anyone have any stories about George Rood

[sun526]

Ok, I think this is the home that Mr.Rood is at:

Widows home of Dayton,
50 S. Findlay st. Dayton Ohio 45403.
Phone number 937-252-1661.

I had the pleasure of playing ...or should I saying racking for Mr. Rood about 18 yeras ago when he started his return to pool at the old Circle billiards in Dayton. A truly great man! I wished I had the chance to do it over and pay closer attention. He was one of the, if not the best! Period.

 

[RiverCity]

There were a set of articles in one of the pool mags (I believe it was BD), like 7-10 years ago about road players and George was featured one month. Was a well written article with some really good pictures and stories in there. If anyone keeps their magazines, look back in that time frame.
Chuck

 

[crow]

I grew up around him as he frequented Springfield, Ohio alot. At 80ish (dunno exactly but about 1994-97) his best game was billiards (3 cushion) by far. I think he could compete at a competitive level at that game at that point in his life.

 

[real bartram]

I grew up around him as he frequented Springfield, Ohio alot. At 80ish (dunno exactly but about 1994-97) his best game was billiards (3 cushion) by far. I think he could compete at a competitive level at that game at that point in his life.

crow is that you?

 

[The Saw]

It's the real Crow.... Like there could be two of them??? LOL How much would two Crows wear out your ears???

 

[1pocket]

There were a set of articles in one of the pool mags (I believe it was BD), like 7-10 years ago about road players and George was featured one month. Was a well written article with some really good pictures and stories in there. If anyone keeps their magazines, look back in that time frame.
Chuck

I believe the magazine article you are talking about was one of Tom Shaw's "Legends of the Road" series. An interesting story about that: In the article George talked about "Rags" Fitzpatrick, and someone ended up showing that article to "Rags" daughter, who happened to live not far away in Ohio. This led to Rags daughter both getting in touch with George Rood, and Tom Shaw, which resulted in Tom being able to do an excellent "Legends of the Road" feature on Rags Fitzpatrick. The Fitzpatrick family was at Derby City for Rags Fitzpatrick's posthumous One Pocket Hall of Fame induction, and George was there too -- for his Lifetime Pool in Action award. It's a small world when you play that good...

 

[ragbug74]

Ok, I think this is the home that Mr.Rood is at:

Widows home of Dayton,
50 S. Findlay st. Dayton Ohio 45403.
Phone number 937-252-1661.

I had the pleasure of playing ...or should I saying racking for Mr. Rood about 18 yeras ago when he started his return to pool at the old Circle billiards in Dayton. A truly great man! I wished I had the chance to do it over and pay closer attention. He was one of the, if not the best! Period.

Can anyone confirm if this address is still current for Mr. Rood? After speaking with him at the DCC a few years ago, he always comes to mind around this time of year. I'd like to drop him a card/note.

 

[Curt Bergeest]

I grew up in Dayton, so I got lucky and got to see George play in his prime. He used to come into The Cue and Bridge in Northtown Shopping Center and practice nearly every afternoon. He would first rack up fourteen balls and leave himself a break shot. He would proceed to run about 100 balls until he felt sufficiently warmed up. He rarely missed! Very rarely! Maybe once or twice a day at the most.

After his 14.1 practice he would throw nine balls on the table and practice 9-Ball for an hour or so. He would keep running out racks and throwing the balls back out there. He ran out almost every time. He was BY FAR the best player around. No one was even in his league. Joey Spaeth was the top hustler out of Cincinnati but he would have no part of George Rood. A fellow named Buddy Wallace from Cleveland was the state champion back then and once someone asked George why he didn't go up there and play him. He just laughed and said "Buddy Wallace won't play me, he'd just go running out of the poolroom."

One time Ed Kelly chanced to come into the Cue & Bridge on a road trip. I won't tell the whole story here, but George got the better of him that day. When next I saw Kelly at Johnston City, I was informed that he was the top young player in the country. I replied that I just saw him get beat a couple of months before. When I told these guys that a man named George Rood beat him, they had no idea who he was.

Lassiter used to come to Dayton often to visit with his old buddy George. They would hang out together at the old Airway Billiards, where Luther would play in the daily Pinochle game. During one interview Lassiter said that George was the best player he ever played. Another of George's friends was Don Willis, who would stop by from time to time. When Fats would come to town he was all buddy-buddy with George. He didn't want George to challenge him. It would be bad for his image to get beat by George. All Fat's bragging didn't bother George. He knew he was a better player and didn't really care what Fat's said.

