Names from the past
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
dick Weaver in So. Fla.
Last I heard Weaver was living in So. Florida, Jamie Farrell who owns Corner Pocket in Kenner, La. Used to talk to Dick every once in a while. dick played jam up at one time.
Last I heard Weaver was living in So. Florida, Jamie Farrell who owns Corner Pocket in Kenner, La. Used to talk to Dick every once in a while. dick played jam up at one time.
Dick is still playing pool. He bought a very nice Bob Hunter cue from me last year. He and Bob were old road partners.
Has anyone ever heard of a bank pool player named Fat Hammond, played in the 50s or 60s I think.
Craig Stevens from Wichita?
Did you ever play Craig Stevens from Wichita? I just missed his era.
Did you ever play Craig Stevens from Wichita? I just missed his era.
Craig Stevens
Could play same speed for 3 to 4 days and took a champion to beat him. he was one of only about 3 or less players my old road partner Jr. Brown from Witchita had respect for.
Could play same speed for 3 to 4 days and took a champion to beat him. he was one of only about 3 or less players my old road partner Jr. Brown from Witchita had respect for.
Craig Stevens' name was pounded into my head by a fellow named Jack Baldwin when I was in my late teens. Jack was a decent local player that worked in Wichita for several years. He spoke often of his pool playing endeavors in Wichita and Craig's name came up often. Playing pool just didn't interest me much in those days, snooker was my game.
Jr. Brown can still play a pretty mean game of pool (or he could as of about 2 years ago).
Not quite in the old names category, but have any of you encountered Greg Ridenour?
Jr. Brown can still play a pretty mean game of pool (or he could as of about 2 years ago).
Not quite in the old names category, but have any of you encountered Greg Ridenour?
Craig used to come to the Cotton Bowling Palace in Dallas a lot. I was the best player in Dallas at the time.
When Craig was on pills he was unbeatable. He made every ball he could see.
I would wait while he played several other players giving up huge spots. After a few days he would finally start down from the drug high he was on and I would then ask him to play. I was suicide any other time.
While I was traveling with San Jose Dick we went to Wichita and Dick played him some one pocket. I played someone else at the same time. Dick lost.
Craig just ran too many balls.
Craig also spent a lot of time in Houston. I didn't.
The drug use finally burned him out and he ended up running a pool room in Tulsa and stopped gambling.
Bill S.
There were so many good players from that era that have not been mentioned.
I remember when I was hustling full time that I had an X on the map over Lumberton NC. That's where Barefoot was from. Great 9 ball player.
All through the south every small town had one or two really good players.
The first great players I saw were Hayden Lingo and Eufalla playing one pocket.
I played Hitchcock to a tie twice. Once snooker and once 9 ball. I was 17 at that time.
The Cotton Palace was a magnet for all the road players. Watson, Kelly, Whitey, Cannonball, James Brown, Grady, Fats, Pucket, Stevens, Sessions, Rogoff, Kilroy all came. Lots of others.
The best action was Bobby Chapman. He would play nine ball for 5K a game.
A new Corvett cost 4K. That's like 50K a game these days. Is it any wonder I gave up hustling pool? People just quit playing for money.
In those days no matter where you went you could find a 9 ball game for 100.00 a game and a Holiday Inn cost 10 dollars. People had money. Now only the very rich have money. Everyone else is broke.
At the first pool hall I played in Danny Jones and Jack Terry came by. I played them both. Terry first. They both had gamble.
Bill S.
I remember when I was hustling full time that I had an X on the map over Lumberton NC. That's where Barefoot was from. Great 9 ball player.
All through the south every small town had one or two really good players.
The first great players I saw were Hayden Lingo and Eufalla playing one pocket.
I played Hitchcock to a tie twice. Once snooker and once 9 ball. I was 17 at that time.
The Cotton Palace was a magnet for all the road players. Watson, Kelly, Whitey, Cannonball, James Brown, Grady, Fats, Pucket, Stevens, Sessions, Rogoff, Kilroy all came. Lots of others.
The best action was Bobby Chapman. He would play nine ball for 5K a game.
A new Corvett cost 4K. That's like 50K a game these days. Is it any wonder I gave up hustling pool? People just quit playing for money.
In those days no matter where you went you could find a 9 ball game for 100.00 a game and a Holiday Inn cost 10 dollars. People had money. Now only the very rich have money. Everyone else is broke.
At the first pool hall I played in Danny Jones and Jack Terry came by. I played them both. Terry first. They both had gamble.
Bill S.
In those days, it only took one breadwinner to raise a family.
He is probably still a steer man.
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John Lamar (deceased). Tall, thin, nose like a hawk. He looked like a pool player. :smile:
Louie Lemke pics
Found these pics of Louie.
The top was when we won the Minnesota State Team Championships and then defended the VNEA International Title in '87. Whitey Lee, Billy Steele, Louie, me and Jay Gleason (Bob Schultz also on that team).
Middle is Louie, Billy and Dan Silbaugh at a vegetarian restaurant in '86.
Below, Louie relaxing after we won that State title.
Found these pics of Louie.
The top was when we won the Minnesota State Team Championships and then defended the VNEA International Title in '87. Whitey Lee, Billy Steele, Louie, me and Jay Gleason (Bob Schultz also on that team).
Middle is Louie, Billy and Dan Silbaugh at a vegetarian restaurant in '86.
