A video tribute to deceased pool player Clyde Childress

BillPorter

BillPorter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I got a message from Larry Childress, brother of Clyde Childress, saying that he had put together a video tribute to his deceased brother Clyde Childress. Clyde was a very strong pool player who died after a traffic accident back in 1982. Maybe some of you old timers remember him. Anyway, I told his brother I'd put a link to his video here on AZ Billiards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMHu0cBSGM
 
That was a great tribute to Clyde. I learned more about Clyde in that 7 minutes than I have been able to in the last 26 years. When I was first starting out in pool, Clyde was a legend in Kentucky and the surrounding area. I never got to see him play before he was tragically killed. I did get to go to all the memorial tournaments in his honor. I have that same program from 1982. I have a couple of newspaper articles I will post, shortly. Thanks Bill for posting the tribute.
 
Thanks Bill! Clyde was a strong shortstop at all games except Banks, which he played High Speed! He would gamble even up with Tony Fargo, Buddy, Truman, Tony Coleman and Billy Johnson (Wade Crane). And they didn't have to like it!

Everyone liked Clyde. He was good for action and would stir things up when he was around. Kind of reminds me of Greg Sullivan in some ways. They were two of a kind, except Greg had no out playing Banks with Clyde.

After he died and they started the Memorial tourney in his name, the players used to say they were going to the "Clyde Died" tournament. No disrespect, but pool players are like that. They will use the shortest possible way to identify a person or a thing, hence the nicknames like Boston Shorty or Jersey Red. In fact it was Buddy who first asked me if I was going to the "Clyde Died" tourney.
 
Great Tribute!

I knew Clyde well. We played a couple of times. I lived in Lexington an he lived in Berea. He was a friend. I saw him right before he died an he took me for a ride in his new to him road car. I think It was an old Oldsmobile. Clyde an I made a little money together, with Clyde you always got your share an a good count. Jay liked Clydes bank game an I thought his best game was one-hole. If you ever met or played Clyde you would always remember the intensity in his eyes. I thing I remember is he was the most fierce competitor I've ever seen in my life.
Pinocchio
 
Pinocchio said:
I knew Clyde well. We played a couple of times. I lived in Lexington an he lived in Berea. He was a friend. I saw him right before he died an he took me for a ride in his new to him road car. I think It was an old Oldsmobile. Clyde an I made a little money together, with Clyde you always got your share an a good count. Jay liked Clydes bank game an I thought his best game was one-hole. If you ever met or played Clyde you would always remember the intensity in his eyes. I thing I remember is he was the most fierce competitor I've ever seen in my life.
Pinocchio
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Clyde was a bulldog! He had no quit in him. I liked his One Hole game too, but his great banking ability helped him a lot there. He wasn't afraid to bank one off the end rail if he needed to. What was a trap for some players, looked like an opportunity to him.
 
BillPorter said:
I got a message from Larry Childress, brother of Clyde Childress, saying that he had put together a video tribute to his deceased brother Clyde Childress. Clyde was a very strong pool player who died after a traffic accident back in 1982. Maybe some of you old timers remember him. Anyway, I told his brother I'd put a link to his video here on AZ Billiards: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUMHu0cBSGM
Click to expand...
have no idea who the guy was..but that was nice to see...
 
In addition to the nice comments already mentioned, here's a list of who won the "Clyde Childress 9 Ball Open.
1982 Buddy Hall
1983 Mike Sigel
1984 Keith McCready
1985 Earl Strickland
1986 Jose Parica

Gives you some idea of how much he was thought of to have these type power-houses playing in his memorial tournament.

Clyde was born on April 20, 1946 and died on January 5, 1982 at age 35. He first started playing pool at age 13.

***Edited to correct 35 instead of 25 at age of death. (Thanks Jennie!)
 
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Terry Ardeno said:
In addition to the nice comments already mentioned, here's a list of who won the "Clyde Childress 9 Ball Open.
1982 Buddy Hall
1983 Mike Sigel
1984 Keith McCready
1985 Earl Strickland
1986 Jose Parica

Gives you some idea of how much he was thought of to have these type power-houses playing in his memorial tournament.

Clyde was born on April 20, 1946 and died on January 5, 1982 at age 25. He first started playing pool at age 13.
Click to expand...

Keith beat Strickland in the finals, and I think it was on St. Patrick's Day.

Terry, you must be like me in English is our strong suit, as opposed to math. Clyde was 35 or 36, I think, when he passed.

JAM
 
St Patty's Day

JAM said:
Keith beat Strickland in the finals, and I think it was on St. Patrick's Day.

Terry, you must be like me in English is our strong suit, as opposed to math. Clyde was 35 or 36, I think, when he passed.

JAM
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I was there Jam. It was on St Patty's day. The next year I was also there when Keith rushed his shot and missed an easy 7 in the corner to lose the next championship. I'm sure he remembers the shot. The 8 and 9 were hanging in the other pockets. We were all betting on him.

Clyde was 35. Shortly before he was killed, Clyde came to North Shore Billiards from Detroit where he had won a bushel of money playing 1pkt. Clyde beat Artie Bodendorfer the first day they played out of 5k playing even! Clyde was definitely not just a short-stop playing 1pkt. However, the next day Artie crushed him. As a matter of fact, Clyde and I played on sight, and while we played both games, banks and 1pkt, Clyde would usually detour the banks and want to play 1pkt. (my reputation back then probably far exceeded my ability)
He was a great competitor to play with and was usually a straight ticket (the really great players were all straight-tickets)
--if you could beat him you could break him-- although he amazingly quit Artie with money in his pocket.

the Beard

Jam ask Keither if he also remembers our bank match at the Maverick Club in 1985 at that tournament.
 
