Great Curlers in History: Raymond “Bud” Somerville

USA Curling 2001-02 Athlete Biography

RAYMOND “BUD” SOMERVILLE

Coaches: Tim Somerville, Mike Schneeberger, Myles Brundidge, John Gordon, Don Barcome Jr.

Born January 27, 1937 in Superior, Wis.
Hometown Superior, Wis.
Occupation Retired County Clerk, Douglas County, Wis.
Family Married (Nancy), one son (Tim), one daughter (Tracy)
Year started curling 1948
Height 6 feet, 2 inches
Weight 200 pounds

CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

Men’s Worlds:
* 1965 (champion; the first non-Canadian World Champion of the Scotch Cup.)

Memo: USA winner over CANADA in 1965
Team USA - Bud Somerville, Bill Strum, Al Gagne, Tom Wright
Team Canada - Terry Braunstein, Don Duguid, Ron Braunstein, Ray Turnbull

* 1974 (champion. Silver Broom);
* 1981 (silver medallist, Silver Broom)

U.S. Olympic Team – Curling:
* 1992 (bronze medallist, Albertville Olympic Winter Games - demonstration);
* 1988 (4th, Calgary Olympic Winter Games - demonstration)

U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Curling:
* 1992, ‘88 (champion)

USCA Hall of Fame:
* 1984 (1st inductee)

Men’s Nationals:
* Five-time U.S. men’s champion

OTHER CURLING HIGHLIGHTS

* Wisconsin State Championships: 14 championships
* Possibly the only curler in history to have competed at world medal level in four decades - from the 1960’s through the 1992 Olympic Winter Games.
* Chair of the Cystic Fibrosis Charity Bonspiel for the past eight years, raising over $20,000 for the charity.
* Taught midwestern Wisconsin curlers, with Bobby Nichols, through the B&B Clinics, during most of the 1980’s.
* Known throughout his career as a gentleman who al\ways exhibited “The Spirit of Curling” on the ice.

PERSONAL FILE

* Raymond “Bud” Somerville is perhaps the best-known U.S. curler ever. He was the first inductee into the U.S. Curling Hall of Fame, and he skipped the first U.S. team to win the world men’s championship, in 1965. Bud has skipped teams to 14 state, five national and two world championships.

* In his own words: “Both my parents curled, which got me interested and also started in the sport. I started curling in the late forties (age 11) but didn’t start organized league play until 1950.”

* Goals as an athlete: “Most of my goals as an athlete have already been accomplished. ”

* Off-season training: “I work out on my own, mostly in my basement and I also do a lot of walking.”

* Major accomplishments in curling: “14 - time Wisconsin State Champs; 5-time National Champion (1965, ‘68, ‘69, ‘74, ‘81); 2-time World Champion (1965, ‘74).”

* Plans after leaving competitive curling: “I don’t think I will ever leave competitive curling. I will continue to play, but a t a lesser or lower level of competition.”

* Person most influential in my career: ” My father, Ray, who I curled under from 1951-1955.”

* Family members who curl competitively: “My son (Tim Somerville) finished close to the top in the Olympic trials (1992).” Tim is skip of the Somerville team, one of the final seven teams competing for a spot in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

* Other interests: “I enjoy doing most projects around the house such as building, remodeling, landscaping and gardening. I also enjoy traveling.”