Below, Louie relaxing after we won that State title.
Jay,
I got a call last winter that Mr. Dennis had finally lost his cool with his wife being sick and all. Buddy was moving strange last time I was around him and he had little patience for much at all. Buddy will probably end up in someones pool room in the near future. Not a clue where he's been since last summer. He skipped town with more than his own and hasn't been in that area for a year now. Be interesting to hear the next story.........
I got a call last winter that Mr. Dennis had finally lost his cool with his wife being sick and all. Buddy was moving strange last time I was around him and he had little patience for much at all. Buddy will probably end up in someones pool room in the near future. Not a clue where he's been since last summer. He skipped town with more than his own and hasn't been in that area for a year now. Be interesting to hear the next story.........
Classy!!!!!!!!!!
Not the man his family thought he was...... His son is a good guy and his grandson was looking up to him I hear. He is a pool player from old.....so ......that is where we look in the beginning. Never know, some things we might do if we are faced with the same ????? I regret not taking advantage of the $3 a game one pocket when I had the chance. LOL
Junior
JR Harris used to live out here in Colorado Springs and I remember watching a handful of late-nite match-ups at places like Pink-E's and Sticks - the last time I saw him might have been 1996 or 1997.
Time flies ...
I was thinking about some of the players I knew many years ago who have slipped into oblivion. Just wondering if anyone out there remembers any of these guys.
Arizona Sean (deceased) - He was a slender handsome young man out of Arizona who became best friends with Don Johnson and worked on Miami Vice as a writer. He was good enough to win a qualifier to play in Fred Whalen's Los Angeles World Championship in 1972. Sean also was a stunt double for Warren Beatty on Shampoo and Kaliediscope. He was a fascinating guy who I last saw at the tourney we held at the Biltmore Hotel in 1987.
Harold Johnson - The all time biggest crybaby I ever saw in pool. And he played pretty good too. He would carry on like his life was coming to an end if he missed a ball or two. He was from Illinois I believe.
Billy Ray Suden - A degenerate hustler who played pretty good back in the 70's. He came into my poolroom in 1973 and we played a Race to Eleven for $200. I was down 9-2 and came back to win. He flipped out and broke his cue. I heard he was still playing back East. Originally from Rhode Island I believe.
Jimmy Harris - From Florida, a damn good little player who had this shit eating grin plastered on his face all day long. Maybe it was the weed. I snuck Jimmy Reid in on him and after that he left California, returning to Florida.
Junior Harris - I called him the June Bug. He traveled the country playing pool for years. Played a pretty good speed too. Last I heard he turned to preaching.
Bill Mielke - A damn good shortstop out of Wisconsin. I saw him grind down a lot of good players, he had no quit in him. His drinking may have gotten the best of him.
Crazy Bruce - From New Jersey by way of Miami. He was certifiable, one screw loose at all times. Played good Eight Ball but was always his own worst enemy. Heard he made it big in real estate. Could barely read or write!
"Johnny Dollar" Overton - From Ohio and Indiana. He was the first real pool hustler I ever saw in action. He snuck around Dayton beating up on light weights like me. Heard his grandson is John Overton, the pro golfer.
Paul Baker - From Iowa, another triple sneaky and smart hustler who played good golf and pool. His hustle was to go in the pool room and tell everyone he was a golf hustler. And also go to the golf course and tell them he was a pool hustler. Worked for him!
Little Frankie - From New York. He was playing for serious money when he was only 13. A predecessor to Keith, an East Coast version. The cockiest little kid you ever saw. He cussed like a man and he was just a little boy. He could play too!
Augie Donatelli - He came out to California with Freddy and was the better player of the two back then (except for Banks). It took a strong player to beat Augie.
Buddy Dennis - One smooth operator. He was so low key you wouldn't even notice him in the poolroom. That is until he beat the best player in the house out of all his money. :smile:
"Three Fingered" Ronnie Sypher - Out of Baltimore, he was a strong money player and a pretty fun guy to hang around with. I wonder what happened to him.
Steve Carter (deceased?) - A fairly good player that was another head case. I took him around a little out here and he never could do much. Last I heard he put on a tournament and disappeared with the money. This was over 20 years ago.
Where's Toby anyway? I really liked that little guy. He had more heart per square inch than any living human! And Roger Griffis is another very good player that fell off the map. He beat Efren to win the Hollywood Billiards tourney in 1990.
A more famous player that I really liked was Marvin (Henderson). We spent a lot of time together in the 60's just hanging out and getting high. I loved hanging with Marvin, we always had a good time. I miss that ole son-of-a-gun! And what a player he was, simply the best around wherever he went. Although when Richie came up so fast out here Marvin took a pass on him. He was no dummy.
I can probably come up with a lot more, but these are just a few I was wondering about.
JR Harris used to live out here in Colorado Springs and I remember watching a handful of late-nite match-ups at places like Pink-E's and Sticks - the last time I saw him might have been 1996 or 1997.
Time flies ...
Greg was living in Missouri at the time but played in and won the Arkansas State 8 & 9-Ball championship's a few times back in very late 90's, saw him win a few calcutta tournaments around Benton, Ar., he played pretty sporty in tournaments, Calvin hit him up to gamble a few times but he never wanted to play. I haven't heard anything about him since about 2000, he seemed to be a likeable fellow.
David Harcrow