In high school, Shawn Herout began working at a bowling center in Columbus as a mechanic and front desk attendant. As a high school bowler, he met the General Manager of Sun Valley Lanes during a tournament he was hosting. As he was moving to Lincoln to attend college, the manager arranged for him to have a mechanic position upon arrival. Through the years, he has been promoted from a pinspotter mechanic to bartender to bar manager and finally to the assistant manager of the facility. Sun Valley Lanes is Lincoln’s largest and most modern bowling center featuring 32 lanes, a state of the art scoring system and sound system, automatic bumpers, Xtreme Glow-in-the-Dark or traditional bowling, fabulous food and drink options at the Splitz Bar and Grill as well as excellent customer service. They are located off of West ‘O’ Street and Sun Valley Boulevard just two short minutes from campus and downtown Lincoln.
Tell us a little about your family.
I started dating my wife Lilian in 2007 and then we married in August of 2009. She is a cosmetologist here in Lincoln at Mane Street Salon and an assisted living center. We currently do not have any children, so maybe a boxer would make a nice addition!
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
I would have to say shortly after I signed the dotted line to join the Army. That was a different point in my life and the military gave me a push back in the right direction. I’ve had the pleasure of both being led by and leading great soldiers into the theater of operations overseas.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
Just about anything, as long as I don’t have to go into work! Golfing would be on that list, as long as you can consider it a “good day out!”
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know?
At times, I travel around the country for QubicaAMF, a world-wide bowling company, to train other bowling center operators how to use their new scoring system and management system.
What are you the most proud of?
The relationship I have with my wife. Sure, it has its ups and downs, but we can get through anything. Between juggling the bowling center, the military and beta testing and training for QubicaAMF, my wife is usually pretty understanding.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
That advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer, but wish we didn’t.
What is the one goal you would most like to accomplish?
I really want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane…with a parachute of course!
Which talent would you most like to have?
If a talent could translate to a superpower, then it would definitely be teleporting. It always seems like I need to be in two places at once!
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Patience! There are some things that really get on my nerves that probably shouldn’t.
What is your favorite movie?
Inception or the Matrix Trilogy
What is your favorite TV show?
House
What is your favorite Lincoln restaurant?
There are so many, but I would have to say it’s a toss-up between Hu Hot and Yia Yia’s.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Jesus…I really want to figure this thing out!
What is the best way to contact you?
Call (402) 475-3469 or visit http://www.sunvalleylanes.com/.