Dick Hoover


Richard Lee Hoover was an American professional bowler. He won two American Bowling Congress Masters titles in 1956 and 1957, becoming the first player to successfully defend a Masters title. Only three other players have accomplished the feat since. Hoover helped start the Professional Bowlers Association in 1958 with founder Eddie Elias.
Born in Roseville, Ohio, Hoover grew up in Akron. He gained his first fame as a 16-year-old schoolboy by rolling an 847 series, the highest ABC sanctioned series in the nation during 1946. Five years later, at 21, he became the youngest bowler to win the BPAA All-Star tournament. A four-time All-American, he was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame in 1974.
Hoover won his first and only PBA Tour title at the 1962 PBA Colt Open in Baltimore, Maryland. He had 11 top-five finishes and two runner-up finishes during his PBA career.
Hoover owned and operated Dick Hoover's Lanes in Brunswick, Ohio.