Martha Burton, Virginia State USBC WBA Hall of Famer, died August 7, 2006 at the age of 93.  She was the first African-American to be honored as a WIBC Member Emerita and contributed to the sport at many levels for six decades.  She was a perfect example of a woman who lived the vision of bowling for a lifetime. She began bowling in the early 1930s when blacks were banned from membership in the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC). She had no problem overcoming those boundaries. After the "Caucasian Only" rule was dropped in 1950, she bowled in 35 WIBC Championship Tournaments, served as a delegate for 37 years and was a president and director of the Washington, D.C. Area Women’s Bowling Association for more than 40 years.

She contributed to the growth of  The National Bowling Association, through her service as president of the Washington D.C. Bowling Senate; board member of the National Foundation Board; director of the Junior Program; and chairman of the Hall of Fame, Audit and Convention committees, among other committee responsibilities.

Burton's dedication to youth bowlers inspired her to serve as a coach and volunteer for the Washington D.C. Area Young American Bowling Alliance and she also served as a director of the former American Junior Bowling Congress.  In 1984, she was honored for a lifetime of dedication to youth bowling when she received the AMF Helen Duval Award.

Among her other leadership contributions, Burton served as the president and director of the Washington D.C. Area WBA and northern director for the Virginia Women's Bowling Association.

Her distinguished service earned her inductions into the halls of fame of the Washington D.C. Area WBA, Virginia State WBA, Virginia State Young American Bowling Alliance and National Bowling Association.

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