Billy Welu

Who was Billy Welu?

William Joseph "Billy" Welu was a famous professional bowler, executive for the Professional Bowlers Association, bowling broadcaster, and a great ambassador for the sport. A founding member of the PBA, he won four PBA titles, including two ABC Masters championships. He was only the second bowler in history to successfully defend an ABC/USBC Masters title, winning the event in 1964 and 1965 to join Dick Hoover. The feat was not matched again until Jason Belmonte won back-to-back Masters titles in 2013-14.

Besides his two Masters titles, Welu also won the 1958-59 All-Star, four ABC championships, and two PBA titles. He was named an All-American seven times. A 1999 edition of Bowlers Journal ranked him #22 among the greatest bowlers of 20th Century.

Known for his folksy midwestern speech pattern and easygoing personality, Welu spent several years as an analyst alongside legendary 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.