Earl Anthony, PBA bowler, 63

["Deathwatch Central" <cdw@slick.org>]

Tuesday August 14 7:38 PM ET 

Bowling Hall of Famer Anthony Dies

SEATTLE (AP) - Earl Anthony, a six-time PBA bowler of the year and its
greatest winner with 41 professional titles, died Tuesday in Wisconsin. He
was 63.

The crewcut, bespectacled Anthony was one of bowling's most familiar faces
when the sport was a weekly fixture on television in the 1970s, and he was
its first player to break the $1 million barrier in winnings.

PBA Tour spokeswoman Beth Marshall confirmed Anthony's death at a friend's
home in Wisconsin, but did not have any other details.

``The Professional Bowlers Association is deeply saddened by the loss of
Earl Anthony,'' the Seattle-based organization said Tuesday. ``He was a
pioneer in the sport of bowling and will be remembered by millions for his
many appearances on PBA telecasts. Our hearts and thoughts are with his
family.''

Bowling great Dick Weber once described Anthony as ``the greatest
speed-control bowler ever to play the game.''

Born in Kent, Wash. on April 27, 1938, Anthony had hoped to play major
league baseball but an ankle injury cut that career as a left-handed
pitcher short.

He joined the PBA Tour in 1963, but didn't win any money and returned to
Washington.

He tried again in 1970 and it wasn't long before the man nicknamed
``Square Earl'' for his crewcut and glasses became one of the top bowlers
on tour.

He earned $107,585 in 1975, becoming the first to win bowler to top the
$100,000 mark in a season. He was named bowler of the year from 1974-76
and from 1981-83. He led the PBA Tour in scoring from 1973-75 and in 1980
and 1983. He retired temporarily in 1984 with records of $1,216,421 in
career winnings and 41 tour victories.

After bowling in just one tournament a year for three years, Anthony
entered 12 tournaments in 1987 but won only $8,850. He then joined the new
PBA Senior Tour in 1988 and won seven titles and another $225,000.

Although his 41 wins is still the record, he ranks 11th in career earnings
because prize money has increased so much since his peak years.

He was selected for the PBA and ABC halls of fame.

Dean Johnson, owner of Park Lanes Family Entertainment Centers in
Hillsboro, Ore., said Anthony had resided in Cornelius, Ore., with his
wife. He moved to Oregon to be close to his business - a bowling alley in
the northern California town of Dublin - and his family in Washington
state, Johnson said.

``He was always a gentleman on and off the lane,'' Johnson said. ``He
maybe didn't have the perfect approach, but he was probably the most
accurate bowler of all time.'' 



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