Dick Weber

Dick Weber

Richard Anthony "Dick" Weber (December 23, 1929 – February 14, 2005) was a 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.

Bowling Accomplishments

Weber made his first bowling headlines during the early 1950s, while working as a mailman in his native Indianapolis. He moved to Florissant, Missouri, in 1955 to join the 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 captured his first PBA title in the inaugural 1959 season, and won three of the PBA's first four tournaments. He went on to win 10 of the first 23 PBA tournaments, including winning seven titles in 1961 alone. During his career, he won titles in 30 PBA Tour events, including four major titles (all in the BPAA All-Star, which later became the U.S. Open). He also captured 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). He was named an All-American ten times, and in 1999 was ranked #2 bowler of the 20th Century by Bowlers Journal. In 2002, Weber also became the first player to win at least one PBA title in six decades (counting PBA Senior events). Bowling mostly in an era of low prize money, he still managed to cash over $930,000 in PBA earnings.[1]

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 7, 1964.[2] 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.'"[3]

Both Dick and his son, Pete Weber, are members of the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and the PBA Hall of Fame. In 1999 Dick Weber was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.[4] 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.

On February 14, 2005, Richard Anthony Weber died in Florissant, MO at age 75. On the day of his death, Weber had just returned from a USBC meeting (United States Bowling Congress) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He showed no prior sign of ill-health but experienced serious breathing problems that evening and paramedics were unable to revive him. The underlying cause of death was not known, but was ultimately due to respiratory failure. Dick Weber was survived by his wife Juanita, one daughter and three sons including Dick Weber Junior.

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 26 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."[5]

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. From 2008 to 2010, the PBA had a tour stop named the Dick Weber Open. In 2011, the PBA named its all-new playoff series the Dick Weber PBA Playoffs.

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.

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.

Weber's legacy also lives on through the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), which now gives out an annual BPAA Dick Weber Bowling Ambassador award. The most recent award winner was Storm Bowling's Bob Hart in 2013.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Clark, Tom. "Pete Weber's resurgence has PBA on edge." Article at www.usatoday.com on March 1, 2002.
  2. ↑ Davis, Steve. "A Match Made in Heaven." Bowlers Journal, Mar 1984:86-92
  3. ↑ Chat log of Johnny Petraglia in "Talk Today" at www.usatoday.com, 1/21/05.
  4. ↑ St. Louis Walk of Fame. "St. Louis Walk of Fame Inductees". stlouiswalkoffame.org. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ BPAA ANNOUNCES 2013 BOWLING INDUSTRY SERVICE AWARDS. bpaa.com on March 22, 2013.

External links