Nick and Daddy

L.S. Dennis

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Interesting old foto
 

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My oldest sister brushed her teeth with brylcreme , once. Or tried to. She thought it was a new toothpaste. My brother and I laughed so hard . If you could've seen the look on her face when she first tasted it.
At least she didn't try to brush her teeth with this stuff!
 

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Congolene!
The name conk is derived from congolene. Congolene is a gel-like substance that was made from potatoes, eggs and lye. Lye is very corrosive so it had to be washed out quickly and hairdressers also had to wear protective gloves while applying congolene.
 
Interesting old foto
You are looking at the infamous Daddy Warbucks aka Hubert Cokes. He was both the most feared and most respected man in the pool world when I started out. I saw him many times at JC and knew not to engage him in any way.
 
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You are looking at the infamous Daddy Warbucks aka Hubert Cokes. He was both the most feared and most respected man in the pool world when I started out. I saw him many times at JC and knew not to engage him in any way.
It's interesting we don't read more about Warbucks in in pool literature and lore. I like you remember hearing he was no one to fool with as he was known to pack heat when he went to tournaments. You would know more about that I'm sure.
 
It's interesting we don't read more about Warbucks in in pool literature and lore. I like you remember hearing he was no one to fool with as he was known to pack heat when he went to tournaments. You would know more about that I'm sure.
The word was that he was always well armed. He never took off his sport jacket when there, even when playing. I'm pretty sure he had a shoulder holster inside, and maybe a small back-up on his ankle (his loose fitting pants cuffs always hung over his shoes). Everyone and I mean everyone gave him reference. Even Fats was careful to be playful when talking about him. Usually Fats liked to talk about other player's quirks and bad habits, but not Hubert! One other thing I never forgot, everybody called him Mr. Cokes at all times! No one ever said Hubert (except maybe Fats or his good friend UJ Puckett) when talking to him, not even Lassiter or Irving Crane. And no one and I mean no one would talk about him behind his back, for fear that it might get back to him. He was rumored to have killed five men, one of them the local sheriff in Evansville. He liked Nick (was friends with Nick's dad) and that was enough to keep Nick protected anywhere he went.
 
The word was that he was always well armed. He never took off his sport jacket when there, even when playing. I'm pretty sure he had a shoulder holster inside, and maybe a small back-up on his ankle (his loose fitting pants cuffs always hung over his shoes). Everyone and I mean everyone gave him reference. Even Fats was careful to be playful when talking about him. Usually Fats liked to talk about other player's quirks and bad habits, but not Hubert! One other thing I never forgot, everybody called him Mr. Cokes at all times! No one ever said Hubert (except maybe Fats or his good friend UJ Puckett) when talking to him, not even Lassiter or Irving Crane. And no one and I mean no one would talk about him behind his back, for fear that it might get back to him. He was rumored to have killed five men, one of them the local sheriff in Evansville. He liked Nick (was friends with Nick's dad) and that was enough to keep Nick protected anywhere he went.
Thanks Jay for more insight on this guy, pretty much what I had thought all along. I guess the only question that remains is how good a play or gambler was he?
 
Thanks Jay for more insight on this guy, pretty much what I had thought all along. I guess the only question that remains is how good a play or gambler was he?
A very good player! Traveled with UJ in their younger days. What a fearsome duo they must have been. Two big guys who could play pool and cards and fight anyone, to the death if necessary. When Cokes struck it rich on oil he didn't need to got out hustling anymore. The first time I ever saw Cokes in person he was playing a young Ronnie Allen "jacked up" One Pocket (1964 at JC). That is playing one handed with your cue off the table at all times! Ronnie was giving him a small spot, something like 9-7, 8-7. Two hundred a game as I recall, a very large bet for that time. Cokes was already a man in his late 50's or early 60's then. He was known as a smart gambler and a money maker at all games.
And he got off too! Self defense.
 
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There are some more stories about Cokes, in Freddie the Beard's book: "The Encyclopedia of Pool Hustlers."
 
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