Any Good Jon Wilson Stories?

Aaron_S

Aaron_S

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was digging around in my 'My Documents' folder, and found a copy of the Jefferson City News Tribune article describing the accident that killed Jon Wilson from St. Louis. I only knew Jon for a couple of years right there at the end, but he shared several really good stories with me on the few occasions we spoke.

One that sticks out in my mind is a story he told of a bar table tournament he played in somewhere in the St. Louis area. Louie Roberts was playing in the tournament as well, and he and Jon met in the finals. The way I remember the story (and please bear in mind that my memory is about as long as my... pinky :embarrassed2: ) is that it was a true double-elim format, Louie was in the winner's bracket, and it was a fairly short race, like to 6 or 7. Anyway, Jon apparently won the first break and proceeded to run out the set. Then Jon won the break in the second set and ran out that set as well.

The funny part, he said, was that after it was over Louie came up to him and said something like "I tell you what, I'll play you even on the big table, or I'll take the 8 on the small table". Jon said he basically busted out laughing at that point, as did some others in attendance, at the though of giving Louie the 8 under any circumstances. Jon said he declined, telling Louie that he couldn't play with him, and had just gotten lucky and caught a gear at the right time.

Knowing that Jon did, at least on occasion, have that high of a gear, I'm thinking/hoping that there are some other good stories out there about him?

Thanks,
Aaron


Oh, and here's a link to the Trib article:

http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2002/04/15/export215785.txt
 
Aaron_S said:
I was digging around in my 'My Documents' folder, and found a copy of the Jefferson City News Tribune article describing the accident that killed Jon Wilson from St. Louis. I only knew Jon for a couple of years right there at the end, but he shared several really good stories with me on the few occasions we spoke.

One that sticks out in my mind is a story he told of a bar table tournament he played in somewhere in the St. Louis area. Louie Roberts was playing in the tournament as well, and he and Jon met in the finals. The way I remember the story (and please bear in mind that my memory is about as long as my... pinky :embarrassed2: ) is that it was a true double-elim format, Louie was in the winner's bracket, and it was a fairly short race, like to 6 or 7. Anyway, Jon apparently won the first break and proceeded to run out the set. Then Jon won the break in the second set and ran out that set as well.

The funny part, he said, was that after it was over Louie came up to him and said something like "I tell you what, I'll play you even on the big table, or I'll take the 8 on the small table". Jon said he basically busted out laughing at that point, as did some others in attendance, at the though of giving Louie the 8 under any circumstances. Jon said he declined, telling Louie that he couldn't play with him, and had just gotten lucky and caught a gear at the right time.

Knowing that Jon did, at least on occasion, have that high of a gear, I'm thinking/hoping that there are some other good stories out there about him?

Thanks,
Aaron


Oh, and here's a link to the Trib article:

http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2002/04/15/export215785.txt
Click to expand...

Was he related to Mark Wilson?
 
I'm pretty sure Harriman knew him well but Danny has quit posting here. If I'm not mistaken they were on the road together for awhile.
 
I met Jon a few times when he would come in town (KC area). I watched him play Steve Hassell at Raytown Rec. and he held his own. If I remember correctly, Jon was a short guy with a beard/moustache? I was impressed that he could hang with Steve being that I never heard of him before.
 
dardusm said:
I met Jon a few times when he would come in town (KC area). I watched him play Steve Hassell at Raytown Rec. and he held his own. If I remember correctly, Jon was a short guy with a beard/moustache? I was impressed that he could hang with Steve being that I never heard of him before.
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Yes, that sounds like Jon. I know that Steve was (perhaps still is) a great player as well, but it doesn't surprise me to hear that Jon was hanging in there. I saw Jon play pretty lengthy stretches of perfect pool more than once, and I didn't meet him until he was already in his 40's.

The last time I played Steve was in 2000, and man he was hitting 'em good. We played a race to six in the opening round of State 9-ball. I won the toss and opened with a four-pack, then I misplayed a safety in the fifth rack and watched him run out. I think I got up to kick once or twice after that, and ended up losing 6-4, LOL. He shook my hand and said "well, you got my attention!". Seemed like a heck of a nice guy. I don't think anybody got by him that year; he ended up winning it easily.

