John Wright

Hi Greg!

WrightWon said:
I would personally like to thank all of u for all the kind words & great stories about my dad :) That's right-it's Greg, his son & a huge thanx goes out to a very good friend of the families, Bob, who directed me to this site :cool: I will try to come on here from time-to-time to keep up with the billiard world, so now the ? becomes who on here knows me cuz I can't determine any real names by these screen names ;) I can't believe it's been 3 yrs. since that extremely sad day, but I have devoted 2 walls in our place to my dad with framed paintings/artwork & that famous article from the Tribune that was in the basement (pool room) of the Palatine house that you'd remember if u were ever over to our house. I look to the sky every day & tell him I love him & that was not only as a father, but as a big brother cuz he let me get away with a lot in our bachelor pad (from '93-04 after the divorce). I'll never 4get the last time we played 1 of our famous 100 racks of 9-ball all night that he beat me 52-48 & I'm sure he said the phrase "make those little balls into those big, big pockets-floating with superconfidence" more than once with many "shuky darns" in there to boot when he would slop a ball in haha!! Well, next time any of you ride the 9, think of what John would say when u do it-ONE SWINGY DINGY & fire away!!! Keep in stroke & I'll talk to ya all later. Thanx again for making my night & keep them stories coming :D
Click to expand...

This is Will Prout. It is great to hear all is well with you. As I am sure you have heard many, many times, your dad was not just a pioneer and world class cue seller, but also a very dear friend to literally thousands of people in the billiard world. We all miss John very much.

By the way, how many 300 games in bowling have you now achieved? I hope you have kept in "bowling stroke".

Take care,

Will :) :) :p :p :p ;)
 
I don't even know where to start.

The hours of time I spent on the phone with John, the amount of cue knowledge he shared with me, the times near the end where the conversations were sad. The first time I came to his house in Palatine and him and a couple more of our friends went out for supper. We then went back to his house and he rolled out all of these cues on his old Brunswick table. All of these memories are personally priceless to me. I wish I could have done more.

The amount of influence John had on the cue world can't be over stated. I know this has been said, but he was a pioneer.

I miss my friend.

Sincerely,
Jim Kissinger
 
Howard Paulina Billiards- Evanston Il.

John mentions that he used to hang out at Howard Paulina Billiards, so did I. This was back in I think about 1963.

I used to travrel to all the different pool halls in the Chicago area to get a games, usually Straight Pool, 50points.

I usually ended giving up a big spot, say 25 to 50..with the best players of that particular pool hall.

Anyway, before I went to these pool halls, I would go to Howard and Paulina to practice Straight Pool on a Snooker table.

My first custom cue was made buy a young guy that worked at Howard Paulina doing cue repair, etc. He used to watch me practice and asked one day if I would like him to make me a cue, I said sure.

He was a very clean cut young fellow about 5'7", clean cut, brown hair, thin build.

He made me a beautiful Titlest-Brass Joint, White Irish Linen Wrap-White with Green Speck and my namer on it..........said," Custom made for Thomas Richert".

I think this was Craig peterson, but , could it have been Burton Spain????

If anyone knows which one of these guy's worked at Howard and Paulina Billiards, I would sure like to know.

I don't have the cue anymore and I have searched for it, I lost it to a professional boxer who's name was Joe. He knocked me out with one punch the first time I beat him for 1K at nine ball. He used to work at Joe Hummels Bar on 63rd Street.

Anyhow, any Info would be appreciated.

Thanks............Tommyd1 :)
 
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Hey Lee,

I enjoy these great stories too, but does anyone have an answere to my question?

I would like to find my old cue, to me it's priceless :o

Tommyd1
 
Question About Cue

Tommyd1 said:
John mentions that he used to hang out at Howard Paulina Billiards, so did I. This was back in I think about 1963.

I used to travrel to all the different pool halls in the Chicago are to get a games, usually Straight Pool, 50points.

I usually ended giving up a big spot, say 25 to 50..with the best players of that particular pool hall.

Anyway, before I went to these pool halls, I would go to Howard and Paulina to practice Straight Pool on a Snooker table.

My first custom cue was made buy a young guy that worked at Howard Paulina doing cue repair, etc. He used to watch me practice and asked one day if I would like him to make me a cue, I said sure.

He was a very clean cut young fellow about 5'7", clean cut, brown hair, thin build.

He made me a beautiful Titlest-Brass Joint, White Irish Linen Wrap-White with Green Speck and my namer on it..........said," Custom made for Thomas Richert".

I think this was Craig peterson, but , could it have been Burton Spain????

