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About Robert
Where do I start.
I grew up in bowling. My father, Jack, was part owner of
Austin Bowl-O-Rama in Austin Texas since the day I was born.
I've actually been bowling since
the age of 2. I bowled my first league at the age of 5, way
before all this "bumper" bowling stuff was invented. I shot
my first 300 when I was 15, during the
1979 Coca Cola Scholarship state finals. I went on to
represent Texas that year, and then it was on to adult
leagues at 16 years old. After a little early
success, I couldn't wait to join the PBA, which I did in
1981, 4 months after graduating High School. From that point
on I had moderate success in my 23
years as a member. I captured 3 regional titles, my first in
1985, where I also shot my first of 18 PBA 300 games. I
spent the first 9 years as a member
bowling part time on the Tour, anywhere from 3 to 10 stops a
year. Finally, after claiming the 1989 Southwest Region
Bowler of the Year, I picked up a
sponsor to try the Tour in 1990 full time. I was fortunate
enough to have early success (if you call 10 years later
early) and captured 2 titles that first full
year out. I went on that year to be ranked #4 in the world,
which for me was an overachievement in my mind. I was voted
a First Team All-American that
year. I went on tho add the 1992 U.S. Open title to my
collection for a total of 3 Tour wins. After several years
of struggle and a couple injuries I finally
called it quits to touring full time in 1997. I went on to
have major shoulder surgery in 1999 and began bowling
lefthanded in leagues just to be on the lanes competing. It
seemed to come very natural to me and I had great success in
a short period of time. In just under 2 years, I shot 3
300's and 3 800's, including
an 856 with games of 278-300-278. Turns out, I have the
highest ABC combined total for right and lefthanded, 1715,
which included an 859 series as a
righty. That's about it for the bowling history.
My off-lanes carreer consists of being in the pro shop
business for over 20 years. From that, I was offered the
opportunity to visit Brunswick in Muskegon
Michigan as a part of a contingent of pro shop guys invited
up to offer up our opinions about todays pro shop business.
After being invited a second time
a year later, I was offered a job as a product specialist in
Brunswick's Consumer Division. That's where I am today,
visiting shops and distributors and
attending bowling events all over my territory, from
Louisianna to So. California. I feel so priviledged to be a
part of this great team, a group that has brought
Brunswick balls back to the top.
I currently live in Austin Texas with my wife of 23 years,
Sherri, and our 2 girls, Michelle and Jennifer. One of my
favorite things to do when I'm not out on
the road is take my girls to their Saturday morning youth
league. It brings back great memories from my youth days,
and nothing is more satisfying than
seeing them shoot 200 or 600 and having a great time. They
really want to be as good as their dad was in his day. I
love it. My other love is the Longhorns
of the University of Texas. Other than bowling, my favorite
sport to watch is college football, and nothing tops when
the Horns are playing.
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