ST. LOUIS — Dick Weber (search), considered by many to be among the greatest bowlers ever and a three-time bowler of the year, has died. He was 75.
Weber died in his sleep Sunday night at his home in the St. Louis area, said Steve James, retired executive director of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (search). A cause of death was not known.
Weber had just returned from the opening of the congress' championships in Baton Rouge, La. James spent Sunday morning with Weber, who gave no indication he was ill.
"He was a lot bigger than the tour," James said. "He was probably the best-known bowler worldwide."
Weber was one of bowling's first national TV stars, at a time when ABC broadcast bowling events on Saturday afternoons. He initially drew attention as a member of the Budweisers (search), a five-member St. Louis bowling team that held the record for highest team score for more than three decades.
In 1958, he was a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (search), and he went on to win 26 PBA Tour events and six Senior Tour events. He was national bowler of the year three times, in 1961, 1963 and 1965.
Weber died in his sleep Sunday night at his home in the St. Louis area, said Steve James, retired executive director of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (search). A cause of death was not known.
Weber had just returned from the opening of the congress' championships in Baton Rouge, La. James spent Sunday morning with Weber, who gave no indication he was ill.
"He was a lot bigger than the tour," James said. "He was probably the best-known bowler worldwide."
Weber was one of bowling's first national TV stars, at a time when ABC broadcast bowling events on Saturday afternoons. He initially drew attention as a member of the Budweisers (search), a five-member St. Louis bowling team that held the record for highest team score for more than three decades.
In 1958, he was a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (search), and he went on to win 26 PBA Tour events and six Senior Tour events. He was national bowler of the year three times, in 1961, 1963 and 1965.
