Pete Glenn was the real deal, a dyed in the wool pool hustler, who raised a large family with his pool winnings. He had to win for them to keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs! He sure left an impression on this 20 year old kid when he sauntered into Wink's Billiards in Dayton in the 60's, wearing a suit with no tie. He looked out of place; tall, handsome and well dressed in a den of iniquity. He had his little pool cue case in his hand and he was looking for a game.
First he played old man Maurice, a Straight pool player out of New York, who could still run 50's and 60's and talk tough with the gangsters. Maurice was a small older man in his late 50's or early 60's then who still loved to play and gamble. They played 9-Ball and Pete won maybe $80 or $100 before Maurine quit in disgust. Then Valley St. Red showed his fat face when he heard there was action in town. A couple hundred later and he was done.
Homer Johnson was the next victim. Homer was a well known gambler around Dayton. He managed a big restaurant and loved to play pool and bet high (by 60's standards). This match went on all night and Pete beat him for maybe $800 more. It had been a good day for the Glenn clan. I figured this hustler would take all that money and run. Wrong! The next night he's back in there and taking on Patcheye, a well known hustler from Louisville. (Patch is still around playing pool in his 80's. He played Platis some 200 a game at DCC).
Patch and Pete played One Pocket for maybe 50 a game and it went on all night, a real battle between two serious players. This was Pete's toughest game by far. I loved it, even though I didn't really understand the nuances of One Pocket back then. I could see how they controlled the cue ball and the strategy they both employed. In those days that was how a kid learned, by watching and observing. No one would teach you much. Pete finally got the money, winning a few hundred more that night.
I saw him play a few more times over the next couple of years before I left Dayton for a better life (read that warmer). I just never cared for those cold winters. Pete left an indelible impression on me. A gentleman hustler who knew how to get the money. He was a man of few words, the "John Wayne" type, except for one thing. He was a real man, not an actor reading lines.
I didn't see him again (he never came to a tournament) for maybe 40 years, until one day at DCC maybe ten years ago, Denny Glenn brings his dad over to say hi to me. He was still the same tall, soft spoken guy, just looking for a game. :thumbup:
Thank you Pete for being the man that you were and my condolences to the Glenn family on the loss of their father.
First he played old man Maurice, a Straight pool player out of New York, who could still run 50's and 60's and talk tough with the gangsters. Maurice was a small older man in his late 50's or early 60's then who still loved to play and gamble. They played 9-Ball and Pete won maybe $80 or $100 before Maurine quit in disgust. Then Valley St. Red showed his fat face when he heard there was action in town. A couple hundred later and he was done.
Homer Johnson was the next victim. Homer was a well known gambler around Dayton. He managed a big restaurant and loved to play pool and bet high (by 60's standards). This match went on all night and Pete beat him for maybe $800 more. It had been a good day for the Glenn clan. I figured this hustler would take all that money and run. Wrong! The next night he's back in there and taking on Patcheye, a well known hustler from Louisville. (Patch is still around playing pool in his 80's. He played Platis some 200 a game at DCC).
Patch and Pete played One Pocket for maybe 50 a game and it went on all night, a real battle between two serious players. This was Pete's toughest game by far. I loved it, even though I didn't really understand the nuances of One Pocket back then. I could see how they controlled the cue ball and the strategy they both employed. In those days that was how a kid learned, by watching and observing. No one would teach you much. Pete finally got the money, winning a few hundred more that night.
I saw him play a few more times over the next couple of years before I left Dayton for a better life (read that warmer). I just never cared for those cold winters. Pete left an indelible impression on me. A gentleman hustler who knew how to get the money. He was a man of few words, the "John Wayne" type, except for one thing. He was a real man, not an actor reading lines.
I didn't see him again (he never came to a tournament) for maybe 40 years, until one day at DCC maybe ten years ago, Denny Glenn brings his dad over to say hi to me. He was still the same tall, soft spoken guy, just looking for a game. :thumbup:
Thank you Pete for being the man that you were and my condolences to the Glenn family on the loss of their father.
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