September 29, 2023 Nolan Hughes

Bill Chrisman, the co-founder and CEO of Storm Products Inc., passed away at the age of 74, according to Storm.

Simply put, Chrisman was among the most influential people in the sport of bowling.

“Bill Chrisman was a force,” wrote PBA Commissioner Tom Clark on Facebook. “A visionary. A friend. A businessman. A husband. A legend. His experience, passion, investment, ingenuity, loyalty, anecdotes and wisdom won't be replaced. He was so strong, he'll live in the game, forever.”

Chrisman founded High Score Products in 1985. The company sold one product: a revolutionary bowling ball cleaner for urethane equipment Chrisman developed called “U Clean / U Score Urethane Bowling Ball Cleaner™.”

Six years later, Chrisman brought in Keith Orton to help start manufacturing bowling balls. In 1994, the company adopted the name Storm Products, Inc.

Storm’s innovation under Chrisman — including the first dual-color logo, three-color high-performance bowling ball, to their scented bowling balls — changed the industry.

PBA players from all brands wrote tributes and shared their favorite stories about Chrisman on social media.

Stu Williams described Chrisman as “the most influential person in the sport for the last 20 years.”

Jason Belmonte, who has won a PBA-record 15 major championships, has thrown Storm equipment his entire professional career.

“Bowling is what bowling is because of what Bill did for the game we love,” Belmonte shared on Facebook.

More information on Chrisman’s passing is available here.