Passing of a Great - Robert Hempel - Fellini

[pooligan]

I had the fortune of playing Bob back in the 90's in Belinda's straight pool league in Austin. I wish had taken the opportunity to spend more time on the table than just our matches. I even knew at the time he coached Belinda and I still didn't take advantage of his knowledge (forehead smack)!



Some years later, I came into possession of a wood wrapped Fellini case that I still have today (I have a post here somewhere with pics). I know he did not do wood cases, but that someone else in Austin had taken a couple of his cases and modified them. While I hate that I don't have an original, I'm still happy to have a case that's a "Fellini at heart" .



I'm deeply saddened to hear of Bob's passing. It makes me regret so much more that I did not get to know him better.



I agree that there should be someplace that could honor his memory as the amazing case maker and person he was. Maybe someday the cue maker hall of fame will decide to do a subcategory for cases or accessories. His name should be first on the list if that happens.

 

[Standbykid]

R.I.P. Bob.
Godspeed to you sir.

 

[onepocket1]

BTW this guy should be in the cuemakers HOF, FWIW

JV

I second the motion! All in favor...

 

[BasementDweller]

Just going through some old pictures and I came across this one. I thought it would be worth posting.

 

[3kushn]

Bob was a great guy and a real gentleman who was a pleasure to be around. A number of years ago we met over a game of 3C, at The Break, across the river from St. Louis, back when they had a billiard table. He had a notebook open and was practicing shots and it was so unusual to see someone play and taking it so seriously, I had to ask him to play. I didn't know who he was and at one point or another he shyly asked me if I'd ever heard of Fellini cases. I told him that everyone had heard of Fellini and that I still had a brown "rice pattern" Fellini in my closet that I had bought, probably back in the late 70's, and still treasured. He then told me who he was and, in a very modest way, seemed tickled that I knew who he was and about the cases he made.

Bob made his cases in Austin, Texas, and they were the penultimate case to own. Back in the 70’s and 80’s every player housed their cues in a Fellini, often one with elaborate tooling, or made of an exotic skin. His cases were so good that Gus Szamboti ordered them, often specifying cases that matched the design of one of his cues. Of course today, Fellini cases are highly prized by collectors, particularly to hold vintage cues.

One of the last times I saw Bob he went into his notebook and pulled out one of the original Fellini brochures from the 70‘s and asked if it would be something I’d like to keep. (I’m thinking everyone can guess my answer.) But that’s the way Bob was -- quiet, modest, generous, and a true gentleman.

Rest easy, Bob.

Lou Figueroa

Lou, I purchased a case from Bob Huddleston mid 70's.
It's Fellini style. Always wondered if it was authentic.
1975 wasn't my high water mark for disposable wealth.

 

[lfigueroa]

Lou, I purchased a case from Bob Huddleston mid 70's.
It's Fellini style. Always wondered if it was authentic.
1975 wasn't my high water mark for disposable wealth.

Tom, here's a couple of photos of my Fellini from about that same era -- perhaps they will help determine.

Lou Figueroa

 

[garczar]

Fellini's were and will always be ultra-cool. They were THE case you had to have when i started playing.

 

[3kushn]

Tom, here's a couple of photos of my Fellini from about that same era -- perhaps they will help determine.

Lou Figueroa

They look similar but I'm no expert on this.