Grady Matthews

A tuff roll

I have known, played, argued, and loved Grady since Custer was a lieutenant, and I am disheartened and deeply saddened that the old guard is shrinking once again. I sent him a letter because I heard it is difficult for him to talk. I told him I will probably need at least 10 to 8 the next time we play. God bless you old pal.

Beard
 
Pushout said:
My favorite instructor when I was in college from '05-'08 got lung cancer and never smoked a day in his life. They cut out a small portion of his lung and he's fine now.
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IIRC, Grady smoked until 1990 or so.

Good luck Grady!
 
Sending good thoughts and warm wishes to Grady and his family. He has been one of the best in the game for over 40 years!

Brian in VA
 
When Grady went on the road putting on exhibitions back in the '80s, he came to my home pool room. Everybody was lining up to get their picture taken with him, including me, as shown in the top photo.

The bottom photo was the first U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship I went to. We were all so happy to be there. This photo was taken by Diana Hoppe.

Grady Mathews (with one "t" by the way) is a pool legend. We are all so fortunate to have him in our pool world today! :smile:
 

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Wow :frown::frown:

I don't know Grady personally nor even seen a match of him playing but I always liked his commentary and I keep hearing how he was a top echelon player.

Fight it hard Professor!
 
Wherever Grady goes, may there be level tables, straight cues, good company, and yes...Potato Salad and Dramboui...:smile:
 
This is very sad news. Few have made their mark on a community and on a game like Grady has on pool. Our game is better because of his passion, his insight, and his hard work. Thank you Grady. May you seek comfort knowing that you are in the prayers of so many who know and love you.
 
Grady prayer

Grady,
You are in my prayers to have the very best treatment and care.
I've always been a huge fan of everything you have done with pool and for pool. You always had time to share some stories and laughs whenever we would meet at a tourney or clinic.
Longtime friend in Pa,
Wayne Agnew
 
Ah...this is sad. Grady was a good guy. I had him at my pool room several times. He always was a gentleman and treated my customers great. His video's were also excellent. I think he could have been one of the first "pros" that really taught secrets. I remember overhearing someone asking a HOF player for some advice at one of the Joss tournaments. He answered "Why? So you can beat me with it next time? Learn it like I did!" Grady is not like that. He was happy to share what he knew. Professor you will always be in my thoughts. You are a great guy.

Bob
 
The Professor will always be in my thoughts.
I was fortunate enough to get some lessons from him, must have been in late 1989 or early 1990. A great teacher, a great guy and jam up representative for the game.

Good luck wherever you may end up!

Steve H.
 
Early 70's Colo. Spgs

Boy, allot has come and gone since Colorado, and then seeing Grady, legs crossed eating fruits and vegetables in So. Cal. at the pool room/mid seventies where John Henderson and Frank Barber and others gambled at. Grady actually ran for City Council in Colorado Springs and had posters made and placed around town, had a dapper suit on and his familiar posturing look. He owned a pool room with Charlie Shootman on the corner of E. Platte Ave. & Union Blvd (old hwy 24 E/W that was the gateway to Pikes Peak). They had constant action, Dominos was played/gambled at allot, and eventually Grady had a nice craps game in the basement. All the old school townee regulars and blue collar no playing tho gambling guys would ALL come in and try and beat the giggling grady at different games, but he was good at ALL games, and he had a backer, wife? red hair, boy when she backed him and he gave up too much weight, she got IN YOUR FACE, she was selling $25 bottles of Andre champagne at the strip joint to the GI's back in the day, makin 2-300 every night as the den mother, and her temper when agitated (pit bull) was as RED as her RED hair at times. Great times, even Angel from Denver was cuttin' his teeth down here while in the military, and now cuttin' hair and still beatin' em on the golf table at the old Family Fun Center in Denver. Stories about em can go on relentlessly from this part of the USA, as he spent many years here, makin', workin' and creating games. They would fly and drive in to get action, he was always willing to make a game and loved to Bet It UP.
Take care ma man, was a good ride, and I never met anyone else that drove a cadillac as fast and as timely to get anywhere in the country within a five minute guarantee.
And he loved the women...........who doesn't:)
 
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Terrible news

This is horrible news. I wish I were back in Augusta so I could take a quick ride up the I-20 to his place and wish him well. Prayers will have to do.

I first met Grady when I was 19 at CT Billiards in Torrington, CT. He's always had time to tell a story or three, always with panache and flair. My most memorable recollection of Grady has to be at Shannon Daulton's GSBT event in Fayetteville, NC at Kings Street Billiards. I was moderating the chat for the live stream when we had Grady come on and commentate on a match between Charley "Hillbilly" Bryant and (I believe) Nick Varner. There was a break in the match, and the producer, Dustin, asked Grady to tell a story while we were waiting. We were thinking that it would be a pool related story of course, but Grady had other things in mind. He began to rattle off one of his famously off color stories...on a live broadcast! The entire production team was in tears.

For his commentary counterpart, Chris Adams, it was truly shocking. It was Chris's first time in the commentators booth, and he was already nervous; and excited at getting to call a match with Grady. He had absolutely NO clue what to do when Grady started in on his story...all he could do was try not to laugh into the microphone and throw his occasional 2 cents in with a question to TRY to keep Grady on track...If someone has the link to that video, it will give everyone a good laugh.

That story still is one of those that if I'm having a bad day at the office, will make me smile and laugh out loud. Grady has that effect on people...he's a person that when you meet him, you will not soon forget it! He leaves a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

Grady, my prayers are going out to you and your family. Keep the good fight up, and I hope the next time I'm in GA, I have the chance to head up your way to say hi once again.

Joshua Johnson
 
Grady,
All the best to you from myself & Brenda, old friend. Thanks for all you've taught me, and for all you've done in the pool world you love. I hope you can meet many more days on your own terms.
 
This was on Grady's Facebook page today;
Grady Mathews My Daughter posted sensitive personal health information about me without my knowledge or consent. My doctor has never used the word "terminal" with me. I saw the word first on her post. I'm going through chemo, First three done, next three start Oct 27th. I had hoped to finish the 10 chemo treatments, then get a long term prognosis, maybe followed by rehab. Please don't call me, voice is shot. Don't have time or inclination to do E-mail. Love and prayers will help Love Grady 38 minutes ago
 
1988

sk8ordie said:
This was on Grady's Facebook page today;
Grady Mathews My Daughter posted sensitive personal health information about me without my knowledge or consent. My doctor has never used the word "terminal" with me. I saw the word first on her post. I'm going through chemo, First three done, next three start Oct 27th. I had hoped to finish the 10 chemo treatments, then get a long term prognosis, maybe followed by rehab. Please don't call me, voice is shot. Don't have time or inclination to do E-mail. Love and prayers will help Love Grady 38 minutes ago
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My prayers are with you my friend. I first met Grady in 1988 on tour with my band in Cleveland. I remember I brought him and Jimmy Fusco onto our tour bus to give them a short tour. He laughed his ass off when he got to the back lounge and saw I had around 30 plus accu-stats tapes back there. He says look Jimmy most bands have girls in the back of there tour busses, he has pool videos:-). Grady took me down the street where they were having a round robin 14.1 tournament. All the big names were there and we have been friends ever since. My family is praying for a speedy recovery for you Grady.:-) Much Love and Infinate respect......Mark
 
Grady,
you've always been one of the very best at pocket billiards, at least during my time on this earth.

My prayers go out to you and I hope for a speedy recovery!


David Harcrow
 
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