Roy Buckley
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Buckwheat |
| Born | October 7, 1943 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 4, 2021 (aged 77) Westerville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Years active | 1970–1984 |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Bowling Information | |
| Affiliation | PBA |
| Rookie year | 1970 |
| Dominant hand | Right (stroker delivery) |
| Wins | 7 PBA Tour 8 PBA Regional |
| 300-games | 18 |
Roy Buckley (May 13, 1946 – September 4, 2021) of Westerville, Ohio was an American right-handed ten-pin professional bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association, bowling on the PBA Tour full-time from 1970 to 1982. While on the Tour, Buckley won seven tournament titles, along with ten runner-up finishes and over forty top-five appearances.[1] He also earned over $600,000 in career prize money.[2]
The majority of Buckley's PBA Tour success took place in the 1970s, where he won six of his seven tournament titles. Roy won his first title at the 1971 Winston-Salem Open.[3] Also remembered for being a consistent casher on the tour, from 1971 to 1978, only Roy and Earl Anthony were the only bowlers to earn over $30,000 in every season.[4]
His seventh and final PBA Tour title was conquered at the 1981 Greater Buffalo Sunkist Open, defeating Earl Anthony 213–207 in the championship match.[5][6]
In ABC Open Championships play (now USBC Open Championships), Buckley captured 2 Eagles in 1975 and 1976 by winning team titles on the Munsingwear No. 2 team with teammates Nelson Burton, Jr., Barry Asher, Bud Horn and Norm Meyers.[4]
Buckley was inducted into the Ohio State USBC Hall of Fame in 1988, the PBA Hall of Fame 1992.[7]
Buckley, who had been suffering from stage 4 lung cancer, died on September 4, 2021.[4]
He was posthumously inducted into the USBC Hall of Fame in 2024.[8]
PBA Tour titles
[edit]- 1971 Winston-Salem Open (Cranston, RI)
- 1972 Bellows-Valvair Open (Detroit, MI)
- 1975 Canada Dry Open (Cleveland, OH)
- 1976 ARC Alameda Open (Alameda, CA)
- 1977 Muriel Cigar Open (Cleveland, OH)
- 1979 Firestone 721 Classic (Miami, FL)
- 1981 Buffalo Open (Cheektowaga, NY)
References
[edit]- ^ "Roy Buckley - PBA Stats". mcubed.net. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ^ Direnna, Frank (February 19, 2019). "Westerville South Roundup: Kenzie Gearheart has former pro in corner (grandfather Roy Buckley)". dispatch.com. The Columbus Dispatch.
- ^ "A roundup of the week Sept. 6-13". vault.si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ^ a b c Campos, Johnny (September 6, 2021). "Roy Buckley, PBA Hall of Famer, dies at age 77". pba.com. Professional Bowlers Association.
- ^ Northrop, Milt (February 18, 2006). "Return of PBA tourney gets warm reception". buffalonews.com. The Buffalo News.
- ^ Wolff, Alexander (August 10, 1981). "A roundup of the week July 27-Aug. 2". vault.si.com. Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "PBA Hall of Famers". pba.com. Professional Bowlers Association. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
- ^ "Roy Buckley - USBC Hall of Fame Bio". bowl.com. United States Bowling Congress. Retrieved May 7, 2025.