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Bowling Great Billy Hardwick
bowlingball.com continues presenting Editorial articles with this feature highlighting one of my favorite all time bowlers. There are several players I have long admired for a variety of reason other than pure talent but there is one bowler most of you may not remember much about who merits attention.In previous Editorial articles which are now posted in the “BowlVersity” section of this site, I highlighted the careers of bowlers such as Johnny Petraglia and Don Johnson. I wrote an article as a tribute to the great Dick Weber. I wrote about Mark Baker because of his extended and successful modern day coaching career. I wrote about PBA Hall of Fame Laneman, Len Nicholson.
Now I wish to talk about one of my personal favorite bowlers. I would like to discuss a good friend and a bowler I have long admired for his tenacity and work ethic in overcoming physical challenges which could have prevented a lesser person from ever bowling at all. This player is PBA Hall of Fame Champion, Billy Hardwick.
Billy was the first bowler to be chosen to appear in a national TV commercial in 1969 for the Miller Brewing company. An 18-time Tour Champion, Hardwick was named the PBA Player of the Year in 1963 and 1969. He is one of nine men to have won the award more than once. He captured his first tournament in 1963 and won the inaugural Tournament of Champions in 1965.
In 1969 when he took six titles, Hardwick also won the BPAA All-Star (the prelude naming the event the U.S. Open Championship) and was the PBA's leading money winner that year.
Billy ended his storied bowling career with a win in Toledo, Ohio on the PBA Winter Tour in 1976 followed by leading the tournament the following week at the Firestone Tournament of Champions only to finish in second place.
The real story about Billy, however, was his private battle with a serious case of arthritis he suffered from since childhood. At 12 years of age, Billy was told by doctors he likely would not be able to walk by the time of his 21st birthday.
Not being one to give up or give in, Billy battled his ailments and became a prolific bowler during his teen years. And to further amplify Billy’s tenacity, he failed to earn a cash spot in his first 17 tournaments he bowled on the national PBA Tour. Most bowlers would have thrown in the towel after failing to cash in 17 consecutive tournaments thinking that maybe they just did not have the “right stuff.” Not Billy.
In his 18th tournament, Billy made the top 16 finals field and won the event after the match play rounds; earning his first of 18 career titles. Talk about staying the course and believing despite all odds against success.
As a former roommate of Billy’s during my early years as a player, I recall Billy struggling to get out of his bed in the morning because of the pain he suffered from with arthritis. He had to take medication so he could simply move around and eventually get himself ready to face the day. It was not uncommon to see Billy arise hours before he needed to leave his hotel room just to get himself prepared to walk, let alone bowl tournaments.
What we can all learn from Billy Hardwick is that the will to win and the desire to overcome personal challenges goes a long way toward gaining successes in our chosen fields. As a personal footnote, I would like to salute the career of a great Champion and an even better person, Billy Hardwick. Long live Billy!
Thank you.
Rich Carrubba
bowlingball.com
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