Dick McGiveron Dies

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Mark Griffin

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Our BCAPL office got this news earlier today.

I am sad to report that 9 Ball Player, Dick Megiveron, died this morning about 7:30am at St Peter's Hospital in Olympia, Washington. As many of you know, he had a five-way bypass ten years ago, and last Saturday his heart just quit working. He is survived by his son - Justin, daughter - Cheryl, and sister - Annie. The funeral will be next Monday or Tuesday.

I met Dick back in late 80's - in fact he worked for us in managing the Anchorage Billiard Palace. I swore his son's name was Jordan and he was around 4 or so. (at the time)

At one time Dick managed the Billiard Tavern in San Diego and played pretty sporty.

I think he opened a couple of different places in the Tacoma area. Red Barn comes to mind.

Mark Griffin, CEO
CSI - BCAPL - USAPL

I am sure a lot of others know a whole lot more about Dick.

It seems everyone is dieing. . . .
 
So sorry to hear this news. Dick owned the Billiard Tavern in the 1980's. We put on some great tournaments down there. Swanee hung out there and would play anybody who walked through the doors. NO ONE was barred!

Dick played slow and deliberate pool, but was tough to beat. He was a good guy who lent a helping hand to many players who were down on their luck. He gave Roy The Cook a job in his kitchen and staked Billy Graves on many occasions. The Billiard Tavern was THE SPOT in San Diego back then. Chuck Markulis (the owner of Hard Times) bought him out in the late 80's.
 
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My condolences go out to his family and friends.

I was trying to find a picture of him but have come up empty on Google.

I did find a brief mention of Dick Megoverin: “Billiards By-Line” (Magazine 8 ½” x 11” Spot Color) boasted of being the final word in pool for San Diego and Southern California. I’m looking at Volume 2 Issue 6, August 15, 1986. The publishing editor was Kathleen F Kline. The staff consisted of Rex Bergstom, Carla Cooper, Fish, Steve Fox, Pat Gordon, Bill Gosnell, Brian Henderson, Debbie Teagarden, Mike Weber and Ashley Woodbury with a circulation of 2,000. The front page pictured the winners of the 2nd Annual Mid Summer Couples Classic won by Ismael Paez and Sabrina Peterson. Coming in 2nd was Dick Megiveron and Pat Gordon. This was played at College Billiards Center. Some of the headlines read, “Darby’s to Host Series of Ladies Pool Tournaments” and “Debbie Haver Winner at Billiard Tavern”. There were results of weekly tournaments in the “Tourney Tattler”, and the “B B Dictionary” by Ashley Woodburn, “L A News”, “Panama Bill Shot of the Month”; local league news about an Advanced Men’s League that was forming in the San Diego area, coordinator Bill Gosnell. This publication had 12 pages.

Is this him in the bottom picture on the cover? I realize it is hard to see, but according to the above-referenced, he and Pat Gordon came in second place at this tournament.
 

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Mark Griffin said:
Our BCAPL office got this news earlier today.

I am sad to report that 9 Ball Player, Dick Megiveron, died this morning about 7:30am at St Peter's Hospital in Olympia, Washington. As many of you know, he had a five-way bypass ten years ago, and last Saturday his heart just quit working. He is survived by his son - Justin, daughter - Cheryl, and sister - Annie. The funeral will be next Monday or Tuesday.

I met Dick back in late 80's - in fact he worked for us in managing the Anchorage Billiard Palace. I swore his son's name was Jordan and he was around 4 or so. (at the time)

At one time Dick managed the Billiard Tavern in San Diego and played pretty sporty.

I think he opened a couple of different places in the Tacoma area. Red Barn comes to mind.

Mark Griffin, CEO
CSI - BCAPL - USAPL

I am sure a lot of others know a whole lot more about Dick.

It seems everyone is dieing. . . .
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this Mark.

I am sorry to hear about the loss, my condolences goes out to his family. i will keep them in my prayers.

-Steve
 
Dick McGiveron

Jam,

How do you do 'google' like that???

Yep that is a picture of Dick. Kathleen Kline is the one that recommended that we talk to Dick about going to Alaska.

I remember an article in one of the billiard magazines about a $1,000 added evnet with a few sporty players - and Dick won his own event.

