My Friend Ronnie Allen

A very moving tribute, Keith.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

My condolences to you and JAM.
 
great post by a true champ

Keith you & Ronnie were big money players ....... big drinkers ....... & big fun to be around . Loved your post Keith it showed the love & respect you had for a fellow champ & mentor .......... RIP mister Ronnie Allen...... loved the ride you took all us fans on :bow-down: ps..... Jen when you & Keith retire this evening hold & hug him a little extra tight tonight you are truely his rock :grin:
 
I'm grateful to have met Ronnie at the OP Hall of Fame banquet. It was an honor to talk with him and to get an autograph or two. (Thanks Steve Booth).

It was also great to see Ronnie in action playing Danny Diliberto in the famous 1 pocket battle...a rare glimpse into the chatter Keith spoke of. (thanks Jay Helfert)

I thought Ronnie did fine commentary in the Peter Vitale Invitational tourney and I have enjoyed him on the many Accu-stats matches that captured his great play (thanks Pat Flemming and Billy Incardona)

Keith, Ronnie was mentor to you. You are a hero to many of us fans...thanks for posting and sharing a personal moment. My heart goes out to you for your loss. You too Billy. You guys have made pool so much better for me...the best commentary and the most colorful player...please accept my coldolences for your loss.
 
Rest in peace

Thanks for sharing. My condolences to all of you in your grieving of a lost friend.

td
 
Very nice tribute Keith, you hang in there sir...

RIP Ronnie, there is a new star shining in the sky of fallen pool greats.
 
Any of us who has lost a close friend feels the tears behind your words... treasure the memories.

bob
 
Truly touching post Keith. May you find peace with all the memories of the great times you guys shared. RIP "Fast Eddie" Ronnie Allen.....a pure champion and fascinating character. Godspeed.
 
Looking back it's quite amazing, of all the pool players in the entire US at that time, RA happened to get tight with Ether, that's pretty neat. Hubert Cokes did something similar with Nick Varner in his earlier years. I'm sorry for your loss and I extend the same to family & friends.
 
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Ronnie's passing is very sad. I am so sorry for your loss, Keith, and all his friends and family. Sincere condolences to all - thank you for taking the time to post your thoughts and memories.

Dave
 
John Henderson aka "Jrhendy" was nice enough to post the wake/funeral info:

Friday, Feb 15, 2013

10 am at Rose Hill Family Funeral Home
4444 Cochran St.
Simi Valley, CA. 93063
805-581-3800

Burial to follow: Oakwood Cemetary
22601 Lassen St.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
 
Great post Keith! I can sense how you're feeling, but everybody here wants you to STAY AROUND a whole lot longer! :grin: You're one of a small handful of old school pros that will still draw a crowd anywhere you go! You could do well with doing exhibitions, even though I know it's not your "cup of tea"! Sorry for the loss of your dear friend! :frown:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Keith McCready said:
I've been sitting here 4 or 5 days now, trying to put it all together about Ronnie's death, and I finally have enough strength to say a little something about him.

For whatever it's worth, Ronnie was an action man. He loved pool, tried to pretend like he hated pool sometimes, but he loved winning. Money was his real high, whether it was golf, fishing, horses, or even turtle racing.

What a lot of people may not realize, Ronnie was a true hustler. He took care of a family, which he has three kids, and every one of them turned out to be a champion. If you don't know what I mean by that, I mean well educated, well mannered, and very nice to be around.

I remember being on the road with Ronnie. I mean, I can't get into all the details. We had a couple of bad times, but way more good times than bad. Every time he made money, he would go to the Western Union and send his wife Faye some money, and that was at a time when he was really dedicated to his family. This showed me a lot about Ronnie.

I learned growing up, I had the privilege of being around Ronnie a lot. When I was 15 years old, the first time I saw Ronnie, he was playing in a straight pool tournament at the Elks Lodge in Los Angeles on 4-1/2-by-9 tables. This is when Joe Balsis, Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane, Boston Shorty, Grady Mathews, Larry Lisciotti, Peter Margo, and all the other great players of that era were competing regularly. It was in the early '70s. He was barking at everybody, telling them how nitty they were, trying to get their goat, so he could get played. But a lot of the players were scared of him.

