Wayback When Wednesday, Vernon Hills, IL (2026)

02/05/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Walter Ray Williams, Jr.

Walter is the most prolific title holder in PBA history having won 47 PBA titles which includes 8 majors and 16 PBA50 titles which include 3 majors. He was the PBA Player of the Year 7 times and the PBA50 Player of the Year three times. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1995 and the ABC (now USBC) Hall of Fame in 2005. /he won at least one PBA for a record 17 consecutive seasons.

He also has won 35 PBA regionals and 27 PBA50 regionals.

He is considered the second greatest bowler ever behind Earl Anthony--and many consider him the GOAT--Greatest of All Time.

And now after posting weekly since January 23, 2022, I have decided to end my weekly posting with this post--it's been a fun 3 years ! I won't close this page down so anyone can go back to it if there is something they want to see again.

I suggest you all go to Jim Goodwin's page who has been posting a daily picture for 2,762 days--over 7 1/2 years ! His posts are from the decades of journalistic bowling work he has done in his career and his pictures are extremely interesting. I commend him for his daily perseverance--believe me it's not easy to do on a weekly basis let alone daily.

Thanks for everyone who followed this page and shared their memories and stories.

01/29/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Earl Anthony.

Earl,, who passed away at age 63 in 2001, was an 43-time PBA champion including 10 PBA Majors--he won the PBA Nationals 6 times ! He also won 7 PBA50 titles. He was a 6-time PBA Player of the Year, and 5-time George Young High Average winner. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1981 and the ABC (now USBC) Hall of Fame in 1986.

There really aren't many PBA records that at one time Earl didn't hold. By many he is known as the greatest bowler ever.

An interesting story--out on the PBA Tour back in 1981 I was coming out of our motorhome and Earl was going towards his so I congratulated him as he had just won the Long Island Open a few days before--it was his 36th PBA title. He thanked me and then said "I really appreciate it--no one congratulates me anymore when I win". It shows you that no matter how wins you've had it's always great when someone acknowledges your latest one.

Next week another picture from a Hall of Famer.

01/22/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from USBC and PBA Hall of Famer Dave Davis.

Dave, who passed away at age 80 in 2022, was an 23-time PBA champion including the 1965 and 1967 PBA National Championships; the 1968 and 1975 PBA Firestone Tournament of Champions. He won the Singles division of the 1968 ABC Championships (now the USBC Open Championships) and the 1995 and 1996 Sr. Masters.

He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1978 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 1990. He passed away December 29, 2022.

Next week another picture from a Hall of Famer.

01/15/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from USBC and PBA Hall of Famer and PBA Founding Member Carmen Salvino.

Carmen is a 17-time PBA and 2-tine PBA50 champion. Included in his 19 titles are two majors--the 1962 PBA National Championship and the 1984 PBA50 National Championship. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975--one of eight inaugural members; and the USBC Hall of Fame in 1979.

Carmen and wife Ginny still reside in the Chicagoland area and Bill and I have dinner with them a few times a year. He's still as feisty as ever--and Ginny the same strong woman she's always been.

Next week another picture from a Hall of Famer.

01/08/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from Larry Laub.

Larry is a 12-time PBA Champion including the 1974 US Open. He won 5 PBA50 Tournaments and was the 1995 PBA50 Rookie of the Year. He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1985 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2015.

Next week another picture from a Hall of Famer.

01/01/2025

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today's picture is an autographed picture given to Red Burnham from Jim Stefanich. You can see Red in the audience sitting next to Jim Fitzgerald who is in the plaid jacket.

Jim is a 14-time PBA champion including the 1967 Tournament of Champions and the 1968 BPAA All-Star/US Open in 1968. He was the 1968 PBA Player of the Year in which he won 5 PBA titles. He also bowled the 3rd TV 300 game in 1974. He won 7 ABC/USBC Eagles and was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1980 and ABC/USBC Hall of Fame in 1983.

After leaving the PBA Tour he joined the PGA Senior Tour in 1992.

Next week another picture from a Hall of Famer.

12/25/2024

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH !

