Marshall Holman (born September 29, 1954) is one of the most fiery, charismatic and, sometimes, 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.
Holman grew up in Medford, the son of eclectic television and radio host Phil Holman. Phil was a great booster of Marshall as he came up the ranks.
Holman’s legacy began in 1974 when he joined the Tour as a confident 19-year-old. His brash style was on display early when, much to the surprise of his fellow professionals, he predicted victory in only his fourth tournament. His fifth-place finish was enough to make other players take notice. Marshall’s 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.
Hollman’s 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, 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 for a career. That win marked Holman’s 20th career victory, placing him in an elite group that have 20 or more PBA titles. Three of those titles came in doubles with Mark Roth. That duo was a long-time powerhouse on the tour.
While still competing, Holman stepped into the broadcast booth, where he became an equally successful and popular analyst. He retired in 2017 after making the TV finals an amazing 116 times.
Back in Medford in retirement, Holman still showed his chops on the golf course where he carried a near-scratch handicap. Marshall Holman is a member of PBA Hall of Fame, the USBC Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.