Been hearing the name Bill Lawson a lot reminiscing with guys at the pool room. I Never had the opportunity to see him play. Any stories or comments about him out there? Where was he from, is he still above ground, what games did he excel at.
Bill Lawson
- Thread starter Seneca Steve
- Start date
The best hustler PERIOD..........
None of the top players trapped your humble shortstop poster, save, Bill Lawson.
The Scottish Inn was the place to stay for all the river rats running up and down the Miss. river in Vicksburg, MS all thourgh the 70s. A hand-full of lovely ladies could be had for a nominal charge. The Scottish Inn bar was where one had to go to partake in their wares. Also in the bar were two Valley bar tables. Many of the river rats thought themselves to be pool players. They would get it in their minds that they were good enough to get someone else to pay for their pleasure time by challenging anyone on the pool table for $10-$20 per game.
I had been working the bar at the Scottish Inn on Friday night. I had beaten all the river rats out of all their cash and any hope of getting lucky that night when another river rat, looking, guy walks in and asks what we are playing for. I told him $20. He said he would play me some $50 nine ball. I told the guy to rackum, since I held the table.
A smart, money making, shortstop knows when to quit. My rule was, if a guy runs three racks on me, bow and tell the guy he's the best. Not that I wasn't capable of running more that 3 racks but I was in it for the cash and butting heads cost money.
Bill Lawson ran 3 racks on me but he never strung the racks together 1 through 9. Some where in the racks he would play a combonation on the 9 ball. I was running out the right way and he was shooting wild combonation shots but they were all going in.
$990 later I shake his hand and tell him he's the best.
The following Sunday I am in Baton Rouge, LA at the Greenway pool room watching the finals of a big 9 ball tournament. In the finals, Buddy Hall vs my river rat,,,,,,,,,,,Bill Lawson. I couldn't help but walk over and shake his hand again and tell him how well he laid it down. I smiled as did Bill. He didn't beat Buddy but second in a top notch field was much better than any River Rat is suppost to play..........
None of the top players trapped your humble shortstop poster, save, Bill Lawson.
The Scottish Inn was the place to stay for all the river rats running up and down the Miss. river in Vicksburg, MS all thourgh the 70s. A hand-full of lovely ladies could be had for a nominal charge. The Scottish Inn bar was where one had to go to partake in their wares. Also in the bar were two Valley bar tables. Many of the river rats thought themselves to be pool players. They would get it in their minds that they were good enough to get someone else to pay for their pleasure time by challenging anyone on the pool table for $10-$20 per game.
I had been working the bar at the Scottish Inn on Friday night. I had beaten all the river rats out of all their cash and any hope of getting lucky that night when another river rat, looking, guy walks in and asks what we are playing for. I told him $20. He said he would play me some $50 nine ball. I told the guy to rackum, since I held the table.
A smart, money making, shortstop knows when to quit. My rule was, if a guy runs three racks on me, bow and tell the guy he's the best. Not that I wasn't capable of running more that 3 racks but I was in it for the cash and butting heads cost money.
Bill Lawson ran 3 racks on me but he never strung the racks together 1 through 9. Some where in the racks he would play a combonation on the 9 ball. I was running out the right way and he was shooting wild combonation shots but they were all going in.
$990 later I shake his hand and tell him he's the best.
The following Sunday I am in Baton Rouge, LA at the Greenway pool room watching the finals of a big 9 ball tournament. In the finals, Buddy Hall vs my river rat,,,,,,,,,,,Bill Lawson. I couldn't help but walk over and shake his hand again and tell him how well he laid it down. I smiled as did Bill. He didn't beat Buddy but second in a top notch field was much better than any River Rat is suppost to play..........
ty for the story
approx what year was this?
approx what year was this?
1977, over the hill by then
Bill, in 1977 Lawson was probably over the hill. He came to Chicago in the late 60s or early or middle 70s and hung in Bensingers with us. Even then his best game was well behind him. His game was ruined by booze and even he knew it. He was however, a terrific guy and would help anybody with their game. Late 50s and 60s he was near unbeatable. He was credited with having the best 9ball break in the game at that time. But he was a serious, fall down drunk, kind of drinker when he did go in.
the Beard
hemicudas said:
Bill, in 1977 Lawson was probably over the hill. He came to Chicago in the late 60s or early or middle 70s and hung in Bensingers with us. Even then his best game was well behind him. His game was ruined by booze and even he knew it. He was however, a terrific guy and would help anybody with their game. Late 50s and 60s he was near unbeatable. He was credited with having the best 9ball break in the game at that time. But he was a serious, fall down drunk, kind of drinker when he did go in.
the Beard
I had the priviledge of meeting & getting to know Bill (Erwin) Lawson in Greensboro in the early 80's. He had quit drinkin & smoked Salem regulars & loved herb. He told me in his prime he would drink 2 bottles of Thunderbird before he left the motel & play top speed 9 ball. Billy Johnson credited Bill with teaching him his famous nine ball break.. though they looked totally different in their execution the results were the same. Bill recounted scuffling before the major US highways & had a regular circuit & nobody wanted weight. He tortured the tobacco farmers & local players around NC for years. I feel honored to have known Bill & theres a real soft spot in my heart for all the unheralded players who paved the way for the Earl Stricklands of the next generation. Bill hailed from Winston Salem & theres a shitty pic of him in Gradys book "Bet High & kiss Low".
He was around Houston, probably late 70's. A very good guy. He loved sports. He ,danny Jones, myself and others, went to and bet on many baseball and basketball games. He still played very well. He told me he had beaten Greg Stevens earlier in Gregs career, he wasn't a braggart. he said Greg was younger and didn't play quite as well then. Don Watson said sometimes Bill played better than anyone some years before.daniel said:
Thanks for the stories MORE please
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