Chicago-area bowler first African-American to receive full-season exemption

By Jim Rose

October 5, 2006 (CHICAGO) - When you think of the pro bowlers' tour, you normally do not think of African-Americans participating. Well, that's about to change now and a Chicago-area native is about to start a trend.

Thursday morning, ABC7's Jim Rose met with Billy Oatman, a part-time truck driver, who has become the first African-American to receive a full-season tour exemption to compete on the PBA tour.

Oatman, who idolized bowling stars Earl Anthony and Steve Cook, received hope when black bowlers George Branham and Curtis Odom competed in the 80s and 90s.

Oatman, who led Crane High to the city title and bowled in college is, at 40 years old, as excited as a youngster to finally make it.

"It's actually a dream come true for me. Being out here, this is something I aspired to be all my life. I wasn't fortunate enough to have the finances to be able to come out here at an earlier stage in my life, and I had a good job, but since that's phased away, and I have the time to bowl, and I have a boss that actually allows me to bowl, I'm actually fulfilling my dream," said Billy Oatman, PBA bowler,

"I never actually thought about it being excited because I was the first African-American to be exempt. I've had people accept it, and I've had people kind of reject it, but I will say one thing, whether they like you or not on the professional bowlers' tour, they all give you the due respect that you have coming."

"If I do win, I want to take half of my winnings and put it towards my foundation, which is the Billy Oatman Give Them A Chance Foundation, which will allow me to sponsor young African-American youths to give them their chance to get out on tour."