RIP Joe Salazar
- Thread starter Tarheel
- Start date
Agreed. Always liked seeing him at his booth at the DCC.
Last edited:
Joe was a special friend and mentor for many years. One of the good guys of pool. Have a safe journey Mr Salazar
Joe has been a great friend of mine “forever”, and this news has shocked me.
Obviously Joe has a great record in our genre, first as a true monster player who
has clearly beaten a ton of A-level players and subsequently built a wide ranging cue sales
business through very hard work, along with his superb integrity.
But above all, he was extremely well liked across the board because he was friendly, smiling,
trustworthy and respected by all who have had the pleasure to spend a moment with him.
I will miss Joe dearly, he was a very dear friend.
May he rest in gentle peace forever, in God’s loving hands.
Will Prout
Obviously Joe has a great record in our genre, first as a true monster player who
has clearly beaten a ton of A-level players and subsequently built a wide ranging cue sales
business through very hard work, along with his superb integrity.
But above all, he was extremely well liked across the board because he was friendly, smiling,
trustworthy and respected by all who have had the pleasure to spend a moment with him.
I will miss Joe dearly, he was a very dear friend.
May he rest in gentle peace forever, in God’s loving hands.
Will Prout
Keith heard the sad news last night from Mary Kenniston aka "Mare." Joe went to the dentist and had some work done, and when he came home afterwards, he suffered a stroke. Keith is trying to get ahold of Joe's son to find out any more details.
I met Joe Salazar on the road as a cue salesmen. He was kind of a quiet, unassuming-type guy, but when you got him alone, one-on-one, he would share some of the juiciest pool tales you'd ever want to hear. More than once, he has given Keith McCready a jump cue during a tournament to use and said Keith could pay him back later.
Also, Joe has traded cues with Keith before. Joe always has a wide assortment of cues with a range of prices. He knows what Keith likes in a cue, the hit, the forward balance, et cetera, and he pulls out one that he thinks Keith may like. Keith barters with him sometimes, and if Keith doesn't like the price, he will try to get Joe to come down a little. Joe gives us a fair price and does discount it for Keith. Without Joe, Keith would have had no jump cue at several tournaments. Back in the day, jump cues were not considered a necessity as they are today. In fact, most old-school players think jumping balls ruins a good safety play, but I digress. I thought it was pretty nice of Joe to extend credit to Keith, only to be paid back a tournament or two later. I guess that is what friends do for each other.
"Tracy Joe," as he is known by those who knew him in his prime, was one of the best, especially on a barbox, and would step up to the plate with anybody. I was told his nickname was "Tracy" because he came from Tracy, California. At tournaments I attended, he and several other vendors would engage in a cheap game of stakes in one pocket with each other after hours. Tracy Joe never lost his passion for playing pool.
I'm sorry to learn this news. Joe was one of the good guys seen at every major pool event. When I first met him, he did not like to have his photo taken because I think he may have thought it was still better to fly under the radar in case a good game came his way. I did manage to get one photo of him, though. Rest in peace, Tracy Joe, and save me a seat on the rail.
I met Joe Salazar on the road as a cue salesmen. He was kind of a quiet, unassuming-type guy, but when you got him alone, one-on-one, he would share some of the juiciest pool tales you'd ever want to hear. More than once, he has given Keith McCready a jump cue during a tournament to use and said Keith could pay him back later.
Also, Joe has traded cues with Keith before. Joe always has a wide assortment of cues with a range of prices. He knows what Keith likes in a cue, the hit, the forward balance, et cetera, and he pulls out one that he thinks Keith may like. Keith barters with him sometimes, and if Keith doesn't like the price, he will try to get Joe to come down a little. Joe gives us a fair price and does discount it for Keith. Without Joe, Keith would have had no jump cue at several tournaments. Back in the day, jump cues were not considered a necessity as they are today. In fact, most old-school players think jumping balls ruins a good safety play, but I digress. I thought it was pretty nice of Joe to extend credit to Keith, only to be paid back a tournament or two later. I guess that is what friends do for each other.
"Tracy Joe," as he is known by those who knew him in his prime, was one of the best, especially on a barbox, and would step up to the plate with anybody. I was told his nickname was "Tracy" because he came from Tracy, California. At tournaments I attended, he and several other vendors would engage in a cheap game of stakes in one pocket with each other after hours. Tracy Joe never lost his passion for playing pool.
I'm sorry to learn this news. Joe was one of the good guys seen at every major pool event. When I first met him, he did not like to have his photo taken because I think he may have thought it was still better to fly under the radar in case a good game came his way. I did manage to get one photo of him, though. Rest in peace, Tracy Joe, and save me a seat on the rail.
Think Joe had a booth in Las Vegas at BCA thing the last time I was in Sin City, 2008. Alway had great selection of Cues for sale, nice guy, good stories. A fixture in Sin City like Jack Justice, and wife Norma.
This is Sad, Joe was a long-time good friend. Always happy to see all the old-time players.
R.I.P. Joe
R.I.P. Joe
Bought several cues and cases from him over the years - a true gentleman and very easy and honest to deal with. I had the chance to talk with him a couple of times about his days on the road and while he never bragged about how well he played, I heard enough from others to know that on a bar box there were very few better in his time.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Condolences to his family and friends.
The Old Jaybird
Well-known member
I think this is the guy that ran a cue raffle at the VNEA in Vegas at the Riviera....I won a Schon STL9.
RIP Joe.
RIP Joe.
Many years ago I played Joe at Olathe and every year at the DCC I would pay my respects, visiting his booth to say hello and review his inventory -- Joe always had an amazing selection of cues in his booth.
The last couple of years at the Derby he began to ask me about my two Ginas and if I was ready to sell. He said he had a guy that was looking to create a Gina collection. I knew he was serious this past year when he gave me his business card and asked me to call him when I was ready.
RIP, Joe.
Lou Figueroa
The last couple of years at the Derby he began to ask me about my two Ginas and if I was ready to sell. He said he had a guy that was looking to create a Gina collection. I knew he was serious this past year when he gave me his business card and asked me to call him when I was ready.
RIP, Joe.
Lou Figueroa
This is so sad and a big loss to the pool community. I bought my first nice case from him at Derby City. Derby City won't be the same without him. I will miss seeing him next month in Vegas for the APA. RIP Joe.
Joe Salazar was good friends with my uncle. This news saddens me. I never got the chance to meet him but my son was out in Vegas a couple of months ago and met him at his cue booth and when Joe found out who his uncle was Joe spent a minute talking to him. The fraternity of old timers with all the great stories and history of the game is getting smaller.
Thumbs up on the take on jump cues and safety play. Him not wanting his picture taken reminded me of days gone by when my uncle had a different hairstyle or leather belt with a name other than his imprinted on it every other time I saw him. Thanks for sharing that Jam!
We first crossed paths in Olathe KS, McChesney yrs.... workin' it smiling 100 cues from buskas to Zams to whatever price range.... letting himself into the game and out, with constant inter 'action' with others in his life, a good guy. Saw em Many times, and in May this yr Westgate. He lived a good life.
bm
bm
