The PBA Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 with eight initial inductees (Ray Bluth, Don Carter, Carmen Salvino, Harry Smith, Dick Weber, Billy Welu, Frank Esposito, Chuck Pezzano) and continues to serve as a permanent tribute to the immortals of the sport. The Hall resides in the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame in St. Louis, and is open year-round for visitors. Membership in the PBA Hall of Fame is determined by elections in the categories of Performance, Meritorious Service and Veterans/Senior. Criteria, which has changed since new ownership took over in 2000, states that to be considered for election to the Performance Category a bowler must:

a) Be retired from full-time competition on the Denny's PBA Tour for at least five years, or reached the age of 50;

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b) Won a minimum of 10 Denny's PBA Tour titles or won two Major titles.

The Meritorious Service category recognizes the tireless efforts of individuals who advanced the PBA as an organization. Those enshrined are persons who over the years have demonstrated service, devotion, ideas and ideals and have made contributions above and beyond the ordinary to the sport of professional bowling.

Finally, candidates can also be elected into special categories the Board deems appropriate. These categories, such as the Veterans/Senior, will recognize players who made a great impact on some facet of bowling. The 81 individuals who belong to the PBA Hall of Fame are truly pioneers who enhanced the sport for millions of bowling fans throughout the world.