Read all about it on AzBilliards Main Page:
Long-time tournament director and player Joe Kerr passed away early Sunday morning of Myasthenia Gravis. Mr. Kerr graduated from the University of Akron, majoring in Marketing and Communication, which would serve him well in later years. Joe began playing pool in 1977 and practiced four hours each day both at pool and table tennis. He soon became proficient enough to become resident pro at Starchers Recreation in Akron. He went on to become a pool player, table-tennis player, author, promoter and director. He made his love of pool into a realized dream of a lucrative profession in the sport. He joined the Professional Billiard Tour Association (PBTA) and captured the 1983 Detroit Open tournament and later the 1985 Challenge Cup at Canton's own Hall of Fame Lanes. He made a name for himself as "Akron Joey" and later "The Joker" for his business, Joker Promotions. He promoted and directed over 250 major professional national and international events. He wrote for the National Billiard News as well as the Pool and Billiard Magazine. He was Tour coordinator for the PBTA from 1991 to 1992. He was Executive Director of the Men's Professional Billiard's association from 1988 through 1990. In 1992, he was unfortunately stricken with Myasthenia Gravis disease. Below we offer some words from those who knew him best:
"Joe goes back a long way. He was the TD for the pros in the 80's. Joe was the honest TD that everyone called when they had a tournament. He was really good and a real nice fellow. He was always right there trying to help the pros get organized, always willing to donate his time. He was a stickler for the rules. If you forfeited a match, you forfeited that match, you could not wiggle out of it with Joe. One of the last times I was with him we played golf together, man this is a shame. He will be very badly missed." Allen Hopkins.
"He really was one of the best promoters we had of all time. He was in that era when we had 15 or 16 events a year and was one of the ones who gave pool such promise back then. He was Executive Director of the MPBA and was a huge force behind that organization. His efforts got him inducted into the Canton Sports Hall of Fame and he certainly deserved the honor. He was a guy who wore many hats, TD'ing, raising sponsorships, just whatever needed to be done. I remember in 1989 when I won all those tournaments it was Joe who usually handed me the checks. I used to kid him each time he gave me one that he needed to get back to work to raise some more money for me. I often wonder where pool might have gotten to today if Joe had not fallen ill."? Nick Varner.
I have heard so many wonderful stories about this man. May he rest in peace! My condolences to his family and friends.
JAM
Long-time tournament director and player Joe Kerr passed away early Sunday morning of Myasthenia Gravis. Mr. Kerr graduated from the University of Akron, majoring in Marketing and Communication, which would serve him well in later years. Joe began playing pool in 1977 and practiced four hours each day both at pool and table tennis. He soon became proficient enough to become resident pro at Starchers Recreation in Akron. He went on to become a pool player, table-tennis player, author, promoter and director. He made his love of pool into a realized dream of a lucrative profession in the sport. He joined the Professional Billiard Tour Association (PBTA) and captured the 1983 Detroit Open tournament and later the 1985 Challenge Cup at Canton's own Hall of Fame Lanes. He made a name for himself as "Akron Joey" and later "The Joker" for his business, Joker Promotions. He promoted and directed over 250 major professional national and international events. He wrote for the National Billiard News as well as the Pool and Billiard Magazine. He was Tour coordinator for the PBTA from 1991 to 1992. He was Executive Director of the Men's Professional Billiard's association from 1988 through 1990. In 1992, he was unfortunately stricken with Myasthenia Gravis disease. Below we offer some words from those who knew him best:
"Joe goes back a long way. He was the TD for the pros in the 80's. Joe was the honest TD that everyone called when they had a tournament. He was really good and a real nice fellow. He was always right there trying to help the pros get organized, always willing to donate his time. He was a stickler for the rules. If you forfeited a match, you forfeited that match, you could not wiggle out of it with Joe. One of the last times I was with him we played golf together, man this is a shame. He will be very badly missed." Allen Hopkins.
"He really was one of the best promoters we had of all time. He was in that era when we had 15 or 16 events a year and was one of the ones who gave pool such promise back then. He was Executive Director of the MPBA and was a huge force behind that organization. His efforts got him inducted into the Canton Sports Hall of Fame and he certainly deserved the honor. He was a guy who wore many hats, TD'ing, raising sponsorships, just whatever needed to be done. I remember in 1989 when I won all those tournaments it was Joe who usually handed me the checks. I used to kid him each time he gave me one that he needed to get back to work to raise some more money for me. I often wonder where pool might have gotten to today if Joe had not fallen ill."? Nick Varner.
I have heard so many wonderful stories about this man. May he rest in peace! My condolences to his family and friends.
JAM
![joekerr[1].jpg](/data/attachments/50/50039-80088f04ddad5cac708f8aa373fd33db.jpg?hash=gAiPBN2tXK)
![mystery[1].jpg](/data/attachments/50/50041-8b0cb237e30d7e2bb67c979d4168996e.jpg?hash=iwyyN-MNfi)
Didn't get to talk to Joe other than maybe a few words.
