Bowling, The Wright Way - October 20, 1996 by Don Wright
Waca and Welu - Synonymous with Hall of Fame

"The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas..." should be the theme for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame 1996 induction's. And, the bowling world and all of Houston can be very proud because a Native Son, Billy Welu will be one of seven inducted into that sports shrine.

Welu was born July 30, 1932 and passed away May 16, 1974 and during those years he had a remarkable bowling career. First he had the good fortune to bowl with two of the greatest teams in bowling history, the Budweisers and the Falstaffs, both of whom dominated the '50s. Welu captained the Falstaffs to ABC and BPAA honors. The Falstaffs captured the 1956 ABC Championship at the War Memorial in Rochester, New York with games of 1,017, 1,083 and 992 for a 3,092 total. In 1958 they took first place honors at Syracuse, New York with 1,060, 1,034 and 1,116 for 3,210 total pins.

The first Professional Bowlers Tour (PBT) was in 1959 and was nothing more than a three city hop from Albany, N.Y. , to Paramus, N.J. and Dayton, Ohio. About 100 members made what would now be considered a traveling league. But, nearly all those original members are Hall of Famers. Bowlers like Don Carter, Dick Weber, Harry Smith, Ray Bluth, Tom Hennessey, Welu and the late Buzz Fazio.

Prize money was small then. Three events in the first year had a total prize fund of $49,500. By 1961 the prize money totaled $250,000 for 11 events.

Welu captured the 1959 BPAA All-Star Tournament and was runner-up to Dick Weber in the 1963 tournament.

In 1964 and 1965 Welu won the American Bowling Congress Masters Tournament back-to-back, something no one had done since Dick Hoover in 1956-1957. In 1962 Welu captured the $30,000 Indianapolis Open and took home first place money totaling $4,000.

In 1964 he won the Mesa-Phoenix Open and earned $3,000 from the total purse of $21,500.

Although first place money didn't always come to Welu he always managed to be in the leading money winners category:

Welu left the Pro Bowlers Tour and was a pioneer television broadcaster working with ABC sportscaster Chris Schenkel.

Welu was inducted into the ABC and PBA Halls of Fame in 1975, one year after his death.

On November 14, 1996 in Waco, Welu will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame along with Miller Barber, Don Baylor, Bobby Dillon, Don Gay, George Gervin, and Randy White. If those aren't bright Texas stars, I don't know what else to call them.

Welu's sister will accept the honors and the induction will be done by long time friend and Houston PBA Hall of Famer Bill Lillard. Welu and Lillard are the only two bowlers to be enshrined in this Hall of Fame.

Anyone wishing tickets to this wonderful event may call Patrick Posey at 817-756-1633. I plan to be there and hope to see a full house.