Aaron
 
alstl said:
I'm pretty sure Harriman knew him well but Danny has quit posting here. If I'm not mistaken they were on the road together for awhile.
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I was wrong, I was going from memory. Harriman knew him but wasn't on the road with him. Here is the post.

Danny Harriman

vCash:
Posts: n/a
Hi
The main reason I went Pro was because of a man by the name of John Wilson, he was managing a pool room here in Spfd,Mo and we were friends. As time went on he began to gamble with some of the top players around but he had never played Darren, myself, or 'Pee Wee.' When we finally played I won and he barred me on the spot even though there were no harsh words or disagreements, I was about 16 and this was where all of my friends would hang out plus it was the nicest room in town by far. What I did not know was this barred me from the state tournament also, I then met a man downtown who owned an old style pool hall and after I could win against him he took me on the road. I really didn't gamble in John's place as much as just practice with my friends, all of the sudden I could not go where my friends were and not to mention all the pretty college girls. I believe that while I was on the road I began to visualize in my mind how I could get even with this room owner who had tried to muscle me, the only thought that kept burning in my mind was to one day be on TV playing pool and that would show them who tried to hold me back.
Well I was in Lincoln, Nebraska and ran into a nice fellow there who offered to sponsor me on the men's PBT, I was scared although this was my dream so I ran with it and the first tournament I entered I got on TV and finished 2nd to Mike Sigel. I am not the only one to have gotten barred from this particular room as I warned my buddy 'Pee Wee' not to play John or he would get barred and he did also. Later on down the road John and I got along again but all of it happened for a reason and I would not be the player I am today if it would not have been for this incident.
Hope this does the trick, Danny Harriman
 
alstl said:
I was wrong, I was going from memory. Harriman knew him but wasn't on the road with him. Here is the post.

Danny Harriman

vCash:
Posts: n/a
Hi
The main reason I went Pro was because of a man by the name of John Wilson, he was managing a pool room here in Spfd,Mo and we were friends. As time went on he began to gamble with some of the top players around but he had never played Darren, myself, or 'Pee Wee.' When we finally played I won and he barred me on the spot even though there were no harsh words or disagreements, I was about 16 and this was where all of my friends would hang out plus it was the nicest room in town by far. What I did not know was this barred me from the state tournament also, I then met a man downtown who owned an old style pool hall and after I could win against him he took me on the road. I really didn't gamble in John's place as much as just practice with my friends, all of the sudden I could not go where my friends were and not to mention all the pretty college girls. I believe that while I was on the road I began to visualize in my mind how I could get even with this room owner who had tried to muscle me, the only thought that kept burning in my mind was to one day be on TV playing pool and that would show them who tried to hold me back.
Well I was in Lincoln, Nebraska and ran into a nice fellow there who offered to sponsor me on the men's PBT, I was scared although this was my dream so I ran with it and the first tournament I entered I got on TV and finished 2nd to Mike Sigel. I am not the only one to have gotten barred from this particular room as I warned my buddy 'Pee Wee' not to play John or he would get barred and he did also. Later on down the road John and I got along again but all of it happened for a reason and I would not be the player I am today if it would not have been for this incident.
Hope this does the trick, Danny Harriman
Click to expand...

Wow! I never heard that story, and I didn't realize Jon had ever managed Springfield Billiards. I guess I assumed that Danny had been barred from the state tournament by Phil, the owner. Either way, it sounds like Danny really got shafted there. It's a shame he's not around AZB anymore; I'd like to ask him about 'Pee Wee'. I think I may know who that is.

Thanks,
Aaron
 
Aaron_S said:
Wow! I never heard that story, and I didn't realize Jon had ever managed Springfield Billiards. I guess I assumed that Danny had been barred from the state tournament by Phil, the owner. Either way, it sounds like Danny really got shafted there. It's a shame he's not around AZB anymore; I'd like to ask him about 'Pee Wee'. I think I may know who that is.

Thanks,
Aaron
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I'm still around Aaron, Pee wee's real name was Phil Mcreynolds. He was from Waynsville, MO (great player) John was an overall good person even though he did bar me out of anger. John was a christian man who I can say I was happy to have known, it was not my intention to disrespect his name by telling that story. That is how it went down and as a result I turned out to be a better man for it - or a better player for sure. Both of these people are not around anymore and I had much respect for their games and John and I even became kinda friendly after it all.
 
