(Born September 29, 1954) In his illustrious Professional Bowling Career, Marshall Holman has done it all. He did so in a manner that characterized him as one of the most fiery, charismatic and sometime controversial figures the sport of bowling has ever known. He is also one of the most talented players to ever roll a ball in PBA competition.
His defining moment may have come on the 1986 Winter Tour. He won his second Firestone Tournament of Champions and a first-place check for $50.000 (at that time it was the largest in PBA history) boosting his career earnings to just over$1 million. In doing so, he became only the third player, along with Earl Anthony and Mark Roth, to reach seven figures in career earnings. The win marked Holman’s 20th career victory, placing him in an elite six-man group that had 20 or more PBA titles.
Holman’s legacy began in 1974 when he joined the Tour as a confident 19-year-old. His brash style was witnessed early when, much to the surprise of his fellow professionals, he predicted victory in only his fourth tournament. Although he only shot a 149 in the final round, his fifth-place finish was enough to make other players take notice. His first “major” accomplishment on the PBA Tour occurred in 1976, when at the age of 21, in his first-ever appearance in the prestigious Firestone Tournament of Champions, he defeated Billy Hardwick, 203-198. Holman went on to capture 22 titles during his career while earning $1,694,554 (which ranks him seventh all-time).
After retirement, Marshall can now be found in the broadcast booth and has made over 100 telecasts during his career. He is also in Special Olympics in Medford, Oregon. When not in the broadcast booth, Holman can be found on the golf course. The PBA Hall of Famer carries roughly a 2-handicap and occasionally golfs on the Celebrity Tour where his best finish is fourth.