Raymond "Bud" Somerville (born January 27, 1937 in

Superior, Wisconsin , native_name_lang = oj , nickname = , total_type = , motto = , image_skyline = Tower Avenue.jpg , imagesize = , image_caption = Downtown Superior , ima ...

) is an American curler. He is a two-time World champion, and five time American champion. Somerville was the first inductee to the

United States Curling Hall of Fame The United States Curling Association Hall of Fame was started in 1984 to recognize and honor individuals and teams that have achieved extraordinary distinction in curling or have made major contribution to the development of curling in the United S ...

in 1984.

Curling career

Somerville won his first American championship in 1965, qualifying his team for the

1965 Scotch Cup The 1965 Scotch Cup was the seventh edition of the Scotch Cup and was held from 15 to 18 March in Perth, Scotland at the Perth Ice Rink. Six teams entered the competition with the final seeing the United States claim an upset victory over Canada ...

, the World Curling championships at the time. His team won the event, defeating Canada's Terry Braunstein in the final, making Somerville the first skip from outside of Canada to win a World championship. In 1968, Somerville won his second U.S. championship. At the

1968 Air Canada Silver Broom The 1968 Air Canada Silver Broom, the men's world curling championship, was held in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Paci ...

(the world championship), Somerville won the bronze medal after losing to Canada's Ron Northcott, 12–2 in the semi-final. The following year, Somerville won his third U.S. championship, and at the 1969 Air Canada Silver Broom, he lost once again to Canada's Northcott, this time in the final, 9–6. In 1974, Somerville won his fourth U.S. championship. At the

1974 Air Canada Silver Broom The 1974 Air Canada Silver Broom, the men's World Curling Championships, world curling championship, was held from March 18 to 23 at the Allmend Eisstadion in Bern, Switzerland. Teams Round-robin standings Round-robin results Draw 1 Dra ...

, Somerville claimed his second and last World Championship, defeating Sweden's

Jan Ullsten Jan Åke Ullsten (born 29 November 1954) is a Sweden, Swedish curling, curler. (look for "Ullsten, Jan") He is a and a two-time Swedish men's curling champion (1974, 1981). In 1980 he was inducted into the Swedish Curling Hall of Fame. Teams ...

11–4 in the final. Somerville won his last U.S. championship in 1981. He once again won a medal at the 1981 Air Canada Silver Broom. He won a silver after losing to Switzerland's

Jürg Tanner Jürg Tanner (born 7 August 1953) is a Swiss curler and former World Champion. He won a gold medal at the 1981 Air Canada Silver Broom, the men's world curling championship. He also won a silver and a bronze medal at the 1982 and 1980 Ai ...

, 2–1 in the final. Somerville also played in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, when curling was a demonstration sport. He finished fourth place in 1988, and won a bronze medal in 1992. 1995 would mark his last World Championship appearance, when he was alternate for his son Tim's team.

Personal life

Bud's son, Tim is also an American champion, having won the U.S. nationals 1995, 1996 and 1999.

References

External links

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USA curl Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somerville, Bud Living people 1937 births Sportspeople from Superior, Wisconsin American male curlers World curling champions Curlers at the 1992 Winter Olympics American curling champions