Earl L. Johnson, bowling Hall of Famer

The Minnetonka man, who started the sport at 17, bowled four perfect 300 games during his procareer.

By David Chanen, Star Tribune

Last update: June 25, 2006 - 10:16 PM

Earl L. Johnson, 77, who was inducted into the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 1987, died of cancer Friday at his home in Minnetonka.

He grew up in Tacoma, Wash., where as a 17-year-old he had a 207 bowling average. After serving in the Korean War, he was invited to join Hall of Famer Buddy Bomar's Falstaff Beer team in Chicago. It was considered one of the best teams in the United States, said his stepson, Craig Barton of Champlin.

Johnson helped the team win several American Bowling Congress titles and in 1961, captured the Classic singles. That year, he also was honored as King of Chicago bowlers, an honor that went to the best bowler in the city, Barton said.

Johnson stayed in Chicago through the 1960s before moving to Minneapolis, where he joined the one-year Twin City Skippers of the ill-fated National Bowling League.

Johnson won five Pro Bowlers Tour titles and rolled four 300 games. He appeared several times on Milton Berle's "Jackpot Bowling" show, where contestants competed for prizes, Barton said.

Johnson quit bowling in the mid-1980s and ran the pro shop at All Star Bowl in St. Paul.

Before being inducted into the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, Johnson was elected into the Tacoma Bowling Hall of Fame and Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.

Barton described his stepfather as a very charismatic bowler who threw a big hook. No matter what the conditions of the lanes, he could adapt, he said.

"He was really well-liked on the tour," Barton said. "We used to go on the road with him during the summer. A different state every week."

He joked that nobody in the family picked up his bowling skills. Johnson liked to golf and said that's the sport he should have taken up professionally because he could have made more money, Barton said.

"Bowling consumed his life," he said.

Besides his stepson, Johnson is survived by his wife, Nancy.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home, 15800 37th Av. N., Plymouth. Memorials suggested to the American Cancer Society.

David Chanen • 612-673-4465