Billy Welu

Billy Welu
Welu in 1955
Born	July 3, 1932 City of St. Louis, U.S.
Died	May 16, 1974 (aged 41)[1] Houston, U.S.[2]
Occupation	Ten-pin bowling

William Joseph Welu (July 3, 1932 – May 16, 1974) was an American professional bowler, executive for the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), bowling broadcaster, and ambassador for the sport. A founding member of the PBA in 1958, he won four PBA titles, including two USBC Masters (then known as the American Bowling Congress) championships.^[1] He was only the second bowler in history to successfully defend a United States Bowling Congress Masters title, winning the event in 1964 and 1965 to join Dick Hoover (1956–57).^[3] The feat was not matched again until Jason Belmonte won back-to-back Masters titles in 2013–14.^[4]

Welu was born to Frank Joseph Welu (1895–1983) and Gertrude Mary Welu (1896–1964); he had a sister Patricia.^[2] He graduated from St. Thomas University and later received a master's degree in education from Saint Louis University.^[1] He played for the short-lived National Bowling League (NBL) in 1961–1962. Aside from his two Masters titles, Welu won the 1959 BPAA All-Star (predecessor to the U.S. Open), four ABC championships, and two other PBA titles. He was named an All-American seven times. A 1999 edition of Bowlers Journal ranked him No. 22 among the greatest bowlers of 20th century.^{[citation needed]}

Known for his folksy Midwestern speech pattern and easygoing personality, Welu spent several years as an analyst alongside broadcaster Chris Schenkel on ABC's Saturday afternoon telecasts of the Professional Bowlers Tour. He was posthumously inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975.^{[citation needed]}