| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | James William Godman |
| Born | January 5, 1946 Oakland, California, US |
| Died | May 3, 2001 (aged 55) Melbourne, Florida, US |
| Alma mater | Tennyson High School (Hayward, California) |
| Years active | 1965–1981 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Ten-pin bowling |
| League | PBA |
| Turned pro | 1965 |
| Retired | 1981 |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | 11 PBA Tour (3 majors) PBA Rookie of the Year (1965) USBC Hall of Fame (1987) PBA Hall of Fame (1987) PBA’s 50 Greatest Players |
James William Godman (January 5, 1946 – May 3, 2001) was an American professional bowler who won eleven titles on the Professional Bowlers Tour, and was the first bowler to win the prestigious Tournament of Champions (then sponsored by Firestone) twice, winning in 1969 and 1973. Godman is ranked 32nd on the list of the 50 Greatest PBA Bowlers of all-time.[1]
He won the 1971 ABC (now USBC) Masters tournament and was also the first bowler in United States Bowling Congress Open Championships history to record three 700 series in one tournament.
Godman was an early adopter of the "cranker" style of bowling, using a cupped wrist to create more ball revolutions and greater power compared to his contemporaries.