I played Jack in the finals of a big table event at Cue Times in Bowling Green KY in 1990 - the Cave Country Classic. I hadn't been playing much, but the owner invited me up from my hometown in TN.  I stopped off in Nashville and practiced for 4 hours on a 9-footer to see if I could still make a ball on a big table.  I had met Jack once before and had dinner with him at the Glass City Open on one occasion - where he told me some stories about himself.  Yes, quite a character.  In the '80s I was aware he had made the finals of the old Starcher's Open in Akron OH that drew some big names, and in back-to-back years he beat Strickland in the finals 13-12 and then lost to Strickland 12-13 in the other year.  The Cave Country Classic drew some strong pro and semi-pro players, and I bought myself for $15 in the calcutta (no one had any reason to be scared of me!). Somehow I got the break down on those tables and was able to string racks consistently throughout to take the hot seat.  Jack was my finalist's opponent with one-loss and our playing race-to-7 sets.  Fortunately I won the lag and hit him with a 4-pack.  Final score 7-3 in my favor.  It's not like Jack did anything wrong, but you can't do much when your opponent is keeping you in your seat.  I saw him about 15 years later at a tournament in Wichita.  I came up to say "Hi," and I don't think he had any memory of me.  He was pretty strung out, and I don't think he did much in the tournament.  I've really enjoyed reading everyone's experiences with Jack! - John Lewis