While most people bowl leisurely, George Branham III knocks down pins for a living, and rolled his way into history in 1986 by becoming the first African American to win a major Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) title.
Branham was born on November 21, 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Southern California. His father introduced him to bowling at the age of 6 and his passion never wavered.
In 1984, Branham took his skills to the professional level. Two years later he won his first major PBA title, the Brunswick Memorial World Open in Chicago, Illinois. Between 1985 and 1987, he won eight consecutive televised tournaments—setting a PBA record—including his second PBA title, the AC Delco Classic.
However, for the next six years Branham’s career plummeted. It wasn’t until 1993 after he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana that his game picked back up.
Branham’s victory in the 1993 Baltimore Open qualified him for the annual Tournament of Champions, the association’s most prestigious title. Winning this title in April made him “King of the Hill.”
Throughout his career, Branham won five major PBA titles, scored over 23,300 points, with 23 perfect 300-point games. He retired in 2003 and has since opened a bowling alley in Indianapolis.
For his groundbreaking career in bowling, George Branham III is a Black history sports icon.
(Image courtesy of PBA.com)
The Watter Girl 