 Amos
Buford
1998 Greater Flint
Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: BOWLING
Parents: Richard and Abbie Buford
Wife: Kay
Daughter: Nora
Sons: Terrance and Anthony
Amos Buford grew up in Flint, Michigan, and attended Parkland Elementary,
Emerson Junior High, and graduated from Northern High School. He also
attended Mott Community College in later years.
Amos, had an identical twin, Andy, and as most twins, they were inseparable.
In the early 50's African Americans could not bowl in the bowling
alleys. Working as pin setters was accepted, however . Amos and his
brother worked in several Flint area bowling alleys, including 20th
Century Bowling, Down Town Recreation, Dort Bowl, Night and Gale Lanes
and Flushing Recreation. At that time pins were racked manually and
the brothers earned nine cents per line.
Amos and his brother enjoyed bowling against each other after the
lanes were closed. As the bowling alleys began to open up to African
American bowlers, the brothers entered the Moonlight Doubles at Town & Country
Lanes. In one of those tournaments Amos and his brother bowled a 1453
actual. They lost by two pins because of the handicap the other team
carried. The tournament, however, was protested and a month later the
twins returned to win the tournament.
For two consecutive years Amos and his brother won the Moonlight Doubles
at Panorama Lanes. They again teamed up to win first place of $800
at Town & Country Lanes, and as a result of that win, were told
they could not bowl at Town & Country as a team anymore because
they bowled like professionals.
In Dearborn, Michigan, the team of Amos Buford, Andy Buford, Bill
Crawford, Walt Franklin and Ernest Nealey, won first place of $5,000.
From there they went to Troy, Michigan to the Detroit Free Press Tournament.
They were so good at that tournament that they were not allowed to
bowl unless they split up the team. The team was sponsored by The House
of Spencer.
Amos is a member of the Senior Professional Bowling Association. His
highest series is 846 and he has bowled a perfect score of 300 seven
times.
Amos is a pioneer in bowling for African Americans. Congratulations
Amos Buford, you have made your mark in Flint history.
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