John Douglas “Guppy” Troup has officially been inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame as the sole member of the Class of 2026.
The induction took place last night during the 2026 PBA Hall of Fame ceremony in Arlington, Texas.
Troup was selected through the PBA Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, which recognizes players whose careers made a lasting impact on professional bowling. He received the most votes from living Hall of Famers among the candidates on this year’s ballot.
Guppy Troup was known for his flashy style, and his career on the PBA Tour was just as memorable.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Troup moved with his family to South Carolina in 1953 at the age of three. Shortly after, he began bowling and became a member of a team called “The Guppies,” with which he won a state title and set a junior state record. The team’s name later became his lifelong nickname.
Guppy Troup became a PBA member in 1975 and began competing on the PBA Tour the following season.
His breakthrough came in 1978 when he won his first PBA Tour title at the Kessler Open.
During his career, Guppy Troup won eight PBA Tour titles. His most successful stretch came between 1980 and 1985, when he collected seven titles, including three victories in the 1982 season. His final PBA Tour title came at the 1985 Austin Open in Austin, Texas.
Troup also built one of the most accomplished résumés in PBA Regional Tour history. He earned 42 regional titles, ranking ninth on the all-time PBA Regional Tour titles list.
He later competed on the PBA50 Tour, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 2000.
Guppy Troup's PBA Tour Titles
- 1978 Kessler Open – Battle Creek, Michigan
- 1980 Waukegan Super Touch Open – Waukegan, Illinois
- 1982 Miller High Life Classic – Anaheim, California
- 1982 Molson Bowling Challenge – Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- 1982 Northern Ohio Open – Fairview Park, Ohio
- 1983 Quaker State Open – Grand Prairie, Texas
- 1984 Budweiser Classic – Columbus, Ohio
- 1985 Austin Open – Austin, Texas
