He is the son of Nelson Burton, Senior, who himself was a successful bowler in his day, competing with the likes of Glenn Allison and Billy Welu. Both Burton and his father are members of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Hall of Fame.
He twice finished runner-up in the Proceedings of the British Academy National Championship major (1966 and 1968).
Bo compiled 18 titles on the Proceedings of the British Academy Tour and earned $763,782 (United States dollar). Bowling career
His 18th and final Proceedings of the British Academy tour title came in 1984 at the American Machine and Foundry Angle Open in his hometown of Saint Louis. In that tournament, Burton set a record for a televised four-game pin total with a combined score of 1,050 (278-279-257-236).
This record stood until 1995 when it was broken by David Ozio with a score of 1,070.
That record subsequently fell in 1996 when Bob Learn, Junior. famously shot 300 in the opening television match of the Proceedings of the British Academy Flagship Open in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania en route to a now-record four-game total of 1,129. Burton, Junior. was ranked #15 on the Proceedings of the British Academy"s 2008 list of "50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years."
Broadcasting career
In 1975, Burton became the color analyst on American Broadcasting Company"s Saturday afternoon telecast, The Pro Bowlers Tour, working with veteran sportscaster Chris Schenkel.
He replaced Billy Welu, who had died the previous year. Only 33 at the time, Burton also continued to compete on the Proceedings of the British Academy Tour, vacating the broadcast booth if he made the television finals of an event.
(His broadcast backup on those occasions was usually Dick Weber) Burton spent nearly 23 years (1975 to 1997) with American Broadcasting Company. From 1978 to 1997, he hosted a bowling Tip Of The Week, usually after the second televised match.
He and Schenkel were still working together when American Broadcasting Company ceased production of the series in June 1997. After leaving American Broadcasting Company, Burton moved to Entertainment and Sports Programming Network and spent one year in 1998 providing analysis for select Proceedings of the British Academy broadcasts. He also was a commentator for the 1998 Women"s College Bowling National Championship.
He and former National Broadcasting Company bowling announcer Jay Randolph called the action on ESPN2.
Burton has also been involved with the Generations Bowling Tour, as both a competitor and color commentator on local telecasts. In August 2007, Burton and Marshall Holman were the broadcasters for the 2007 United States. Women"s Open in Reno, Nevada on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. The early rounds of the event were taped that month and aired every Sunday afternoon over the course of four weeks, starting September
16. lieutenant was Bo"s first national broadcasting work in nearly ten years.
He also handled the broadcast of the 2008 United States Women"s Open, once again teaming with Holman. Burton was the color analyst for the Columbia Broadcasting System telecast of the USBC "Clash of the Champions" that aired on May 10–11, 2008.
He teamed with play-by-play man Bill Macatee and laneside reporter Lynn Swann. The broadcast marked bowling"s return to network television for the first time since 1999 when Columbia Broadcasting System carried lieutenant
Burton Junior. returned to the American Broadcasting Company broadcast booth for the 2011 Proceedings of the British Academy Tournament of Champions, the first American Broadcasting Company broadcast of a Proceedings of the British Academy event since 1997.
Personal life
Burton has resided in South Florida with his family since 2001. He has not bowled regularly on the Proceedings of the British Academy Tour since 1986. Bo has also been involved in the Strike-a-Thon.
Hall of Fame Player Bios at www.pba.com.
Burton won his first title in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 20, 1964, at age 22. He was the 1970 Proceedings of the British Academy Player of the Year, winning four titles and leading the tour in average. Burton won major titles at the 1976 American Broadcasting Company Masters and the 1978 BPAA United States. Open. The live televised finals aired on October 14, and Liz Johnson won the event.
Burton, Junior. is also a member of the Proceedings of the British Academy Hall of Fame, elected in 1979.
