Willie Jopling Remembers

His columns was usually the 2nd or 3rd thing I would read when I got the new issue of Billiards Digest, behind George Fels and Grady Mathews.

Bob Jewett said:

Those of you who knew or knew of Willie Jopling will find this interesting. That was the pen name of Bill Marshall who wrote a column of trick shots, skill shots and propositions for Billiards Digest for many years. This reminiscence mostly covers the years before Willie discovered pool.

http://www.billiardworld.com/wayitwas.html

The website was created by Jim Meador, another name that long-time innerwebz denizens may remember. It is worth a look around.

And here is an interview with Willie on 1P.org: https://www.onepocket.org/JoplingInterview.htm

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Thanks for the links Bob.
This was very possibly the first pool related website I had ever clicked on and I was thrilled. Dial up brought it up even though it loaded one horizontal strip at a time. That was when I realized there were others out in the world like myself.

Bob Jewett said:

Those of you who knew or knew of Willie Jopling will find this interesting. That was the pen name of Bill Marshall who wrote a column of trick shots, skill shots and propositions for Billiards Digest for many years. This reminiscence mostly covers the years before Willie discovered pool.

http://www.billiardworld.com/wayitwas.html

The website was created by Jim Meador, another name that long-time innerwebz denizens may remember. It is worth a look around.

And here is an interview with Willie on 1P.org: https://www.onepocket.org/JoplingInterview.htm

Click to expand...

Thanks Bob, fascinating story. I knew Willie pretty well and always enjoyed his company. He loved showing off his knowledge of trick and proposition shots. That was his specialty. He played a decent game too but kept that under wraps for the most part. I would see him every year at the U.S. Open in Norfolk and he would show up at the trade shows and big tournaments. I remember his big smile and friendly manner. He'd talk to you all day if you were willing to listen.

P.S. There is a lot of good stuff on his videos. I highly recommend them if you can find a copy.

jay helfert said:

Thanks Bob, fascinating story. I knew Willie pretty well and always enjoyed his company. He loved showing off his knowledge of trick and proposition shots. That was his specialty. He played a decent game too but kept that under wraps for the most part. I would see him every year at the U.S. Open in Norfolk and he would show up at the trade shows and big tournaments. I remember his big smile and friendly manner. He'd talk to you all day if you were willing to listen.

P.S. There is a lot of good stuff on his videos. I highly recommend them if you can find a copy.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the link Bob. I got his one pocket and pool trickshot DVDs from Freddy’s daughter a couple of years ago. She may still have few copies left. If anyone’s interested, you can check out at https://freddythebeard.com

I think it’s one of the best one hole instructionals out there contents-wise (not presentation-wise), on par with Grady’s 1P videos. His style is a bit dry and if it doesn’t put you to sleep, you will learn a lot from his videos. Some of the things he explains I have not seen in any other 1P videos (and I have them all, except Cliff Joyner’s which I threw out in a bin - when you see it you’ll understand why).

I know he also wrote Willie Jopling’s Book on Pocket Billiards but I have had no joy yet finding a copy.


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Mr Marshall was a true Gentleman of our sport. I first met him in Roanoke back in the early 70's and we were friends until he passed away. When ever we saw each other he would ask me about any new tricks I could show him and then he would show what new ones he had discovered He taught me the 15 ball chain reaction shot and that one amazed folks when I performed it. He had a very good mind , along with a good imagination for the game and the shots that he came up with,,never was a dull time, when our paths crossed.
He had a nice Room in Lynchburg Va for awhile, and I remember stopping by on a trip to see if I could catch some action. Jim Heldrith was riding with me, and Jim spotted this guy and then told me, that was Billy Johnson,,I went to him and to check what kind of game we could make,,and he was no play,,wouldn't come off of any kind of spot and wasn't Billy Johnson,,didn't know the guy and had never heard of him, but we could play even. Years later the gent turned out to be Jack Cooney .

Know

I got to know "Willie " from talking to him at his stand that would be at the US Open. I have a Billiard Digest addressed to Willie Jopling I bought it because of his name being on it. He was also nice enough to get me a copy of a memorial that was for Weenie Beanie a dear friend of Willie's.
Thanks for posting the articles

Lots of good reading there...many thanks.

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here is a pic of the inside of the binder with a personal note from willie to me