the GutterAlley Hall of Fame, voted in during the Fall 2012 season. His fellow nominees were Demond Robinson, Janelle "Nellie" (Laube) Lamar, Jason Carpio, Pat Searcy, and Seth Gunderson.

Easily the tallest bowler in GutterAlley history at 6'8", David Codding made his debut in the Spring session of 2001 with the same bright green, 10 pound bowling ball he used in his childhood. True story. It wasn't until the Spring 2003 season that he upgraded to a "real ball" and has been a dominating force ever since. Throughout the course of 13 seasons, Codding has finished near or at the very top with his high average as the best of the best. Five times he's been the Most Valuable Bowler, achieved the #1 Power Ranked Bowler honor thirteen times, and has been a part of five championship teams – Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2009, Fall 2010, and Fall 2012.David's name appears on many of the Top 25 lists, most of the time in the top ten. As of this writing, he is ranked #4 on the Best Bowlers of All Time in our league and is the second Most Improved Bowler of All Time. He's on the Top 25 Bowlers by Win Percentage (6th), Most 200+ Games (3rd), Most 600+ series (3rd), Highest Lifetime Averages (4th), and Most 200+ Games in a Single Season (8th). As a team member, he's contributed to a number of additional and impressive records: he was a member of the 1st and 2nd best teams of all time, was a part of the league's longest win streak (28 games), and owns the best team win record of all time (55-9). When it comes to big individual performances, though, he's shot the 6th highest series in league history (718) but it was his Game #3 score on October 6th, 2012 that forever separated him from everyone else that has ever laced up their bowling shoes with us as he became the one and only person to ever bowl a perfect game in our league.

Quotes about David from members of the league:

Consistent go-to player. I hated bowling against him because a) he was so dang tall and b) you could always count on him to kick ass.He's the only bowler in the league with a 300. Do I really need to say more than that?

My entire team feared him when we bowled. We called him Vlad the Impaler.

It should have been obvious to all that if anyone in our league would ever roll a 300 game, it would be the guy whose Fun Night between-the-legs rolling generates scores that rival the best of bowlers on a normal night.

Way back in the beginning of the league, I conned this extremely tall guy with an extremely childish bowling ball onto the lanes. After listening to boastful tales of the numerous trophies and patches earned during his youth tournament days, I expected huge numbers. I didn't see them. No one did. For years. After an intervention to get him to retire his Fisher Price neon green wonder, our hero purchased his first "all grow'd up" ball and all hell broke loose. Since then I have watched him – both as a teammate and one season as an opponent – crush opponents with his ever-improving Tuesday night performances. Being there when he rolled that perfect game was a well-deserved ending to his long, long journey and why I was the first person up on the lanes to hug the bastard.

And from the inductee himself...

1. What is your personal favorite memory from all your years in the league?

Honestly it is hard to beat October 2nd, but there have been some great memories like: Tap, tap. Slide, slide. Bowling shoe covers. Cheese sticks. Picking up specks of dirt on the lane. Kicking machines. "The Belt" is missing, huh? Slow rolling. Strike dancing. Sasquatch mating calls. Trick bowling. Oh crap, Boy Scout Cookie alert. Sam Adams. 10 pound balls and great VML league friends.

2. What is it about this league that continued to bring you back season after season?

Easy answer – to be able to connect with friends, new and old. Oh yeah, and to beat the hell out of a few leaguers who shall remain nameless. Bob Brunker Good Sportsmanship Award be damned!

3. What does it mean for you to be inducted into the Hall of Fame?

It's truly a great honor. The few that have come before are classics and we all know there are others more deserving of the award than me, but I appreciate it. Thank you all!

It is with great pleasure that the GutterAlley Hall of Fame opens its doors to David Codding, Mr. 300.