Cecil Tugwell - Passes Away

watchez

watchez

What time is it?
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My friend from California just called and let me know that Cecil Tugwell has passed away. Well 99% confirmed. Cecil's life was pretty much a sad state of affairs in recent years, more so than ever - he was barred from all the pool rooms in California, at one time was basically living in the parking lot of one of the pool rooms. Lately could just be seen hanging around outside one of the pool rooms on any given day. My friend described it like as if you were seeing Willie Mays stand there basically begging on your way into a baseball stadium.

To me, when I saw Cecil play, he was a pure one pocket genius. He would shoot shots that no one else saw and moved the cue ball 3 or 4 rails around the table to get shape after making a shot better than anyone I have ever seen play. Amazing how he got to play at such a high level with his opposite hand.

When he first came to St Louis, it was pure comedy. He tried to disguise himself with a blonde wig and trench coat. He was trying to match up and someone pulled out the current issue of Billiards Digest where it showed that Cecil had just defeated Efren to win a big one pocket title. Cecil looked at the picture and said, 'That's not me - that is just someone that looks like me' :)

RIP Cecil.

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watchez said:
My friend from California just called and let me know that Cecil Tugwell has passed away. Well 99% confirmed. Cecil's life was pretty much a sad state of affairs in recent years, more so than ever - he was barred from all the pool rooms in California, at one time was basically living in the parking lot of one of the pool rooms. Lately could just be seen hanging around outside one of the pool rooms on any given day. My friend described it like as if you were seeing Willie Mays stand there basically begging on your way into a baseball stadium.

To me, when I saw Cecil play, he was a pure one pocket genius. He would shoot shots that no one else saw and moved the cue ball 3 or 4 rails around the table to get shape after making a shot better than anyone I have ever seen play. Amazing how he got to play at such a high level with his opposite hand.

When he first came to St Louis, it was pure comedy. He tried to disguise himself with a blonde wig and trench coat. He was trying to match up and someone pulled out the current issue of Billiards Digest where it showed that Cecil had just defeated Efren to win a big one pocket title. Cecil looked at the picture and said, 'That's not me - that is just someone that looks like me' :)

RIP Cecil.

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That's very sad. Cecil was an incredibly talented player, but battled many demons.

I remember him, first off from the time he spent living in St. Louis for a while, reputedly working for (of all things) the manufacturer of a breathalyze (not sure that is 100% correct). He played opposite-handed from his natural because of some misfortune (shoulder?) a few years earlier. I recall one night, Varner was in town giving the locals spots like 15-5, and Cecil matched up with him at Harold's place, a 1pocket race for $500 with a small spot (maybe a ball or two) and won.

I played him in Vegas at a tournament at Toby's place a few years back, like the second or third round, and he came to the table stoned out of his gills. Eyes blood shot, hanging onto the rails, and had to ask me several times which pocket was his. But he was still incredible and kicked-banked, and carom combo-ed, and two-railed balls like they were all hangers and won.

He was, no doubt, and incredible player. RIP.

Lou Figueroa
 
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Burned a few with em yrs...........ago, probably the best stoner player for the dough....wonderful engaging person to be around.
 
Photo credit

The photo in the OP was taken by Mike Haines at a Reds Tournament in the mid 1980s.
 
RIP Cecil. Never saw him play other handed, but I did remember him setting up with the cue all bridged up in the air before setting on the table. It was as if he never quite got used to playing opposite handed even though he played competitively. :cool:
 
Sad to hear any person dies, but I liked Cecil. I used to give him rides 'home' when he would ride from Carson to Hardtimes and stay too late. We'd gamble cheap, and he'd also give me a few pointers, knowing that the next time would be a little tougher with that knowledge. He was part crazy, part genius, and very talented.
 
I was at Hard Times In Bellflower one day in the Summer of 1996, and wanted to play some cheap One Pocket. This guy comes up to the front door riding his Bicycle holding a cue, and asks if I wanted to play some One Hole. It was early afternoon, and no other games were available at the time, so I said LET'S PLAY!

So thinking I am gonna win ME some lunch money, we start to play. First game I got this guy in a trap and he kicks 3 rails, and gets dead safe hooks me back with a ball near his hole, Knowing I might be in for a tough game, I knew I had a monster on my hands. 8 GAMES and about 2 hours later, I was $80 lighter in my wallet and this is when I got to meet the great Lefty Cecil Tugwell. Great Player and played HARD for the dough! That guy was SOLID.

I went back to play him again from time to time, Never saw a guy play harder for 5 or 10 bucks a game. He was fun to play, showed me how to get out of traps back then, I still take a foul like he showed me 15 years ago when I get in trouble. Rest in Peace Cecil. The One Pocket World loved to see you in action.........
 
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My experience was about the same in 95. I shot and stumbled myself into winning the first game. Then came the storm. Roasted my bum. I felt humbled

RIP Mr. T.

actioncentral said:
I was at Hard Times In Bellflower one day in the Summer of 1996, and wanted to play some cheap One Pocket. This guy comes up to the front door riding his Bicycle holding a cue, and asks if I wanted to play some One Hole. It was early afternoon, and no other games were available at the time, so I said LET'S PLAY!

So thinking I am gonna win ME some lunch money, we start to play. First game I got this guy in a trap and he kicks 3 rails, and gets dead safe hooks me back with a ball near his hole, Knowing I might be in for a tough game, I knew I had a monster on my hands. 8 GAMES and about 2 hours later, I was $80 lighter in my wallet and this is when I got to meet the great Lefty Cecil Tugwell. Great Player and played HARD for the dough! That guy was SOLID.

I went back to play him again from time to time, Never saw a guy play harder for 5 or 10 bucks a game. He was fun to play, showed me how to get out of traps back then, I still take a foul like he showed me 15 years ago when I get in trouble. Rest in Peace Cecil. The One Pocket World loved to see you in action.........
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RIP Cecil.

I was lucky to have seen him play right handed at the Rack in Detroit in the early 70's, but I was too young and stupid to know what I was seeing :(. I did get to play him at Hardtimes during a Sunday tournament maybe 6 years ago while there for business and that was a great thrill.

Peace.

Dave
 
It is cool that the guys that knew him share a few moments of his life. I did not ever see him play and it sounds like I am one of the unlucky ones.
R.I.P.
 
Josh Palmer said:
Sad to hear any person dies, but I liked Cecil. I used to give him rides 'home' when he would ride from Carson to Hardtimes and stay too late. We'd gamble cheap, and he'd also give me a few pointers, knowing that the next time would be a little tougher with that knowledge. He was part crazy, part genius, and very talented.
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Best description of Cecil I have heard.

He could be the nicest guy around and then go off about nothing.

One of the few guys around LA I would not match up with under any circumstances, He played too good for me and this was after he switched hands.

R.I.P. Cecil
 
I remember Cecil from Hollywood & Western. In the very early 80's, he never really looked comfortable shooting lefty, but he was one of the greatest players I've ever played. I was too young and dumb to understand the world class one pocket being played by him when he was playing Joe the Back or Freddie Guarino. I hope he's at peace.
 
Cecil was a right-handed player but an "accident" forced him to learn to play lefty. Within very little time he once again became a top notch player, shooting opposite hand. He was super smart at One-Pocket.

I'll never forget the time a friend of mine was covering a pool tournament for an LA pool newpaper and wanted to take a picture of the top finishers. Cecil had won the event but he told my friend, "You get that camera outta here!!" He was serious too. He had no need to be recognized by the pool community.
 
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