Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Williams in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
Nickname | Deadeye |
| Born | October 6, 1959 San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Ten-pin bowling, Horseshoes |
| League | PBA, NHPA World Tournament, PBA50 Tour |
| Turned pro | 1970 (horseshoes) 1980 (bowling) |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | 47 PBA Tour titles (8 majors) 16 PBA50 Tour titles (3 majors) 1 PBA60 Tour title 7× PBA Player of the Year (1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2010) 3× PBA50 Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2019) 9 World Horseshoes titles |
Walter Ray Williams Jr. (born October 6, 1959) is an American professional tenpin bowler and competitive horseshoes pitcher. He has won 47 national PBA Tour career titles, the most in the tour’s history, and has earned over $5 million in total PBA earnings as of 2022. Among his 47 titles are eight major championships. Williams is a seven-time PBA Player of the Year, tied with Jason Belmonte for the most all-time in history, and is one of five bowlers (with Earl Anthony, Mark Roth, Belmonte and E. J. Tackett) to win the award in three consecutive seasons (1996–1998). Williams has the distinction of being the only bowler to win the PBA Player of the Year award in 4 different decades, and is also the oldest player (50 in 2010) to win the award. He won at least one PBA Tour title in a record 17 consecutive seasons (1993 through 2009–10).
He was one of four featured bowlers in the ten-pin bowling documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.
As of June 26, 2022, he is also the all-time leader in PBA50 Tour titles, with 16. Additionally, he is a three-time PBA50 Player of the Year and has won three major championships on that tour. He had rolled 110 career perfect 300 games in PBA competition through 2019.
On December 18, 2016, Williams became the first player in history to reach 100 total PBA titles (combined PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour, PBA50 Tour, PBA50 Regional Tour). Only one player, Pete Weber, has matched this accomplishment. Williams' total is now 131 (with PBA60 Tour wins added). Williams retired from the regular PBA Tour in 2021 but continues to bowl in PBA50 Tour, PBA60 Tour and PBA Regional Tour events. He owns the most combined Regional titles all-time with 67 (35 on the PBA Regional Tour and 32 on the PBA50 Regional Tour).
Williams has had multiple sponsors over the years. He is currently sponsored by Brunswick, VISE grips and Dexter shoes.
Williams is also a nine-time world champion in the game of horseshoes (three junior titles and six men's titles).