Leil "JR" Gay has passed away

I first met JR when he was working the counter at Northfield Billiards in Ohio. I came in looking to buy some good chalk because I couldn't play with the sportcraft stuff from kmart. They didn't have any to sell but he gave me some cubes.

Another time I was playing at Northfield Billiards and was leaving and I rumaged through my pockets looking for my money (which I had left in the car) and my bag of weed came out. He laughed and told me don't worry and that he smokes it too. He them told me I could leave my cue there and go to my car and find my money.

Another time I came into Northfield and asked to be put on the tightest table. JR was smart and knew I wasnt good enough for the tightest table so he put me on another table that wasn't loose. 2 times I ended up with a long shot that needed drawing and launched the CB off the table both times. So I ended up with the same shot for the 3rd time and play stopped on JRs adjacent table and they watched me and I said outloud to myself "1 times its the equipments fault. 2 times its my fault." so I just hit a stop shot instead of drawing and the guy playing JR sighed and they went back to their straight pool game. I then later asked JR (not knowing how great of a player he was) if he wanted to play some straight pool and he politely said no not right now.

He was a really nice guy and is missed in Cleveland.
 
JAM said:
It's always so sad to read about one of our own who passes away. Though we may not have crossed paths in a long, long time, these players are members of the Tribal Nation of Pool.

I always liked Leil. He had a gutzy kind of charisma when it came to pool. May he rest in peace.

Photo taken at Carolinas Open in 2003. This was Leil's lucky shirt.
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He has the Dave Piona mustache going. Pretty strong.

RIP🙏🏼🙏🏼
 
Fatboy said:
He has the Dave Piona mustache going. Pretty strong.

RIP🙏🏼🙏🏼
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He came in Grover's in West Palm-wild guess-around 2010. He had shaved his head and mustache and absolutely no one recognized him but many felt he was somehow familiar. When he started playing and walking around the table- I said to the guy next to me. "He walks just like Leil Gay." That's him, That's him!" Leil kinda glided around the table with his head very high -very distinct-at least to me and that is what outed him. He still got played-I dont specifically remember but im sure he won a few bucks over the few days he stayed.
 
Nostroke said:
He came in Grover's in West Palm-wild guess-around 2010. He had shaved his head and mustache and absolutely no one recognized him but many felt he was somehow familiar. When he started playing and walking around the table- I said to the guy next to me. "He walks just like Leil Gay." That's him, That's him!" Leil kinda glided around the table with his head very high -very distinct-at least to me and that is what outed him. He still got played-I dont specifically remember but im sure he won a few bucks over the few days he stayed.
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Not to get off subject, what ever happened to Grover, he still around? He would have to be around late 70's now or older. Is that place still open?
 
Nostroke said:
He came in Grover's in West Palm-wild guess-around 2010. He had shaved his head and mustache and absolutely no one recognized him but many felt he was somehow familiar. When he started playing and walking around the table- I said to the guy next to me. "He walks just like Leil Gay." That's him, That's him!" Leil kinda glided around the table with his head very high -very distinct-at least to me and that is what outed him. He still got played-I dont specifically remember but im sure he won a few bucks over the few days he stayed.
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Yes, Leil walked around the table with his shoulders back -- his stroll kinda reminded me a ship's figurehead.

Lou Figueroa
 
middleofnowhere said:
Not to get off subject, what ever happened to Grover, he still around? He would have to be around late 70's now or older. Is that place still open?
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The place was open-there have been 5-6 owners since Grover at least and it is bar table oriented. The old crowd moved to Paradise Billiards on Congress in Atlantis or Lantana
 
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Nostroke said:
The place was open-there have been 5-6 owners since Grover at least and it is bar table oriented. The old crowd moved to Paradise Billiards on Congress in Atlantis or Lantana

I did a quick search on his name and he seems to be still among us 76 y.o.
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