If anyone knows which one of these guy's worked at Howard and Paulina Billiards, I would sure like to know.

I don't have the cue anymore and I have searched for it, I lost it to a professional boxer who's name was Joe. He knocked me out with one punch the first time I beat him for 1K at nine ball. He used to work at Joe Hummels Bar on 63rd Street.

Anyhow, any Info would be appreciated.

Thanks............Tommyd1 :)
Click to expand...

Tommyd1,

In BB3, in the section on Burton Spain, it says that in 1964 Burton Spain, 24years old, began playing at Howard-Paulina Billiards where he became friends with Craig Petersen (who was making cues at age 18). They became friends and in early 1965 Spain started making cues. The date you mention, 1963, is key. If you are sure it was 1963, the cuemaker is likely Petersen, as Spain did not make cues until a couple of years later.

Good luck,

Will :o :o :rolleyes:
 
Howard Paulina Billiards

Will,

Thanks for the information. I was probably 15 or 16 at the time, so..probably 64 .

That was the best hitting cue I've ever had, worked magic with it, could put the cue ball on a dime.

If anyone has a cue with my name on it.....Thomas Richert,
PM me, your wish is my command :D

The person who made me my cue, was not 24 I'm sure.

He was a young guy, so maybe Craig Peterson.

Short hair, Brown parted on his left side.

Thanks, Tommyd1
 
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John was a true gentleman and I enjoyed doing what little business I did with him. He offered me a Kersenbrock cue with butterfly inlays (not buttertfly points - actual butterflies) up and down the butt. That was in 1981 and the price was $780.00. Wish I had bought that one. Still have the photo that he sent me. Never seen anything even vaguely resembling that cue from Kersenbrock or anyone else.
 
Thanks everybody for sharing all of this. I wish I had known Mr. Wright, he sounds like a fine man.
 
WRIGHTWON, you prolly will not remember me, but we met a few times. I am/was a younger guy, generally the same physical appearance as yourself. I used to drive (and still own) the Black 1988 BMW M6, and always parked right behind your Dad's SHO when I came out. I remember the first time I met you, it had to have been around mid-2000. You had just gotten home, and your dad was making his famous spaghetti meat-sauce. I think we spent more time in the kitchen that day, than in the basement.

As you have now noticed, your pops had many friends and fans, and he is missed dearly by many more than you will probably ever know. I/we hope you are doing well in life, and always keeping his lessons in your pocket. You take good care of yourself, partner. Tell dad we all say hi!
 
Wow, just seen this. I have so many stories, I don't know where to start. I have all of John's correspondence still. The man was a legend.

A great man indeed, one who is sorely missed. I will give this thread some thought.

Si D'Vali
 
if it was not for John i would not be where i am today i talked to him at least 3 times a week for almost 10 years and he probably sold a 100 cues for me...he new I was the new kid on the block and that I was trying to get into the business, me and john got into so many disagreements, that its not even funny. He must of really liked me, because even though he new i was selling cues also he was always there for me, and taught me more than anyone about cues, he is who made cues what they are today....Greg i really miss your dad alot, he started me in this busines by selling a bill mcdanials cue for me in 96 my first custom cue and I bought my first southwest from him. we made alot of money together, and had some funny conversations, i owe him alot.....sincerely Tim Cole
 
Heres To John

Here's my two cents. He was a gentlemen in love with cues. I bought a number of them from him and he was as honest and straight as they come. I still keep the cue photos he sent every month.
 
Ok, I would like to share some emails me and John had together. In this, we somehow got talking about letters after names (professional titles etc):


John

I guess so! I suppose the man has his reasons so we must respect that.
Thank you for trying, John. I appreciate that a great deal. Before we
met via email, people spoke of your reputation. I am glad to be
pleasantly impressed that they were right. You are a true gentleman,
sir.

Simon 'The Diamond' D'Vali BEng (Hons) IEng AMICE
England

(my full title, he he!)

Dear Simon:

I would be most interested in knowing what your full title means.

I suppose "The Diamond" is a nickname billiard players dubbed you, but
what does the rest mean?

Have a good day Sir! You are a kind and fair gentleman, I do think.

John T. Wright

John

You are correct with the Diamond (given to me by a female work
colleague)....the rest is as follows....The BEng (Hons) is my Honours
Degree (Bachelor of Engineering) in Civil Engineering, IEng is
Incorporated Status of the Engineering Council....The body that allows
me to practice as a Civil Engineer by Law and AMICE is Associate Member
of the I.C.E. (Institution of Civil Engineers) my professional body. I
design Roads, highways and junctions for a living. Along with traffic
calming schemes (Casualty Reduction methods.....making roads safer for
motorists and pedestrians).