George and his wife ran a dog breeding operation for many years, breeding show dogs. He was partners with Russ Maddox for awhile in East Side Billiards in Springfield where Mosconi ran his 526.

About 8 years ago I went to Ohio to visit a friend of mine and had the pleasure of meeting George. George showed me so many shots in one pocket I had a hard time writing them all down on a napkin.

I know Russ Maddox from Florida, he hangs out in a pool room called Family Billiards. A great one pocket player in his own right.

Geaorge and Russ were in the Army together and opened a couple of rooms together. George and I played some one pocket when he was in his 80's and he could still move great, his vision was going but he could still move. when I asked him how he does it, he said I play from memory. Just from the about location of balls on the table he could execute shots. I can't imagine how well he played when he was younger.

I still show people some of the shots he showed me, they had never seen such shots.

 

[Joe Pickens]

George was at the Monday night Airway tournament a couple weeks ago. He didn't play, but he was there.

 

[satman]

Jay's video

I grew up in Dayton, so I got lucky and got to see George play in his prime. He used to come into The Cue and Bridge in Northtown Shopping Center and practice nearly every afternoon. He would first rack up fourteen balls and leave himself a break shot. He would proceed to run about 100 balls until he felt sufficiently warmed up. He rarely missed! Very rarely! Maybe once or twice a day at the most.

After his 14.1 practice he would throw nine balls on the table and practice 9-Ball for an hour or so. He would keep running out racks and throwing the balls back out there. He ran out almost every time. He was BY FAR the best player around. No one was even in his league. Joey Spaeth was the top hustler out of Cincinnati but he would have no part of George Rood. A fellow named Buddy Wallace from Cleveland was the state champion back then and once someone asked George why he didn't go up there and play him. He just laughed and said "Buddy Wallace won't play me, he'd just go running out of the poolroom."

One time Ed Kelly chanced to come into the Cue & Bridge on a road trip. I won't tell the whole story here, but George got the better of him that day. When next I saw Kelly at Johnston City, I was informed that he was the top young player in the country. I replied that I just saw him get beat a couple of months before. When I told these guys that a man named George Rood beat him, they had no idea who he was.

Lassiter used to come to Dayton often to visit with his old buddy George. They would hang out together at the old Airway Billiards, where Luther would play in the daily Pinochle game. During one interview Lassiter said that George was the best player he ever played. Another of George's friends was Don Willis, who would stop by from time to time. When Fats would come to town he was all buddy-buddy with George. He didn't want George to challenge him. It would be bad for his image to get beat by George. All Fat's bragging didn't bother George. He knew he was a better player and didn't really care what Fat's said.

George and his wife ran a dog breeding operation for many years, breeding show dogs. He was partners with Russ Maddox for awhile in East Side Billiards in Springfield where Mosconi ran his 526.

I got 2nd in the qualifier for the US Open Bar Table Campionships at DCC a couple years ago. Jay was the promoter, and they did video's of the show he was putting together. Kind of a documentary. I think George got interviewed on the show? Jay would know for sure.

 

[jay helfert]

About 8 years ago I went to Ohio to visit a friend of mine and had the pleasure of meeting George. George showed me so many shots in one pocket I had a hard time writing them all down on a napkin.

I know Russ Maddox from Florida, he hangs out in a pool room called Family Billiards. A great one pocket player in his own right.

Geaorge and Russ were in the Army together and opened a couple of rooms together. George and I played some one pocket when he was in his 80's and he could still move great, his vision was going but he could still move. when I asked him how he does it, he said I play from memory. Just from the about location of balls on the table he could execute shots. I can't imagine how well he played when he was younger.

I still show people some of the shots he showed me, they had never seen such shots.

George and Russ bought High Street Billiards in Springfield, Ohio where Mosconi made his record run. They owned it for a few years after Willie put it on the map.

 

[Curt Bergeest]

Jay, you know Russ so you will find this funny. George told me that when they got out of the Army RUss went to work for a carpet company so they would get a discount on the rug. Then he went to work for the beer company so they could get discounts on beer and items for the pool room like lights and etc. Finally went to work for brunswick for the table side of the operation.

Russ could sell the devil ice cubes. Do you know Joe Brown from Airway, is he still there. Airway billiards was a tough room alot of great players there when I went.

