Walter Ray Williams Jr.

Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Williams in 2016
Personal information
NicknameDeadeye[1]
Born (1959-10-06) October 6, 1959 (age 65)
San Jose, California
Years active1970–present
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportTen-pin bowling, Horseshoes
LeaguePBA, NHPA World Tournament, PBA50 Tour
Turned pro1970 (horseshoes)
1980 (bowling)
Achievements and titles
National finals47 PBA Tour (8 majors)
16 PBA50 Tour (3 majors)
1 PBA60 Tour
7× PBA Player of the Year (1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2010)
3× PBA50 Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2019)
9 World Horseshoes titles

Walter Ray Williams Jr. (born October 6, 1959) is an American professional bowler and competitive horseshoes pitcher. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles (47), and total PBA earnings (over $5 million through 2022).[2] He is a seven-time PBA Player of the Year (tied with Jason Belmonte for the most all-time), and won at least one PBA Tour title in a record 17 consecutive seasons (1993 through 2009–10).[3] He starred in the ten-pin bowling sports documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen. As of June 26, 2022, Williams is also the all-time title leader on the PBA50 Tour, with 16. He is a three-time PBA50 Player of the Year, and has won three majors on that Tour. He has rolled 110 career perfect 300 games in PBA competition through 2019.[4]

On December 18, 2016, Williams became the first player in history to reach 100 total PBA titles (combined PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour, PBA50 Tour, PBA50 Regional Tour).[5] Only one player, Pete Weber, has matched this feat. Williams' total is now at 126 (with PBA60 Tour wins added) following his first PBA60 Tour win on July 5, 2023.[6][7][8] Williams retired from the regular PBA Tour in 2021, but continues to bowl in PBA50 Tour, PBA60 Tour and PBA Regional Tour events. He owns the most combined Regional titles all-time with 62 (35 on the PBA Regional Tour and 27 on the PBA50 Regional Tour).[9]

Williams is also a nine-time world champion[10] in the game of horseshoes (three junior titles and six men's titles).[11]

Williams has had multiple sponsorships over his professional career and is currently a member of the Brunswick pro staff.[12]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference PBA_deadeye_20230313 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Westside News - Walter Ray Williams Jr. passes Earl Anthony with 42nd PBA title Archived 2008-05-03 at the Wayback Machine. 2006-09-27. Accessed 2007-08-22.
  3. ^ "Walter Ray Williams - Next Level Bowling Bio". nextlevelbowling.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference pbaprofile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Vint, Bill (December 18, 2016). "Walter Ray Williams Jr. First to Reach 100 PBA Titles with Win in PBA/PBA50/PBA60 Baker Trios Event". pba.com. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  6. ^ Vint, Bill (April 17, 2018). "HOFer Walter Ray Williams Jr. Among 16 Finalists in Port Property Management PBA Maine Shootout". pba.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Vint, Bill (April 26, 2019). "PBA Spare Shots: Every Tournament Means a New PBA Record for Walter Ray Williams Jr". pba.com. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  8. ^ Winters, Jill (July 5, 2023). "WALTER RAY WILLIAMS JR. WINS FIRST PBA60 TITLE AT TRISTAN'S T.A.P.S. MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT". pba.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Kaufman, Chase (December 30, 2022). "PBA REGIONAL RECAP: WILLIAMS JR. WINS 62ND REGIONAL TITLE IN FINAL EVENT OF YEAR, RPI ON DECK". pba.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "www.hickoksports.com/history/worldhorseshoechamps.shtml". Archived from the original on 2011-12-23.
  11. ^ "How to Pitch Horseshoes." "About the Actor" bio at www.amazon.com
  12. ^ "Brunswick Pros". brunswickbowling.com. Retrieved August 25, 2022.