George Branham III facts for kids

George Branham III (born November 21, 1962) is a famous professional ten-pin bowler. He was a member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA). George started his bowling career in 1984 and retired in 2003.

He is well-known for being the first African American to win a PBA Tour title. He also became the first to win a major championship. This big win happened at the 1993 Tournament of Champions. George was the only African American to win a PBA Tour title for a long time. This changed when Gary Faulkner Jr. won the PBA World Championship in December 2015. In January 2025, George Branham III was chosen for the PBA Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted in April 2025.

George Branham III's Bowling Journey

George Branham III started bowling when he was just six years old. His father taught him the sport. His first big achievement was winning the Southern California Junior Bowler of the Year tournament in 1983. The next year, in 1984, George joined the PBA Tour. He was almost named Rookie of the Year.

First PBA Tour Wins

George's first victory came on November 22, 1986. He won the Brunswick Memorial World Open in Chicago, Illinois. He beat Mark Roth with a score of 195–191. This win earned him $33,260. His next title was at the 1987 AC-Delco Classic. He started as the fifth seed and had to win many matches. He defeated two future PBA Hall of Famers, Mike Aulby and Norm Duke. Then, he beat Steve Wunderlich 225–182 in the final match. This earned him $27,000. George set a PBA record by winning his first eight TV finals matches. This record still stands today.

Major Championship Victory

After a few years with fewer wins, George made it to the final match of the 1991 ABC Masters. He played against Doug Kent. The game ended in a 236–236 tie. They had a special roll-off to decide the winner. George scored 28 pins, while Doug Kent scored 50 pins. George finished in second place.

He finally won again in 1993 at the Baltimore Open. He said a tip from his roommate, Randy Pedersen, helped him win against Brian Voss. Winning the Baltimore Open allowed George to enter the 1993 Firestone Tournament of Champions. This tournament is very special because only PBA title winners can compete. George played very well and earned the top spot for the final match. He won the championship by beating Parker Bohn III 227–214. This major victory earned him a $60,000 prize.

Career Highlights and Retirement

After his big win in 1993, George won one more title in 1996. He retired from professional bowling at the end of the 2003 season. He finished his PBA career with five national titles. His total earnings from the PBA Tour were over $747,138. George also bowled 23 perfect 300 games in PBA events. This included two 300 games in a row at the 1995 Peoria Open. In 2025, George was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.

George Branham III's PBA Titles

Major championships are shown in bold.

George Branham III's Life Outside Bowling

George Branham III was born in Detroit, but he grew up in Southern California. He has two older sisters and one younger brother. After retiring from bowling, George started a new job in sales. He works for Pepsi in Indianapolis, where he lives now.