Leil "JR" Gay has passed away
- Thread starter gunzby
- Start date
Sad news. Old school player who was solid as hell, for sure.
It's always so sad to read about one of our own who passes away. Though we may not have crossed paths in a long, long time, these players are members of the Tribal Nation of Pool.
I always liked Leil. He had a gutzy kind of charisma when it came to pool. May he rest in peace.
Photo taken at Carolinas Open in 2003. This was Leil's lucky shirt.
I always liked Leil. He had a gutzy kind of charisma when it came to pool. May he rest in peace.
Photo taken at Carolinas Open in 2003. This was Leil's lucky shirt.
Attachments
I'm trying to remember. It might have been. I'll have to look it up on my other computer.
So sad to see one of our own pass away. He was an old-school campaigner when it came to pool and a very proud Native American.
Sad news, my condolences to his friends and family.
I had the opportunity to play Leil at the 2001 DCC back at the old Executive West. He won the first game and I won the next two. In the last two games I had a couple of chances to win the match but each time the ball hung. I lost 3-2. As JR was unscrewing he said, "You were the better player this match, I didn't deserve to win." Which wasn't really true but was a very nice, classy thing for him to say.
Lou Figueroa
I got to see him play quite a bit here in Phoenix when he was living in the area. I have some old match videos from when we were doing a tour here on YouTube, crappy quality as they are nearly 10 years old but guy could play some pool. Nice guy too. Any word on what happened? 
Sad to hear Leil was a great player. Got to see him some when he was living in Ohio. He was always a pleasure to watch.
There's a good video of him playing Ronnie Allen in the 1998 World One Pocket championship,
Accu-Stats still has it listed. JR plays great, it's one of the few Ronnie Allen videos out there, and Freddie the Beard does commentary I believe.
Price of a twelve pack of beer for a really cool match.
RIP.
Another fine player gone.
Accu-Stats still has it listed. JR plays great, it's one of the few Ronnie Allen videos out there, and Freddie the Beard does commentary I believe.
Price of a twelve pack of beer for a really cool match.
RIP.
Another fine player gone.
Re; "JR" Leil Gay
I got to know JR when he took some time out from pool after his Dad died and was hanging around Kent, OH (1978). I remember him telling me that the respite was welcome after the pressure of playing to help pay the family bills during his teen years. He had a nice girlfriend and visited the KSU poolroom where I worked just to bang the balls around on occasion. Always generous with advice and willing to play for table time. Here is a nice summary of his life and career.
RIP. Namaste.
http://www.8ball.org/documents/Profiles/leil_gay.htm
I got to know JR when he took some time out from pool after his Dad died and was hanging around Kent, OH (1978). I remember him telling me that the respite was welcome after the pressure of playing to help pay the family bills during his teen years. He had a nice girlfriend and visited the KSU poolroom where I worked just to bang the balls around on occasion. Always generous with advice and willing to play for table time. Here is a nice summary of his life and career.
RIP. Namaste.
http://www.8ball.org/documents/Profiles/leil_gay.htm
Sad
Very very sad. JR was the houseman at Northfield Billiards where I played. The very first time I saw him play was in 1994 a straight Pool Tournament put on by Frank Zummo. JR was one of the deciding factors on me buying a Diamond over a Anniversary . RIP JR.
Very very sad. JR was the houseman at Northfield Billiards where I played. The very first time I saw him play was in 1994 a straight Pool Tournament put on by Frank Zummo. JR was one of the deciding factors on me buying a Diamond over a Anniversary . RIP JR.
Sorry to hear this. He was a nice guy with a super smooth stroke when I saw him at DCC the first year I went. Maybe around 02-03 or so.
One year at Derby Leil was playing in the tourney in a close match late in the evening with someone I don't remember. Pretty boy Floyd was working the room in his normal loud mouth style. Leil politely asked him to keep it down while the tourney was going on. Of course, Jimmy had to be the guy he is and bark back a little. JR handled it with class and PBF looked more like an ass.
RIP in JR
One year at Derby Leil was playing in the tourney in a close match late in the evening with someone I don't remember. Pretty boy Floyd was working the room in his normal loud mouth style. Leil politely asked him to keep it down while the tourney was going on. Of course, Jimmy had to be the guy he is and bark back a little. JR handled it with class and PBF looked more like an ass.
RIP in JR
Funny you mention Frank. He was at the tournament the first time I saw JR. I didn't know JR at the time and never saw him play. I was dead set on buying Frank in the Calcutta and he just looked at me and shook his head. Little did I know it was because JR was there