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

I can't think of a better person to feature on Christmas Day than Mike Aulby--a true ambassador for bowling on and off the lanes. You could say what he does for bowling behind the scenes unselfishly with no need for recognition is even greater than what he accomplished on the lanes. Mike was he 1979 PBA Rookie of the Year, 1985 and 1995 PBA Player of the Year, Nagy Sportsmanship Winner in 1994 and 1995. He has won 29 PBA titles and was elected into the PA Hall of Fame in 1996 and the USBC Hall of Fame in 2001 (what an honor for Bill to be inducted with Mike the same year along with John Jowdy and Gary Bower)

This was a picture that Mike gave to Red Burnham (all the pictures I have posted that Terry Yorker gave Bill belonged to Red Burnham). Both class acts, Red (RIP) and Mike both were important parts of the PBA Tour back in the late 1970's to the 1990's and still today.

There is no better bowling person to be thankful for on this Christmas Day.

Next week another autographed picture that a PBA star gave Red Burnham.

12/18/2024

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill. I asked Bill to give me some info on the pictures as Pete was one of his best friends. That is Pete's first wife Mary with him in one of the pictures and Bill soon realized that these pictures were from a very historic win.

This is what Bill had to say:

"This was an incredibly special win for Pete in Syracuse, NY. He missed making the top 24 for match play and I'm pretty sure he tied his doubles partner Tommy Hudson for 25th which was the alternate position for match play. It was important because if someone dropped out the 25th guy would get in. Pete won the roll off with Tommy and got the 25th spot.

One player that made the top 24 didn’t know he had to weigh in his bowling balls and was disqualified so Pete went from alternate to making match play.

The bowler that got disqualified was a young amateur from California who had won a spot to bowl in the event. You would think traveling from the west coast to the east coast to bowl, make the finals only to get disqualified because he didn’t know the rules would have ended his career before it started.

But that blond-haired, beach boy from Los Angeles was none other than the great Randy Pedersen, who went on to join Pete in the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame and Randy becoming the voice of bowling on the TV telecasts.

Now that Pete made match play he took full advantage of this opportunity and fought tooth and nail for every shot (as he always did) and ended up winning the tournament to become the first (and only so far) to win a PBA tournament coming from the 25th spot.

Pete was one of the most tenacious and hardest working bowlers in history--he gave his all on every shot all the time. I was honored when he asked me to present him when he was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 2016 and he passed away in 2018. RIP my friend."

That is Mary, Pete's first wife in one of the pictures.

12/04/2024

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today is a picture of all of the participants of the 1972 PBA Firestone Tournament of Champions. Notice the champions banners in the background--many legendary PBA champions there.

Next week more pictures from this box.

11/27/2024

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today is a picture of PBA legends Johnny Petraglia and Mark Roth. I used a magnifying glass to try to read what is written on the trophy to figure out what tournament this trophy was from and then I could research if it was Mark or Johnny who won it. I'm thinking it had to be Mark as he has on a bowling glove and is smiling. I know Mark would not be smiling if he had just lost.

I am hoping someone can identify the tournament and who won it at Bradley Bowl.

Next week more pictures from this box.

11/20/2024

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" picture is from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today is a picture of Billy Welu, was a founding member of the PBA and a 4-time PBA Champion which included winning back-to-back ABC (now USBC) Masters. He was mostly known as a great ambassador, executive in the PBA and bowling broadcaster as an analyst alongside the legendary Chris Schenkel on ABC's Saturday afternoon telecasts of the Pro Bowlers Tour. His heavy southern accent and easygoing personality made him just as popular as Schenkel.

He died in 1974 at the age of 41 of an apparent heart attack and the PBA and the world of bowling lost a beloved fan favorite. He was posthumously inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975.

Next week more pictures from this box.

11/13/2024

When COVID hit in 2020 and I broke my foot in the summer of 2021, I had time to go through the many boxes of memorabilia we have. So on Wednesdays I post something from "Wayback When".

This week's "Wayback When Wednesday" pictures are from a large box of pictures that Terry Yorker sent to Bill.

Today is a picture of Joan Taylor Schliewenz with award winners from the Metropolitan Bowling Writer--I think from 1982 or 1983 because 1983 was the year Rich Gradley won the PBA Steve Nagy Sportmanship Award, and he was tragically killed December, 1983 in a car/truck accident.

That is Joan with Rich next to her. Next to Rich is Ed Walsh--Bill nor I are sure.

In the second row is Johnny Petraglia, Gary Shultis, and Willie Willis. I'm sure Joan will know more about this picture.

Next week more pictures from this box.

Wayback When Wednesday

02/05/2025

01/29/2025

01/22/2025

01/15/2025

01/08/2025

01/01/2025

12/25/2024

12/18/2024

12/04/2024

11/27/2024

11/20/2024

11/13/2024

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