Parker Bohn III
A left-handed bowling powerhouse who dominated the PBA Tour for decades, amassing over 35 titles with a smooth, relentless style.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American professional ten-pin bowler·Birthday: July 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Parker Bohn III didn't just bowl; he crafted a legacy of consistency and class from the left side of the lane. Turning professional in 1984, Bohn quickly established himself as a force, his high backswing and powerful release becoming a familiar sight in championship rounds. His career is a masterclass in longevity, bridging the eras of bowling with grace and competitive fire. Beyond his 35 PBA Tour titles—a staggering number that places him among the sport's true elite—Bohn proved his staying power by transitioning seamlessly to the PBA50 Tour, where he continued to collect trophies and a Player of the Year honor well into his fifties. His induction into both the PBA and USBC Halls of Fame cemented a reputation built not on flash, but on the profound ability to perform under pressure, year after year.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Parker was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Parker Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Parker's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won 35 career PBA Tour titles, ranking fifth on the all-time list.
- Earned PBA Player of the Year honors twice during his career.
- Captured the PBA50 Player of the Year award in 2022.
- Inducted into both the PBA Hall of Fame and the USBC Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
He is one of only eight players in PBA history to win at least 30 Tour titles.
His son, Parker Bohn IV, is also a professional bowler.
He has also won over 20 titles on the PBA Regional Tour circuit.
“The pins don't care how many titles you've won; they fall one shot at a time.”