I was with a very good friend of mine in Denver or Montana or somewhere and we ran into him and played some serious (for us) straight pool. He played pretty good. That was in mid 1970's.

He was not a 'great' player but he would make you work real hard. His whole life was around pool.

Mark Griffin
 
JAM said:
My condolences go out to his family and friends.

I was trying to find a picture of him but have come up empty on Google.

I did find a brief mention of Dick Megoverin: “Billiards By-Line” (Magazine 8 ½” x 11” Spot Color) boasted of being the final word in pool for San Diego and Southern California. I’m looking at Volume 2 Issue 6, August 15, 1986. The publishing editor was Kathleen F Kline. The staff consisted of Rex Bergstom, Carla Cooper, Fish, Steve Fox, Pat Gordon, Bill Gosnell, Brian Henderson, Debbie Teagarden, Mike Weber and Ashley Woodbury with a circulation of 2,000. The front page pictured the winners of the 2nd Annual Mid Summer Couples Classic won by Ismael Paez and Sabrina Peterson. Coming in 2nd was Dick Megiveron and Pat Gordon. This was played at College Billiards Center. Some of the headlines read, “Darby’s to Host Series of Ladies Pool Tournaments” and “Debbie Haver Winner at Billiard Tavern”. There were results of weekly tournaments in the “Tourney Tattler”, and the “B B Dictionary” by Ashley Woodburn, “L A News”, “Panama Bill Shot of the Month”; local league news about an Advanced Men’s League that was forming in the San Diego area, coordinator Bill Gosnell. This publication had 12 pages.

Is this him in the bottom picture on the cover? I realize it is hard to see, but according to the above-referenced, he and Pat Gordon came in second place at this tournament.
Click to expand...


This comes from The Break Magazine. We did an article in The Break called "Printed, Published and Read" The Billiard By Line was one of the magazine copies from San Diego dating back to 1986. It was a look back at pool, pocket billiards and league publications. The Break published this in October of 2004. Here is the link http://www.onthebreaknews.com/Cheese3.htm scroll down until you find "Printed Published and Read".
Dick also owned a bar in Lacy, WA just outside of Olympia with partners. I used to deliver The Break to "The Viking" for years. Here is a link to that article http://www.onthebreaknews.com/Viking.htm There is a picture of a gentleman in a Viking hat. I do not know if this was Dick or not, maybe somebody can tell us.
 
Don Akerlow said:
This comes from The Break Magazine. We did an article in The Break called "Printed, Published and Read" The Billiard By Line was one of the magazine copies from San Diego dating back to 1986. It was a look back at pool, pocket billiards and league publications. The Break published this in October of 2004. Here is the link http://www.onthebreaknews.com/Cheese3.htm scroll down until you find "Printed Published and Read".
Dick also owned a bar in Lacy, WA just outside of Olympia with partners. I used to deliver The Break to "The Viking" for years. Here is a link to that article http://www.onthebreaknews.com/Viking.htm There is a picture of a gentleman in a Viking hat. I do not know if this was Dick or not, maybe somebody can tell us.
Click to expand...


That's definitely not Dick in the Viking hat. He wouldn't even put a baseball cap on his head. :smile:
 
Dick was one of the players that inspired me to play. I remember back in the 70's he used to come up this way and I pulled an all nighter watching him playing BB 9 ball with Ronnie Moen (since passed) Owner of Ace billiards in Vancouver. I was mesmerized with how they moved that big Ball lol
RIP Dick and condolences to his family.
 
Wow, what a shock, first Martha Hartsell and now Dick. He was a beautiful man and I will miss him. I was on his team in the 80's in some big tournament and we won and that was something we would always rehash whenever we saw each other.

RIP Dick, you are loved.
 
I have this old picture of Dick. He used to come to the tournaments at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento in the late 70s. Picture is from 78 or 79.

DickMegiveron.jpg
 
Wow! I am shocked and saddened. I have wonderful memories of the Billiard Tavern, the Billiards Byline and Dick McGiveron.

