Thanks to Mr. Bill Stroud and Mr. Will Prout I was fortunate enough to be invited to the 2008 International Cue Collectors Show in Kansas City, MO. This was my first show and it was truly amazing in many ways.
I arrived in Kansas City on Thursday and I had been invited to Will Prouts home for a get together he was hosting for the cue makers and collectors. Will is a very gracious host has a beautiful home and family. The guests wandered through the house looking at Will's stunning cue and car collection, talked with each other about cues and pool and generally had a fantastic time.
I was able to meet some of the biggest names in the cue industry and to a man everyone was very friendly and open. It just re-enforced my belief that the men who excel at the cue making craft are breed all their own. Unbelievably talented and humble at the same time. It was great to see that they all had a real passion not only for their craft but the game as well.
Hall of Famer Nick Varner was in attendance as well and it was my first time to meet this great Champion. In my opinion Nick is one of the best the game has to offer and he was very candid and open in talking about the state of the game today as well as sharing stories from his years on the road and the tournament trail. He even put together his wrapless Ginacue and played Dennis Searing a little one hole. Dennis fought hard but Nick managed to get there in the end
It was good to see friends and AZ members Jamie Wernsman, Stan Haines, and Jimmy Kissinger. One of my favorite cue makers and people in general, Andy Gilbert was in attendance along with his lovely wife Vicki. Andy was a hit at the show this year with his high end cues leaving many collectors talking about what they had in mind for him. It was a great day spent with some great people. I want to say thank you to Will Prout for the opportunity to experience something I will never forget.
The show itself was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City, MO. It is an elegant hotel that was the perfect setting for a show of this caliber. Bill Stroud did an excellent job of herding together all of the cats that it takes to put an event like this on. Everything ran smooth and without a hitch which is a testament to the work and effort he put into it.
I could go on forever about the things I saw and did over the weekend but I will just let the pictures do the talking. One thing that really struck me was how nice and friendly EVERYONE was. It was a pleasure just to be among people with that much passion and commitment to cues and the game of pool. I highly recommend that anyone who has an interest in cues or the history of them attend next year in New Mexico.
Finally I want to thank Mr. Bill Stroud of Josswest Cues. Bill was the reason TAR was asked to broadcast the ICCS this year. He is and always has been a visionary in the industry and it was an honor to meet and work with him. Bill paid for the expense of trip out of his own pocket because he believes in what TAR can do and because he wants to grow the collecting world. Thank you Bill.
Bill Stroud and Will Prout
Jamie Wernsman and Nick Varner in Will's unbelievable cue room.
Two of the biggest cue collectors on earth. Will and Lucky holding Will's Szamboti Box cue and the GTF Case by John Barton that was made to match.
I finally figured out how Jimbo has managed to aquire most of his collection.
Just a bunch of guys shooting pool. From L to R: Dennis Searing, Stan Haines, Nick Varner, Mark Kulungian, John Showman.
Dennis Searing doing what everyone does when they sit in Will's 1 of 9 Callaway Speedster (grinning like a kid) Paul Drexler and Will look on.
A shot of some of Will's antique gas pumps that he has restored. His car garage is filled with these beautiful old machines that have been restored to look like new.
Nick kept asking the same thing as everyone else "Where's the keys?"
John Showman, Dennis Searing and Will Prout.
I arrived in Kansas City on Thursday and I had been invited to Will Prouts home for a get together he was hosting for the cue makers and collectors. Will is a very gracious host has a beautiful home and family. The guests wandered through the house looking at Will's stunning cue and car collection, talked with each other about cues and pool and generally had a fantastic time.
I was able to meet some of the biggest names in the cue industry and to a man everyone was very friendly and open. It just re-enforced my belief that the men who excel at the cue making craft are breed all their own. Unbelievably talented and humble at the same time. It was great to see that they all had a real passion not only for their craft but the game as well.
Hall of Famer Nick Varner was in attendance as well and it was my first time to meet this great Champion. In my opinion Nick is one of the best the game has to offer and he was very candid and open in talking about the state of the game today as well as sharing stories from his years on the road and the tournament trail. He even put together his wrapless Ginacue and played Dennis Searing a little one hole. Dennis fought hard but Nick managed to get there in the end
It was good to see friends and AZ members Jamie Wernsman, Stan Haines, and Jimmy Kissinger. One of my favorite cue makers and people in general, Andy Gilbert was in attendance along with his lovely wife Vicki. Andy was a hit at the show this year with his high end cues leaving many collectors talking about what they had in mind for him. It was a great day spent with some great people. I want to say thank you to Will Prout for the opportunity to experience something I will never forget.
The show itself was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City, MO. It is an elegant hotel that was the perfect setting for a show of this caliber. Bill Stroud did an excellent job of herding together all of the cats that it takes to put an event like this on. Everything ran smooth and without a hitch which is a testament to the work and effort he put into it.
I could go on forever about the things I saw and did over the weekend but I will just let the pictures do the talking. One thing that really struck me was how nice and friendly EVERYONE was. It was a pleasure just to be among people with that much passion and commitment to cues and the game of pool. I highly recommend that anyone who has an interest in cues or the history of them attend next year in New Mexico.
Finally I want to thank Mr. Bill Stroud of Josswest Cues. Bill was the reason TAR was asked to broadcast the ICCS this year. He is and always has been a visionary in the industry and it was an honor to meet and work with him. Bill paid for the expense of trip out of his own pocket because he believes in what TAR can do and because he wants to grow the collecting world. Thank you Bill.
Bill Stroud and Will Prout
Jamie Wernsman and Nick Varner in Will's unbelievable cue room.
Two of the biggest cue collectors on earth. Will and Lucky holding Will's Szamboti Box cue and the GTF Case by John Barton that was made to match.
I finally figured out how Jimbo has managed to aquire most of his collection.
Just a bunch of guys shooting pool. From L to R: Dennis Searing, Stan Haines, Nick Varner, Mark Kulungian, John Showman.
Dennis Searing doing what everyone does when they sit in Will's 1 of 9 Callaway Speedster (grinning like a kid) Paul Drexler and Will look on.
A shot of some of Will's antique gas pumps that he has restored. His car garage is filled with these beautiful old machines that have been restored to look like new.
Nick kept asking the same thing as everyone else "Where's the keys?"
John Showman, Dennis Searing and Will Prout.
Last edited:
. Next year I will be there. Looks like everyone had fun. Will has some great stuff for sure. I'm glad everyone had fun. 
