On November 1, 1951, the Miller and Welker brothers acquired the United Cigar Store from Paul Soulges. Renamed Academy Billiards, the establishment featured a small lunch counter and offered billiards, cigars, and candy. In May 1963, Robert S. Welker bought out Henry Miller and became the sole proprietor. The business subsequently incorporated and adopted the name Academy Sports Center, with Robert S. Welker as President and his wife Philathea M. Welker as Secretary/Treasurer. 

The company expanded its inventory to include sporting goods. Robert W. Welker joined the business in 1968 and was later appointed Vice President. The pool tables were removed, and the back room was renovated to accommodate a comprehensive range of sporting and soft goods. In 1983, Robert S. Welker handed over the business to his son, Robert W. Welker, and daughter, Louanne Welker Walsh. Robert W.’s son, Robert J. Welker, also joined the family business until his untimely death in 1991.

Academy Sports Center maintained its family-oriented ethos, with Robert W.’s wife, Catherine L., and daughter, Catherine A., managing the lunch counter. Following Robert S. Welker’s passing in 2000, the lunch counter was removed to facilitate the expansion of the Academy’s silk screening business. Furthermore, embroidery, trophies, and engraving services were introduced, further diversifying the business’s offerings. Additionally, Louanne Welker Walsh’s son, Nicholas Walsh, joined the business in the 2010s. The legacy of the Welker family business continues, with each generation contributing to its growth and adaptation.