There you go.

Regards

Si

This sounds like very interesting and rewarding work. I'm sure the
engineering skills help you be a very good pool player, do the your
skills at analyzing angles of all kinds.

Thanks! for the explanation. John T. Wright M.C.S.

"M.C.S." = Master Cue Seller. I like to delude myself into thinking that
at least.

Good evening! To you kind sir. John T. Wright

Ha, ha! John Wright M.C.S. from now on you shall be known. Nice one!

The job is very rewarding indeed, due to the fact that I save lives
through design. It is also a challenge. Plus not enough money in pool
over here, you have to be at the highest level and I aint Steve
Knight....yet! I am currently 54 in Britain and climbing. Hopefully I
can get into the top 32 this year, thats the plan anyway.

Si

This exchange was from January 2004. From this point onwards, all his personal emails to me were signed 'John T Wright M.C.S.'

A great man, a total pioneer in the field also. I miss him dearly.

Si
 
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The whole industry misses John Wright. I always thought it was an achievement if I could walk out of his basement without buying a cue. That didn't happen too often. I can't even name all the top cues I bought from John and he sold a ton for me. He introduced me to Kersenbrock, Gina, Stroud, Tascarella, and others. I think of him often.
 
thediamond said:
Ok, I would like to share some emails me and John had together. In this, we somehow got talking about letters after names (professional titles etc):


John

I guess so! I suppose the man has his reasons so we must respect that.
Thank you for trying, John. I appreciate that a great deal. Before we
met via email, people spoke of your reputation. I am glad to be
pleasantly impressed that they were right. You are a true gentleman,
sir.

Simon 'The Diamond' D'Vali BEng (Hons) IEng AMICE
England

(my full title, he he!)

Dear Simon:

I would be most interested in knowing what your full title means.

I suppose "The Diamond" is a nickname billiard players dubbed you, but
what does the rest mean?

Have a good day Sir! You are a kind and fair gentleman, I do think.

John T. Wright

John

You are correct with the Diamond (given to me by a female work
colleague)....the rest is as follows....The BEng (Hons) is my Honours
Degree (Bachelor of Engineering) in Civil Engineering, IEng is
Incorporated Status of the Engineering Council....The body that allows
me to practice as a Civil Engineer by Law and AMICE is Associate Member
of the I.C.E. (Institution of Civil Engineers) my professional body. I
design Roads, highways and junctions for a living. Along with traffic
calming schemes (Casualty Reduction methods.....making roads safer for
motorists and pedestrians).

There you go.

Regards

Si

This sounds like very interesting and rewarding work. I'm sure the
engineering skills help you be a very good pool player, do the your
skills at analyzing angles of all kinds.

Thanks! for the explanation. John T. Wright M.C.S.

"M.C.S." = Master Cue Seller. I like to delude myself into thinking that
at least.

Good evening! To you kind sir. John T. Wright

Ha, ha! John Wright M.C.S. from now on you shall be known. Nice one!

The job is very rewarding indeed, due to the fact that I save lives
through design. It is also a challenge. Plus not enough money in pool
over here, you have to be at the highest level and I aint Steve
Knight....yet! I am currently 54 in Britain and climbing. Hopefully I
can get into the top 32 this year, thats the plan anyway.

Si

This exchange was from January 2004. From this point onwards, all his personal emails to me were signed 'John T Wright M.C.S.'

A great man, a total pioneer in the field also. I miss him dearly.

Si
Click to expand...
I liked his sense of humor. But if anyone ever earned the title Master Cue Seller then it would have been John T. Wright M.C.S.
I used to run into him at trade shows and he sold a cue for me to Japan once. I won't name any names, but a few cuemakers owe their fame to John and his sales ability. He took one cuemaker from struggling to get a name and sell $500 cues to getting thousands of dollars for his work in a very short time. That cuemaker can still get 4 times what 95% of other cuemakers can get for a cue of equal design. The cuemaker's work is very good, but it was John who got him to the top so fast. John had a sharp eye for details in a cue that many would overlook and he knew what the high end collectors wanted. He also promoted tirelessly. If internet had not become so popular of a means of connecting cuemakers with collectors and John was still alive, he would surely be at the top of the Master Cue Sellers.
 
I remember John put Southwest and Kersenbrock on the map in the 80s. It seemed like all the players in Chicago were playing Southwests back then and most bought them from John. Probably did the same for Billy Stroud and Mike Bender. It's sad that after John pushed hard for some of these cuemakes, that once their cues started to sell they would cut John off. Not all but a few pulled that stunt.
 
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