And then there was a place called The Billiard Palace, and that's where all the money games took place at. It was Vern Peterson's place, who was also known as a great straight pool player. It was here where me and Ronnie took off together. He showed me everything as far as moving the cueball. He took the time to do that with me, and it just seemed like as years went on, a lot of my demeanor, needless to say, was like Ronnie. We both like to chatter, but back then everybody did it. As of now, everybody seems to be quiet as a churchmouse. It's just different.

I lost my mother when I was about 10, and my family kind of broke apart when I was 12. Ronnie Allen was kind of like a second father to me. He showed me the ins and outs, whether it was right or wrong. He explained everything to me to make me aware of how people would try to approach me to play, how they would act, how you would counter, and all the rest of it.

I will miss Ronnie very much. I wish we could have another 40 years together, but we can't. See ya' soon, R.A.There's so much more I could write. I'm still trying to digest all this. Two friends of mine, two of my best friends, gone with 3 months time frame. I just can't write any more right now.
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Keith,
What an incredible post by a great friend. Ronnie always spoke of you just like a father and with a gleam in his eye.
i can relate as i felt horrible pain when Danny Medina passed weeks ago. I had many encouraging words from many, but maybe Jenn said it best when she said,"he is no longer sick"!
There have been a few who made a true impact on the game itself and you and Ronnie were two of them. i suspect you knew him better than most and those thoughts and memories will become even more priceless and don't worry, few will forget about him. he made one pocket the game it is today.
hold your head up and be thankful he was a great influence.
Best to you and Jenn.
Lewis
 
Keith McCready said:
I've been sitting here 4 or 5 days now, trying to put it all together about Ronnie's death, and I finally have enough strength to say a little something about him.

For whatever it's worth, Ronnie was an action man. He loved pool, tried to pretend like he hated pool sometimes, but he loved winning. Money was his real high, whether it was golf, fishing, horses, or even turtle racing.

What a lot of people may not realize, Ronnie was a true hustler. He took care of a family, which he has three kids, and every one of them turned out to be a champion. If you don't know what I mean by that, I mean well educated, well mannered, and very nice to be around.

I remember being on the road with Ronnie. I mean, I can't get into all the details. We had a couple of bad times, but way more good times than bad. Every time he made money, he would go to the Western Union and send his wife Faye some money, and that was at a time when he was really dedicated to his family. This showed me a lot about Ronnie.

I learned growing up, I had the privilege of being around Ronnie a lot. When I was 15 years old, the first time I saw Ronnie, he was playing in a straight pool tournament at the Elks Lodge in Los Angeles on 4-1/2-by-9 tables. This is when Joe Balsis, Luther Lassiter, Irving Crane, Boston Shorty, Grady Mathews, Larry Lisciotti, Peter Margo, and all the other great players of that era were competing regularly. It was in the early '70s. He was barking at everybody, telling them how nitty they were, trying to get their goat, so he could get played. But a lot of the players were scared of him.

And then there was a place called The Billiard Palace, and that's where all the money games took place at. It was Vern Peterson's place, who was also known as a great straight pool player. It was here where me and Ronnie took off together. He showed me everything as far as moving the cueball. He took the time to do that with me, and it just seemed like as years went on, a lot of my demeanor, needless to say, was like Ronnie. We both like to chatter, but back then everybody did it. As of now, everybody seems to be quiet as a churchmouse. It's just different.

I lost my mother when I was about 10, and my family kind of broke apart when I was 12. Ronnie Allen was kind of like a second father to me. He showed me the ins and outs, whether it was right or wrong. He explained everything to me to make me aware of how people would try to approach me to play, how they would act, how you would counter, and all the rest of it.

I will miss Ronnie very much. I wish we could have another 40 years together, but we can't. See ya' soon, R.A.

There's so much more I could write. I'm still trying to digest all this. Two friends of mine, two of my best friends, gone with 3 months time frame. I just can't write any more right now.
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Keith, I remember you and Ronnie coming up to my dads pool hall in Hesperia, Ca about 20 years ago. Watching you and Ronnie work was something special that I'll never forget. I remember at the time thinking I was watching 2 of the all time greats doing their thing, little did I know that you two basically represented the end of an era. As far as I'm concerned Keith and Ronnie are the last great American pool hustlers.

Ronnie stopped by my dads place on his way to Vegas many times over the next couple years. Usually just to have a beer or 3 and say hello. He was always a fun guy to have around and was always good for a story. Definitely one of a kind!
 
My condolences to Keith/Jam, and Ronnie's family. I sure wish I could have seen him in his prime; Keith, we miss you out here on the left coast and wish you well along with Jam.
 
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