 

[oldzilla]

from pool + billiard magazine november 1999

George Rood

sorry failed attempt !

i got alot of stories of "Ledgends of the Road" from pool and billiards magazine that i saved when i had a room.

i put them in sleeves and compiled them into notebook folders for customers to enjoy while hangin out.

i tried to upload and failed. to bigg i guess. now i got the entire 6 page story of G Rood in a pfd file and that did not work either.

if any one has any ideas as how to get a pfd file through to the forum let me know so i can bring this story and others.

 

[ragbug74]

George was at the Monday night Airway tournament a couple weeks ago. He didn't play, but he was there.

Can anyone confirm that the address listed above is still current for George?

Speaking of his accomplishments, I believe I heard when he was still in better health several years ago (in his 80's), he was still running 80+ in straight pool. I'll be happy to be able to stand up and hold a cue, let alone run 80+ at 80+ years of age. Way to go George!

 

[hangemhigh]

Can anyone confirm that the address listed above is still current for George?

Speaking of his accomplishments, I believe I heard when he was still in better health several years ago (in his 80's), he was still running 80+ in straight pool. I'll be happy to be able to stand up and hold a cue, let alone run 80+ at 80+ years of age. Way to go George!

The best information would come from Todd at Airway. Give him a call there. Let us know what he says.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, you know Russ so you will find this funny. George told me that when they got out of the Army RUss went to work for a carpet company so they would get a discount on the rug. Then he went to work for the beer company so they could get discounts on beer and items for the pool room like lights and etc. Finally went to work for brunswick for the table side of the operation.

Russ could sell the devil ice cubes. Do you know Joe Brown from Airway, is he still there. Airway billiards was a tough room alot of great players there when I went.

Russ was one super salesman! Pretty good hustler too, at pool and cards. I used to play Gin with him. He showed ma a few moves, but not his best ones, of course.

Sure, I know "Bankin" Joe Brown. He comes to DCC most every year with Jason Miller.

 

[ragbug74]

I just spoke with Todd at Airway and the address at the Widows Home Of Dayton listed a few posts above is current for George. (Todd, nice speaking with you and thanks for confirming the address for me.)

Todd says George's mind is still sharp as a tack, but he is in frail health physically. As someone else mentioned, another customer at Airway occasionally brings George to the pool hall for tournaments, so it's good that he can still get to the hall and see some old friends.

Todd said any type of visitors or cards would be greatly appreciated. I plan on dropping a card in the mail to him over the weekend.

 

[Joe Pickens]

Jay, you know Russ so you will find this funny. George told me that when they got out of the Army RUss went to work for a carpet company so they would get a discount on the rug. Then he went to work for the beer company so they could get discounts on beer and items for the pool room like lights and etc. Finally went to work for brunswick for the table side of the operation.

Russ could sell the devil ice cubes. Do you know Joe Brown from Airway, is he still there. Airway billiards was a tough room alot of great players there when I went.

Joe Brown is still at Airway Billiards along with Jason Miller, Frank Ruby, Ryan Stone, Alex O. and a few others that can play some strong 9-ball. Jason only shows up once in awhile though.

 

[pt109]

Pickwick Club

Russ was one super salesman! Pretty good hustler too, at pool and cards. I used to play Gin with him. He showed ma a few moves, but not his best ones, of course.

Jay,do you remember the Pickwick Club?Changed names later on to
maybe the original Airway?
Russ Maddox gave me action there in the late 60's.Geo Rood was one of the players.Russ also sold private airplanes.He taught me a lot about
gambling,like,never bet more than a 6th of your bankroll on long games
or a 10th on short games( like 9-ball.)Sent me to action in the Springfield
room.Won some $ on the 4x8.It was like playing on a piece of history.
Tried to win $526 but the guy pulled up at $300.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay,do you remember the Pickwick Club?Changed names later on to
maybe the original Airway?
Russ Maddox gave me action there in the late 60's.Geo Rood was one of the players.Russ also sold private airplanes.He taught me a lot about
gambling,like,never bet more than a 6th of your bankroll on long games
or a 10th on short games( like 9-ball.)Sent me to action in the Springfield
room.Won some $ on the 4x8.It was like playing on a piece of history.
Tried to win $526 but the guy pulled up at $300.

Pickwick is the original "Airway". It was on Pickwick Road. I didn't miss you by much. I left Dayton in 1967 and only returned after that for Joe Burn's tourneys at Forest Park Billiards in the 70's.

Lassiter used to come in Pickwick and hang out with his buddy George and play Pinochle all day. I remember him folding his money carefully before he put it away. I learned that habit from him and still do it to this day.