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Clyde

I only played him once, even up bank pool in Berea, if you can believe that. We broke even. He also played Flyboy a three day marathon at my place in Colorado. I don't remember who won. He beat Jew Paul a couple of times, too. And yes, he was a warrior.
 
?????????

Clyde was the type of person that liked to be in total control an I think his crew in Detroit got out of control. He told me he was going back with one person (stake-horse) an take it off. When you take a circus to town sometimes they can shark you more than all the local railbirds. Clyde had no fear!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
Good to see a post out of the Professor...................
 
Terry Ardeno said:
In addition to the nice comments already mentioned, here's a list of who won the "Clyde Childress 9 Ball Open.
1982 Buddy Hall
1983 Mike Sigel
1984 Keith McCready
1985 Earl Strickland
1986 Jose Parica

Gives you some idea of how much he was thought of to have these type power-houses playing in his memorial tournament.

Clyde was born on April 20, 1946 and died on January 5, 1982 at age 25. He first started playing pool at age 13.
Click to expand...

He was 35.
 
Terry Ardeno said:
In addition to the nice comments already mentioned, here's a list of who won the "Clyde Childress 9 Ball Open.
1982 Buddy Hall
1983 Mike Sigel
1984 Keith McCready
1985 Earl Strickland
1986 Jose Parica

Gives you some idea of how much he was thought of to have these type power-houses playing in his memorial tournament.

Clyde was born on April 20, 1946 and died on January 5, 1982 at age 25. He first started playing pool at age 13.
Click to expand...

............
 
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Terry Ardeno said:
In addition to the nice comments already mentioned, here's a list of who won the "Clyde Childress 9 Ball Open.
1982 Buddy Hall
1983 Mike Sigel
1984 Keith McCready
1985 Earl Strickland
1986 Jose Parica

Gives you some idea of how much he was thought of to have these type power-houses playing in his memorial tournament.

Clyde was born on April 20, 1946 and died on January 5, 1982 at age 25. He first started playing pool at age 13.
Click to expand...

He was 35.
 
Grady said:
I only played him once, even up bank pool in Berea, if you can believe that. We broke even. He also played Flyboy a three day marathon at my place in Colorado. I don't remember who won. He beat Jew Paul a couple of times, too. And yes, he was a warrior.
Click to expand...

Grady, do you remember the late Al Hougue?

Al and I watched much of that match between Clyde and Fly. Al had a rather high opinion of his own game, and played real well, but stated a couple of times after that match that had he been born with Clydes heart himself would have been unbeatable. Just one of a few things that amused me about AL.

That was a great match though.
 
freddy the beard said:
I was there Jam. It was on St Patty's day. The next year I was also there when Keith rushed his shot and missed an easy 7 in the corner to lose the next championship. I'm sure he remembers the shot. The 8 and 9 were hanging in the other pockets. We were all betting on him.

Clyde was 35. Shortly before he was killed, Clyde came to North Shore Billiards from Detroit where he had won a bushel of money playing 1pkt. Clyde beat Artie Bodendorfer the first day they played out of 5k playing even! Clyde was definitely not just a short-stop playing 1pkt. However, the next day Artie crushed him. As a matter of fact, Clyde and I played on sight, and while we played both games, banks and 1pkt, Clyde would usually detour the banks and want to play 1pkt. (my reputation back then probably far exceeded my ability)
He was a great competitor to play with and was usually a straight ticket (the really great players were all straight-tickets)
--if you could beat him you could break him-- although he amazingly quit Artie with money in his pocket.

the Beard

Jam ask Keither if he also remembers our bank match at the Maverick Club in 1985 at that tournament.
Click to expand...

Freddie,

Funny how subjective pool can be. I "practiced" One Pocket with Clyde in Dayton in 1974 or 75. We played for 20 a game and I broke even with him. That's why I made him a strong shortstop.

I never considered myself any better than that. Of course Clyde was pretty young then, he may have gotten better. And he may have been stalling for a bigger bet. :)

I think in truth, we were both working on things, trying to get our games sharp for the tournament ahead.
 
ironman said:
Grady, do you remember the late Al Hougue?

Al and I watched much of that match between Clyde and Fly. Al had a rather high opinion of his own game, and played real well, but stated a couple of times after that match that had he been born with Clydes heart himself would have been unbeatable. Just one of a few things that amused me about AL.

That was a great match though.
Click to expand...

I knew Al Hogue also. When did he die? Was it about ten years ago? He wouldn't have been that old, maybe 60 or so. He was a pretty good tournament player, usually finishing up in the cash. And he gambled well for moderate stakes. At One Pocket and 9-Ball. I think he could even play 14.1.

Am I right on him? He was well over 6' tall. I saw Al in lots of places. He got around good.
 
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jay helfert said:
He was 35.
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Gee miny Christmas's Jay! I know already that I'm a dummy! I couldn't tell the 2 from the 3, and serves me right for not proof reading. :D

I know, I know.....you got me! :eek:

And again...."Terry is a dummy, neener-neener & neener!"

And one more "Terry, remind me never to let you count the money on the light."


As per my post, the only thing I know about arithmatic is....
A Rat In The House May Eat The Ice Cream.

Not that we had any rats where we lived growing up. The rats I knew were all good in math. :D
 
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