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Family Comes Before Bowling - bowler Nelson "Bo" Burton Jr

Bowling Digest, August, 2000 by Paul Kreins

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All of the Burtons bowl some, but with a home on a golf course, golf is now the true family sport. "My daughter won the club championship and the state championship, and went to Alabama on a scholarship," says proud papa Bo. "My older son won the St. Louis High School sectional and went to Missouri on a golf scholarship. And, believe it or not, my little boy can beat them all."

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Along with talent and desire, Burton credits Brett's practice regimen and training for his success at such a young age. "This summer he'll get up at 5:00 a.m., chip and putt for an hour, hit 400 balls, chip and putt for another hour, hit 400 more balls, then chip and putt for another hour," Burton says. "Then, if there's enough time, he'll play nine or 18 holes. When you combine that routine with a tremendous youth program, it's easy to see how these kids get so good. It's not that different than when we were kids growing up in the bowling center." Burton pauses a minute, reflecting on the state of today's bowling industry. "But you don't see much of that anymore."

He can't help feeling bad about the current state of the sport and the business and the lack of money available to today's pro bowlers. "The last Senior tournament I bowled in--the biggest event of the year--I made the finals, made $1,400, and lost money for the week after expenses."

Publicly, Burton has had a positive effect on thousands of people and young bowlers. Privately, he affected hundreds more in a more direct manner. Over the years he sponsored young bowlers on tour (when it was legal to do so), helped players financially, gave brotherly or fatherly advice, coached struggling bowlers, gave away bowling equipment, and made his home available to every bowler passing through St. Louis, regardless of their rank in the PBA hierarchy.

"I have had so many good breaks in my life," he says. "I really get on my knees every day and thank the Lord for it, and I don't mind sharing it--especially with pro bowlers. I know how tough it is on tour, so that's the way I felt I could help other pro bowlers."

Bowling has been very good to the Burton family, especially Bo. "My late mother once said, `Bo, no matter what happens, remember that that black 16-pound ball has been very good to us. Don't ever forget it, and always be true to it.'" However, despite having been bestowed with every honor the sport has to give, Burton's proudest moment came earlier this year when the ABC included him among the 20 greatest bowlers of the millennium. "It was really special to be recognized with a group of guys who could really bowl," he says.

Bo Burton is enjoying life. When asked what he's doing these days he says he plays golf and still bowls a little, mostly doing exhibitions and charity events with friends like Johnny Petraglia, Mark Roth, and Parker Bohn III. Today, at age 58, he admits he can't beat any of the touring pros, but he still enjoys bowling. "I enjoyed the camaraderie, and I still enjoy bowling with the guys," he says. "I like the tour players. The people we had on the tour were really nice guys."

Family Comes Before Bowling - bowler Nelson "Bo" Burton Jr

Bowling Digest, August, 2000 by Paul Kreins

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