Don Johnson (bowler)
Encyclopedia
Don Johnson was an American ten-pin bowler
who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association
(PBA) tour.
Johnson was voted PBA Player of the Year in 1971 and 1972. But perhaps his shining moment came in 1970, when he won the prestigious Tournament of Champions
and nearly achieved perfection in the process. In the televised final, he left a single 10-pin on the final ball for a 299 game. Leaving the 10-pin wasn't as famous as Johnson's reaction to it; he dropped on the floor and left his face down for several seconds before getting up to a thunderous ovation. (His wife Mary Anne was shown crying by that point.)
Johnson won another major title at the 1972 U.S. Open
, and was runner-up in the Tournament of Champions three times.
In the 1980s, Johnson made a successful transition from pro bowler to bowling instructor. He taught bowlers from over 20 countries and produced an acclaimed book/video instructional package on the sport. Among his students was 13-time PBA titleist, Hall of Famer and current bowling broadcaster Randy Pedersen
.
Johnson was born in Kokomo, Indiana
, but spent most of his adult life in Akron, OH and Las Vegas, NV. On March 2, 2008, a PBA Tour stop in Columbus, OH was named in Johnson's honor: the Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic. In 2009, the tournament was renamed the Don Johnson Eliminator Championship.
, Nevada
.
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
who spent many years on the Professional Bowlers Association
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) tour.
PBA career
Don Johnson, a right-handed bowler, joined the PBA tour in 1964. He captured at least one PBA title every year from 1964–1977, on his way to 26 PBA titles in all. That total places him ninth on the all-time titles list.Johnson was voted PBA Player of the Year in 1971 and 1972. But perhaps his shining moment came in 1970, when he won the prestigious Tournament of Champions
PBA Tournament of Champions
The H&R Block Tournament of Champions is one of the four major PBA bowling events. The inaugural event, held by the PBA in 1962, was won by PBA Hall of Famer Joe Joseph. From 1962 to 1993, Firestone Tire sponsored the Tournament of Champions...
and nearly achieved perfection in the process. In the televised final, he left a single 10-pin on the final ball for a 299 game. Leaving the 10-pin wasn't as famous as Johnson's reaction to it; he dropped on the floor and left his face down for several seconds before getting up to a thunderous ovation. (His wife Mary Anne was shown crying by that point.)
Johnson won another major title at the 1972 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (bowling)
The U.S. Open is one of the four major tournaments in the Professional Bowlers Association. The first modern-day U.S. Open tournament in the PBA took place in 1971 and was won by Mike Limongello. With four victories, Pete Weber holds the most modern-day U.S. Open trophies.The U.S...
, and was runner-up in the Tournament of Champions three times.
In the 1980s, Johnson made a successful transition from pro bowler to bowling instructor. He taught bowlers from over 20 countries and produced an acclaimed book/video instructional package on the sport. Among his students was 13-time PBA titleist, Hall of Famer and current bowling broadcaster Randy Pedersen
Randy Pedersen
Randy Pedersen is a professional bowler and color analyst for ESPN's coverage of the PBA Tour. He works alongside play-by-play commentator Rob Stone. Pedersen grew up in Southern California, but relocated to Clermont, Florida in the early 1990s, where he has resided ever since...
.
Johnson was born in Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo, Indiana
Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. It is the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Howard and Tipton counties....
, but spent most of his adult life in Akron, OH and Las Vegas, NV. On March 2, 2008, a PBA Tour stop in Columbus, OH was named in Johnson's honor: the Don Johnson Buckeye State Classic. In 2009, the tournament was renamed the Don Johnson Eliminator Championship.
Awards and recognition
- PBA Player of the Year (1971, 1972)
- Inducted into PBA Hall of Fame (1977)
- Placed #8 in Bowling Magazines 2000 list of the "20 Best Bowlers of the 20th Century"
- Also placed #8 on the PBA's 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years"
Death
Don Johnson died of a heart attack in 2003 at age 62 in North Las VegasNorth Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
External links
Other sources
- Hall of Fame bios at www.PBA.com, official site of the Professional Bowlers Association and Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour