I have read with interest and enjoyment detailed accounts of pool hall episodes and travels on the road as they have appeared in these forums. I am amazed at the detail included in some of these accounts, especially stories by Freddy B., Jay Helfert, and Grady. My memory just isn't that good anymore and maybe never was that good. What I find, when I try to search back 45+ years to the time I spent at Cotton Bowling Palace in Dallas, TX are what you might call "memory moments," just frozen moments in time.
Several of these memory moments stored up there in what's left of my brain involve a character named Vernon who, in his youth, developed a fearsome reputation that did nothing but grow to legendary status as he matured. Only about 5'10", Vernon had body builder biceps and would sometime demonstrate his strength by lifting up the end of one of the pool tables a foot or more off the floor - and that's with two or three of us sitting on the edge of the table! BTW, if you don't believe some or all of my Vernon stories, just ask San Jose Dick for verification, he was there.
The particular memory moment I'd like to share with you today involved a shortstop, eventually turned road player and later turned minister named Tommy L. Tommy was a regular at Cotton Palace feeding primarily on smaller fish and the occasional drunk, and generally got along well with Vernon. Actually, ALL of the regulars at that time (1962-1963) got along well with Vernon because if they didn't, they wouldn't have been regulars, if you get my drift. On the night I am writing about, Tommy and Vernon were disputing some issue, probably involving money. It was not uncommon for Vernon to check on how you were faring in a match, and if you were winning, Vernon might announce that he was in for half. It was counter productive to argue with Vernon about such matters. Anyway, Tommy and Vernon were at odds over something.
Now you must understand that disagreements with Vernon were usually short-lived, and not because Vernon had greater than normal capacity for understanding and compromise. All I can remember with any clarity is that their disagreement reached the stage of raised voices and that caused me to turn in their direction to see what was happening. At first, as I looked at Tommy, he had fallen silent and seemed to be paying rapt attention to whatever Vernon was saying. He seemed surprised, or at least that was the interpretation I made of his wide eyes and flushed face. But then maybe his demeanor was the result of Vernon's right hand closed tightly on Tommy's neck?
And then I noticed the most impressive component of this event - Vernon's arm was thrust straight out from him body, his hand closed tightly on Tommy's neck, and Tommy's feet were completely off the floor!!! And that is the memory fragment that sticks in my mind to this day - Vernon holding Tommy's entire weight with one arm held straight out from his body.
Several of these memory moments stored up there in what's left of my brain involve a character named Vernon who, in his youth, developed a fearsome reputation that did nothing but grow to legendary status as he matured. Only about 5'10", Vernon had body builder biceps and would sometime demonstrate his strength by lifting up the end of one of the pool tables a foot or more off the floor - and that's with two or three of us sitting on the edge of the table! BTW, if you don't believe some or all of my Vernon stories, just ask San Jose Dick for verification, he was there.
The particular memory moment I'd like to share with you today involved a shortstop, eventually turned road player and later turned minister named Tommy L. Tommy was a regular at Cotton Palace feeding primarily on smaller fish and the occasional drunk, and generally got along well with Vernon. Actually, ALL of the regulars at that time (1962-1963) got along well with Vernon because if they didn't, they wouldn't have been regulars, if you get my drift. On the night I am writing about, Tommy and Vernon were disputing some issue, probably involving money. It was not uncommon for Vernon to check on how you were faring in a match, and if you were winning, Vernon might announce that he was in for half. It was counter productive to argue with Vernon about such matters. Anyway, Tommy and Vernon were at odds over something.
Now you must understand that disagreements with Vernon were usually short-lived, and not because Vernon had greater than normal capacity for understanding and compromise. All I can remember with any clarity is that their disagreement reached the stage of raised voices and that caused me to turn in their direction to see what was happening. At first, as I looked at Tommy, he had fallen silent and seemed to be paying rapt attention to whatever Vernon was saying. He seemed surprised, or at least that was the interpretation I made of his wide eyes and flushed face. But then maybe his demeanor was the result of Vernon's right hand closed tightly on Tommy's neck?
And then I noticed the most impressive component of this event - Vernon's arm was thrust straight out from him body, his hand closed tightly on Tommy's neck, and Tommy's feet were completely off the floor!!! And that is the memory fragment that sticks in my mind to this day - Vernon holding Tommy's entire weight with one arm held straight out from his body.