I first met Dick in 1981 (if I remember right). At the time he invited me and others I knew to check out the room he was managing in San Diego, the Billiard Tavern. A couple of months later I paid a visit. Great room! One of the best I've ever been in. Dick took the time to show me around. He had a nice elevated seating area, a pro shop, a private players room, an arcade and an arena with tiered seating - everything a serious player could want.

Dick had monthly tournaments that became very popular, regularly attracting folks from as far away as LA. I played in a few of those tournaments and took it as a great learning experience. Lots of talent was hanging around the Billiard Tavern.

My condolences to Dick's family and friends. He was one of the guys I will always remember from the pool world.
 
Deadon said:
I have this old picture of Dick. He used to come to the tournaments at the Jointed Cue in Sacramento in the late 70s. Picture is from 78 or 79.

DickMegiveron.jpg
Click to expand...

My man Megiveron! So many of my old buddies playing their last rack. :(
 
Tricky Dick!!!!

That is a palmer wedge in the pic that he owned for many years.
We took a 3 or 4 month road trip in the early 80's. We covered lots of ground and had many good times and played many places. We took several other short trips around wa. and or. He beat Keith and won a tourney in Walla Walla many years ago.
One of the things he did best was turn out pool players. He turned out Rich Sager when he was about 22 yrs. and he played at a very high speed, and played flawless for hours. I watched him beat Ken Dodd 24 ahead in a few hours.
Marcel was a pro snooker player from MontreaL that spent some time in Seattle in 1980 and Dick always took in the pool players and let em stay as long as they wanted.
He is a class act and will be missed by everyone that knew him.













Marcel was a pro snooker player from Montreal and he spent several nites on Dicks couch and played good to.
He was a real class act and will be missed by every one that knew him.
 
I did not know Dick well. About a year and a half ago I bought his Szamboti with which he told me he won the California State Championship. It made me sad to read this so I thought this would be a fitting place to post this in his memory.
100_6068.jpg
 
thepavlos said:
I did not know Dick well. About a year and a half ago I bought his Szamboti with which he told me he won the California State Championship. It made me sad to read this so I thought this would be a fitting place to post this in his memory.
100_6068.jpg
Click to expand...

He had that cue for a long time!
 
I used to see him at his pool room in Olympia,Wa in the mid 90's.We played a little bit,not any serious pool. He still played very well back then,pretty solid. He was always very nice and respectful to everyone. He will be missed,and I hope his family is well.
 
Dick Megiveron



For those of you who remember Dick Megiveron from the Billiard Tavern in San Diego during the early 80's - I am his daughter Cheryl. Not sure if anyone remembers me?? It has been fun to see many names that I recognize!!
It has been a delight to see all the great memories that are being posted, thank you so much for all the kind things being said..... he really did touch a lot of lives :)
A memorial service honoring his life will be held on
Monday- Aug 23rd 2pm at
Grace Community Covenant Church
5501 Wiggins Rd. SE - Olympia, WA 98501
In lieu of flowers - donations are being made in Dad's name to his home church
Bible Fellowship Church
PO Box 4676
Federal Way, WA 98023
 
Cheryl said:


For those of you who remember Dick Megiveron from the Billiard Tavern in San Diego during the early 80's - I am his daughter Cheryl. Not sure if anyone remembers me?? It has been fun to see many names that I recognize!!
It has been a delight to see all the great memories that are being posted, thank you so much for all the kind things being said..... he really did touch a lot of lives :)
A memorial service honoring his life will be held on
Monday- Aug 23rd 2pm at
Grace Community Covenant Church
5501 Wiggins Rd. SE - Olympia, WA 98501
In lieu of flowers - donations are being made in Dad's name to his home church
Bible Fellowship Church
PO Box 4676
Federal Way, WA 98023
Click to expand...

Yes Cheryl, I remember you. Your dad was a good man, loyal to his friends and honest to a fault. He was a lot of fun to hang around, maybe that's why the Tavern was the most popular room in San Diego. You could get away with a lot at the Tavern, but if things got out of hand, your dad was quick to rein them in. He didn't take any guff from anyone. He always knew the "score" about what was up and somehow ended up on the right side of things almost every time. Your dad and pool was a perfect fit and he embraced his life to the fullest. You can't do much more than that. God bless you Cheryl. You had a helluva dad!
 
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