Walter Ray Williams Jr.
Williams in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Deadeye |
| Born | October 6, 1959 San Jose, California |
| 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 (8 majors) 16 PBA50 Tour (3 majors) 1 PBA60 Tour 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 6 October 1959) is an American professional bowler and competitive horseshoes pitcher. He has won 47 standard PBA Tour career titles, the most in the tour’s history, and has earned over $5 million in total PBA earnings as of 2022. 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 four bowlers (with Earl Anthony, Mark Roth and Belmonte) to win the award in three consecutive seasons (1996–1998). He won at least one PBA Tour title in a record 17 consecutive seasons (1993–2010).
He also appeared in the ten-pin bowling documentary A League of Ordinary Gentlemen.
As of June 26, 2022, he is the all-time title leader on the PBA50 Tour, with 16 titles. Additionally, he is a three-time PBA50 Player of the Year and has won three major championships on that tour. He has 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 is also a nine-time world champion in the game of horseshoes (three junior titles and six men's titles).