Cotton Smith

Chuck Raulston

Chuck Raulston

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
There is an older man from my area in southeast Missouri named Cotton Smith that was an avid player from the 60's through the 80's. He is an acquaintence of mine, and I see him around the pool hall from time to time but he does not play anymore. I know he played around the Johnson City days and was supposedly around there during the tournaments. I was just curious if anyone knows him or has any stories about him from his earlier days. I have heard many stories about him locally over the years and was hoping to hear some from this board.

Chuck Raulston
 
Chuck, I knew Cotton pretty well

Chuck Raulston said:
There is an older man from my area in southeast Missouri named Cotton Smith that was an avid player from the 60's through the 80's. He is an acquaintence of mine, and I see him around the pool hall from time to time but he does not play anymore. I know he played around the Johnson City days and was supposedly around there during the tournaments. I was just curious if anyone knows him or has any stories about him from his earlier days. I have heard many stories about him locally over the years and was hoping to hear some from this board.

Chuck Raulston
Click to expand...

Hello Chuck - I knew & played Cotton pretty well. We played about 4 times in SE MO on a bar box and I think I only got the cheese once. He came to St. Louis quite often back in the '70's and we played on the bigs. I always seemed to get the cheese in the pool halls. He always gambled very well and took off some pretty good scores here. I made some good rail $ once on him.
I just saw Danny Spradling last night over at The Break and we were speaking of Cotton. Tell Cotton we both say Hi, and wish him well.
TY & GL
 
Cotton Stories

Chuck Raulston said:
I will tell Cotton you said hello. I may see him in the pool room this afternoon.
Click to expand...

Chuck - As far as Cotton stories, You could catch Vernon, Leroy or Terry Hueslman at The Break and they could go on forever with stories of Cotton.

Aren't you coming to Action Billiards tonight for the Mini's and the tourny tomorrow?

TY & GL
 
I'm coming

I'll be leaving pretty soon. I may not play in the mini's tonight but I will definitely play in the tournament tomorrow.

Chuck Raulston
 
OldHasBeen said:
Hello Chuck - I knew & played Cotton pretty well. We played about 4 times in SE MO on a bar box and I think I only got the cheese once. He came to St. Louis quite often back in the '70's and we played on the bigs. I always seemed to get the cheese in the pool halls. He always gambled very well and took off some pretty good scores here. I made some good rail $ once on him.
I just saw Danny Spradling last night over at The Break and we were speaking of Cotton. Tell Cotton we both say Hi, and wish him well.
TY & GL
Click to expand...

You know everyone. It seems when someone talks about anyone in pool, you know the or heard of them. Thats great OldHasBeen. I'll bet you've seen some pretty talented players in your time. Maybe some that dropped out and some that made it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
 
Yes, I knew quite a few and loved every minute of it.

pete lafond said:
You know everyone. It seems when someone talks about anyone in pool, you know the or heard of them. Thats great OldHasBeen. I'll bet you've seen some pretty talented players in your time. Maybe some that dropped out and some that made it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Click to expand...

Yes, I knew quite a few and loved every minute of it. I guess if I had worked in a Hugh factory for over 20 years, I would have gotten to know most of the workers there also. That is why I say TCOM is sooo impossible.

I enjoyed pool for many years and it provided a great income for me when I was "Foot Loose & Fancy Free".
Now that I have 2 mortgages and 2 private university students, I am very lucky to have started my company when I did.
Pool was much different back in those days. A player could actually make a decent living by also being a Good Hustler. Today’s Pool is much more demanding. It takes a player with great talent and desire to be successful in the game today.
I just saw a match last night between Andy Quinn and this 17-year-old great player from Canada. I saw him play wonderful at the DCC and was even more impressed last night when he was able to beat Andy 10 ahead in less than 2 hours. I had a conversation with him before the match and was kind of chastising him for even being at the DCC. I said it was the stupidest thing I had ever seen. That is the worst and last place he should have been. He stated, "I gotta be in action to survive and gotta go where ever it is".
I GUESS HE'S RIGHT.
I used to fill up my car for $6 and it cost $6 to $11 a night for a room. $25 a day was all it took to exist "On The Road" back then.
Now, if I go out of town "On Business" for a week, it cost my company over $1,150 for 5 days.
In general though, I have enjoyed the game of pool for my entire adult life and I wouldn't change a minute of it.

TY & GL
 
OldHasBeen said:
Yes, I knew quite a few and loved every minute of it. I guess if I had worked in a Hugh factory for over 20 years, I would have gotten to know most of the workers there also. That is why I say TCOM is sooo impossible.

I enjoyed pool for many years and it provided a great income for me when I was "Foot Loose & Fancy Free".
Now that I have 2 mortgages and 2 private university students, I am very lucky to have started my company when I did.
Pool was much different back in those days. A player could actually make a decent living by also being a Good Hustler. Today’s Pool is much more demanding. It takes a player with great talent and desire to be successful in the game today.
I just saw a match last night between Andy Quinn and this 17-year-old great player from Canada. I saw him play wonderful at the DCC and was even more impressed last night when he was able to beat Andy 10 ahead in less than 2 hours. I had a conversation with him before the match and was kind of chastising him for even being at the DCC. I said it was the stupidest thing I had ever seen. That is the worst and last place he should have been. He stated, "I gotta be in action to survive and gotta go where ever it is".
I GUESS HE'S RIGHT.
I used to fill up my car for $6 and it cost $6 to $11 a night for a room. $25 a day was all it took to exist "On The Road" back then.
Now, if I go out of town "On Business" for a week, it cost my company over $1,150 for 5 days.
In general though, I have enjoyed the game of pool for my entire adult life and I wouldn't change a minute of it.

TY & GL
Click to expand...


You should write a book OHB, about the players in
the old days, seriously. I love listening to your
posts about the old days. Some of the players you've
mentioned I've heard of, some I haven't.
Johnny Ervolino tells me stories all the time about
NYC in the 50's and 60's and also the Johnson City
Tournaments and I soak up ever word of it!
Keep 'em coming!
 
I live here in Missouri(bootheel), and I'd like to see both of you play sometime. Hopefully one day I can make it to a tourney to watch! Wish you both the best.

Dea
 
Big Names Make $$$ - OHB's Make Hot Air.

Bobby said:
You should write a book OHB, about the players in
the old days, seriously. I love listening to your
posts about the old days. Some of the players you've
mentioned I've heard of, some I haven't.
Johnny Ervolino tells me stories all the time about
NYC in the 50's and 60's and also the Johnson City
Tournaments and I soak up ever word of it!
Keep 'em coming!
Click to expand...

Bobby - Thanks, but I don't believe there is a market for a "True To Life" Pool Hustling Book.
I have been approached to do a book a long time ago and decided it would be a waist of time. Of course as it turned out this particular writer really just wanted insight on gambling and not specifically pool.
There are many, many just like me and the stories & memories are plentiful but not very interesting to the general public.

TY & GL
 
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