Jon Wilson was a strong player that left this world too soon. He was killed coming back from a pool tournament in Jeff City in the same way that Tyler Strawn was also shockingly killed - by being hit by a motorist as he was fixing a tire on the shoulder of the highway.

It is ironic that Danny mentions about being barred from the state tournament by Jon. Later on in life, Jon went down to Columbia MO to play in the state tournament but did not have his Missouri ID with him. Phil, the owner and his former boss, would not let him play as he had no proof of his status as a Missouri resident.

Jon was the manager of Springfield Billiards in Missouri, a pool room/restaurant in Springfield Illinois who's name escapes me right now, and Teachers Billiards in Fairview Hts Illinois.

Also Jay - no relation to Mark Wilson.
 
Jon Wilson

I knew Jon as well although only from pool tournaments. I played against him a few times at the old Breaker's Billiards in Collinsville, IL (Harold was the owner at the time) in the 9-ball tournaments. I recall one thing that Jon said to me that has stuck with me although I did not fully understand the statement at the time, "If a player is playing 8-ball and gets to where he only has one or two balls on the table....he is never supposed to win against the guy with all his balls on the table. Jon was one of the stronger players that played in the tournaments that I attended. (To put it into perspective I think he was like a 10 or something and I was a 3!!!!)
This was 10yrs or more ago. He was always cordial and pleasant with his demeanor.

Now of course I can appreciate that statement and understand what he meant. I have never forgotten from where it came. In fact, I have used it many times when speaking to players that don't play as well as I do to reinforce the importance of safety play.
 
Danny Harriman said:
I'm still around Aaron, Pee wee's real name was Phil Mcreynolds. He was from Waynsville, MO (great player) John was an overall good person even though he did bar me out of anger. John was a christian man who I can say I was happy to have known, it was not my intention to disrespect his name by telling that story. That is how it went down and as a result I turned out to be a better man for it - or a better player for sure. Both of these people are not around anymore and I had much respect for their games and John and I even became kinda friendly after it all.
Click to expand...

Hi Danny. I tried to send you a pm, but your message box is full. Let me know when you get it cleaned out.

Thanks,
Aaron
 
watchez said:
Later on in life, Jon went down to Columbia MO to play in the state tournament but did not have his Missouri ID with him. Phil, the owner and his former boss, would not let him play as he had no proof of his status as a Missouri resident.
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I was devastated when Jon told me they weren't going to let him play that year. I had practiced with him the night before, and I felt he was playing well enough to win it. IIRC, Martin Warren won it that year with Arizona Jay, Don Crump and myself bringing up the rear, but I think the leaderboard would have looked a little different if Jon had been allowed to play. He didn't complain, though, just said "rules are rules" and went right on smiling. :smile:

Aaron
 
Aaron_S said:
Hi Danny. I tried to send you a pm, but your message box is full. Let me know when you get it cleaned out.

Thanks,
Aaron
Click to expand...

I don't understand why my pm box is full, I only have two messages in my pm box but it says it's 91% full. You never know Aaron their watching me pretty close as I am a real bad dude according to mainstream, maybe I will ask the moderater about my little pm problem.

I guess u could emai me since the geek squad is having a computer glitch again. www.charlesharriman18@yahoo.com
 
check sent messages

Danny Harriman said:
I don't understand why my pm box is full, I only have two messages in my pm box but it says it's 91% full. You never know Aaron their watching me pretty close as I am a real bad dude according to mainstream, maybe I will ask the moderater about my little pm problem.

I guess u could emai me since the geek squad is having a computer glitch again. www.charlesharriman18@yahoo.com
Click to expand...


Maybe the messages are in your "sent messages" box? The default is to save a copy there.

Hu
 
Danny Harriman said:
I don't understand why my pm box is full, I only have two messages in my pm box but it says it's 91% full. You never know Aaron their watching me pretty close as I am a real bad dude according to mainstream, maybe I will ask the moderater about my little pm problem.

I guess u could emai me since the geek squad is having a computer glitch again. www.charlesharriman18@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

The PM worked this time, Danny. Thanks for getting back to me.

Aaron
 
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