On Nov. 22, 1968, bowler George Branham III beat Mark Roth 195-191 to win the $200,000 prize and Brunswick Memorial World Open championship in Glendale Heights, Illinois. Branham became the first African-American to win a Professional Bowlers Association title.
Born in Detroit, Branham learned to bowl when he was six-years old. He went on to win the AC/Delco Classic in 1987 and the Professional Bowlers Association Tournaments and Firestone Tournament of Champions, both in 1993. He retired at the end of the 2003 season.

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(Photo: Public Domain)