Dick Weber (December 23, 1929 - February 13, 2005) was a famous bowling professional and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). Weber was known not only as a bowling superstar, but also as a bowling pioneer and one of the sport's most popular players.
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Bowling Accomplishments
Weber moved to Florissant, Missouri, in 1955 to form a soon-to-be legendary bowling team called the Budweisers (after the popular American beer brand). Other members of the Budweisers included Ray Bluth, Don Carter, Tom Hennessey and Pat Patterson. The team established a long-standing 5-man ABC league series record in 1958.
In 1958, Weber became a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association, which he subsequently dominated. Weber won his first PBA title in the inaugural 1959 season, and two of the three PBA events held that year. He went on to win 10 of the first 22 PBA tournaments, and during his career won titles in 30 PBA Tour events and six PBA Senior Tour events (amassing a total of 36 PBA titles in both categories). He was PBA Player of the Year in 1965, and earned BPAA National Bowler of the Year honors three times (in 1961, 1963 and 1965). His 30 regular tour wins place him in seventh-place on the all-time PBA wins list. In 1999, he became one of five people to knock down over 100,000 pins in the USBC tournament. In 2002, Weber also became the first player to win at least one PBA title in six decades (counting PBA Senior events).
Weber was also known as a tireless ambassador of his sport, and rarely passed up an opportunity to promote the sport of bowling. One promotion had him bowling the highest (altitude) game ever in "Operation AstroBowl," which took place on a Boeing 707 on January 7th, 1964.[1] This was a joint campaign for American Airlines' Cargo Service. The aircraft used was an all-cargo Boeing 707 with a single AMF lane installed in the main cargo hold. The flight was from New York to Washington's Dulles Airport. Weber also appeared several times on Late Show with David Letterman. He usually bowled into strange items, as requested by viewers. A lane was set up outside the studio and Weber would roll a ball into things like TV sets or eggs.
League bowling in the United States had its heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s, partly due to the influence of pros like Weber and Don Carter. Several PBA pros like Johnny Petraglia claimed to be inspired by Dick Weber: "The main reason I went on Tour was Dick Weber. When I was 14, I saw him do an exhibition in Madison Square Garden. When I left I remember saying to myself: 'I want to be like Dick Weber.'"[2]
Dick Weber is a member of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and both he and his son, Pete Weber, are members of the PBA Hall of Fame. In 1999 Dick Weber was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. The PBA ranked him 3rd on its 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years." Only all-time titles leaders Earl Anthony and Walter Ray Williams, Jr. ranked higher.
Dick Weber died suddenly of respiratory failure on February 13, 2005. He is survived by wife Juanita, 3 sons, and 1 daughter.
Media Presence and Tributes
Weber also produced his own training video called Let's Bowl With Dick Weber. Its blurb reads: "Voted 'one of the best bowlers that ever lived,' Weber has held the PBA presidency and 29 PBA titles in a career that spans four decades. Weber covers all the basics: bowling accessories, proper ball weight and fit, stance, follow through, delivery and release. He even gives tips for aiming and addresses some of the common faults of new bowlers. This unique, in-depth video brings the elements of high-precision sport into your living room so you can practice these tips at the alley and begin building your bowling skills." [1]
The Weber Cup, named after Dick, is a Ryder Cup-style event that pits European and American ten-pin bowlers against one another. It is held annually in England.
On April 17, 2006, the inaugural Dick Weber Tribute was held in St. Louis. Organized by Bill McCorkle, the event attracted many of bowling's top luminaries. The event was attended by over 20 members of the Weber family, representing four generations, as well as over 50 professional bowlers, including champions and members of the Hall of Fame. The highlight of the evening came when Pete Weber delivered a moving tribute. Many in the audience had never seen this side of him before. [2]
A documentary on the life and fame of Dick Weber was released on March 23, 2007, by Live Technologies, Inc. and Bill McCorkle. It consists of interviews with many current and former professional bowlers, family, and sportscasters as well as footage covering Weber's 60-year history as a professional athlete.
References
- ^ Davis, Steve. "A Match Made in Heaven." Bowlers Journal, Mar 1984:86-92
- ^ Chat log of Johnny Petraglia in "Talk Today" at www.usatoday.com, 1/21/05.
External links
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