Donald James Carter (July 29, 1926 – January 5, 2012)[1] was a right-handed American professional bowler.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he learned the game while working a childhood job as a pinsetter,[2] and went on to become one of the legends of ten-pin bowling and a founding member of the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) in 1958.

"[4] Carter and fellow St. Louis native Dick Weber are widely regarded as professional bowling's first superstars.

[6][7] Prior to the PBA being formed, Carter was known as a dominant bowler in major tournaments of the 1950s, as well as in team play.

[3] In the nine BPAA All-Star tournaments (predecessor to the U.S. Open) between 1952 and 1960, Carter won four times in eight events (he withdrew one year due to injury) and never finished lower than fourth.

[5] With Carter's encouragement, lawyer/businessman Eddie Elias proposed a pro tour to a number of players at the 1958 ABC Open Championships in Syracuse, New York.

Carter enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944, and spent two years as a radarman in the South Pacific.

After one minor league season, he hung up his baseball spikes and returned to St. Louis to take a job at Golden Eagle Lanes.

[citation needed] In 1973, Carter married professional bowler Paula Sperber, who had won the 1971 U.S. Women's Open and had an outstanding pro bowling career.

Carter's first and third wives, Haverly and Sperber, are both in the WIBC (now USBC) Hall of Fame.

[12] Beginning in 1978, Carter appeared in selected TV commercials for Miller Lite beer, which had begun using athletes and celebrities in its ad campaigns a few years prior.