George Branham III
Encyclopedia
George Branham III is a professional ten-pin bowler and former member of the Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA). He began his career in 1984 and retired at the end of the 2003 season. His career is most noted because he was the first African American
to win a PBA tour title as well as win the Tournament of Champions.
195-191 and earned a purse of $33,260.
After a four-year stretch of little success, Branham found himself in the final match at the 1991 ABC Masters
, where he faced Doug Kent
. The match ended in a 236-236 tie, sending it to a 9th/10th frame roll-off. Branham managed just 28 pins in the roll-off, to Kent's 50 pins, and had to settle for second place.
George would redeem himself at the 29th annual Firestone
Tournament of Champions in Fairlawn, Ohio
. His victory at the Baltimore Open in 1993 qualified him to participate in this annual tournament, the most prestigious out of all PBA events because it only includes title winners. Branham's victory over Parker Bohn III
with a score of 227-214 came with a check for $60,000. This helped Branham reach a career high $107,000 in earnings that season. Not only was this the last time the tournament would be sponsored by Firestone, but George Branham III became the first and only (as of 2011) African American to win the Tournament of Champions.
Following this tournament, Branham would only win one more title in 1996 before his retirement at the end of the 2003 season. He finished his career with five titles in the PBA. His total PBA Tour
earnings topped out at $747,138. Throughout his career Branham would record a total of 23 perfect 300 games in PBA events.
with his two older sisters and one younger brother. During his stretch of winless tournaments between 1988 and 1992, Branham moved to Indianapolis, IN. During that time he met and married Jacquelyne. After retiring, George Branham III fulfilled his wishes to stay in bowling any way he could by opening a bowling center in Indianapolis.
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
(PBA). He began his career in 1984 and retired at the end of the 2003 season. His career is most noted because he was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to win a PBA tour title as well as win the Tournament of Champions.
Bowling career
Branham started bowling at the young age of six when his father introduced the sport to him. His first real accomplishment as a bowler came when he won the Southern California Junior Bowler of the year tournament in 1983. The following year in 1984 Branham joined the PBA tour where he was runner-up in rookie of the year voting. His first success came in 1986 during the Brunswick Memorial World open in Chicago, Illinois. He Defeated Mark RothMark Roth
Mark Roth is a former professional bowler. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. As a youth he resided in Meiers Corners, Staten Island, New York City, New York.-Bowling career:...
195-191 and earned a purse of $33,260.
After a four-year stretch of little success, Branham found himself in the final match at the 1991 ABC Masters
USBC Masters
The USBC Masters is a championship ten pin bowling event conducted by the United States Bowling Congress. The Professional Bowlers Association began recognizing it as a title event in 1998, and it was designated one of the four majors in 2000....
, where he faced Doug Kent
Doug Kent
Doug Kent is a right-handed American professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association . In the 2006-07 season, Kent became just the sixth bowler in PBA history to win two major championships in one tour year as he captured titles in the USBC Masters and Denny's PBA...
. The match ended in a 236-236 tie, sending it to a 9th/10th frame roll-off. Branham managed just 28 pins in the roll-off, to Kent's 50 pins, and had to settle for second place.
George would redeem himself at the 29th annual Firestone
Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone in 1900 to supply pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles. The company...
Tournament of Champions in Fairlawn, Ohio
Fairlawn, Ohio
Fairlawn is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States. A suburb of Akron, its population was 7,307 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Fairlawn is located at ....
. His victory at the Baltimore Open in 1993 qualified him to participate in this annual tournament, the most prestigious out of all PBA events because it only includes title winners. Branham's victory over Parker Bohn III
Parker Bohn III
Parker Morse Bohn III is a left-handed American professional bowler and has been a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1984. He currently ranks sixth all-time with 32 career PBA titles, and has earned over $2.7 million in PBA events—good for fourth on the all-time list...
with a score of 227-214 came with a check for $60,000. This helped Branham reach a career high $107,000 in earnings that season. Not only was this the last time the tournament would be sponsored by Firestone, but George Branham III became the first and only (as of 2011) African American to win the Tournament of Champions.
Following this tournament, Branham would only win one more title in 1996 before his retirement at the end of the 2003 season. He finished his career with five titles in the PBA. His total PBA Tour
PBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
earnings topped out at $747,138. Throughout his career Branham would record a total of 23 perfect 300 games in PBA events.
PBA Titles
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Brunswick Memorial World Open | 1986 |
| AC-Delco Classic | 1987 |
| Baltimore Open | 1993 |
| Firestone Tournament of Champions | 1993 |
| Cleveland Open | 1996 |
Personal life
Though Branham was born in Detroit, he grew up in Southern CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with his two older sisters and one younger brother. During his stretch of winless tournaments between 1988 and 1992, Branham moved to Indianapolis, IN. During that time he met and married Jacquelyne. After retiring, George Branham III fulfilled his wishes to stay in bowling any way he could by opening a bowling center in Indianapolis.