RIP Bill "the Gun" Ganne

[Big Business]

It is with a heavy heart but free spirit we send to the heavens a true legend, gentleman, friend, father and mentor. On Thursday April 10, at 10:10pm bill passed on after a battle with lung disease. Bill had many battles in life but making friends was not one of them. Those who were blessed to meet him and share a moment with him quickly realized how good a person he was. Never mind the fact that all over North America he let others know of his talent for all billiard sports by giving them a sound farewell out of the tourney brackets. His service was yesterday and was attended by all sorts who chose to show their respect for him.

I am sure many of you have run across bill either on the winning side or losing side, and win or lose, his graciousness was just as stunning. I really only know Bill from a distance but my other half knew bill better. I have watched a lot of bills past matches with great awe as he spun the cue ball with tremendous precision. He is a Former champion in of many titles and a VNEA hall of fame member. I only imaging what more he could have taught me as I learned so much just from watching him. It is funny that as accessible as he was he intimidated the heck out of me in a good way.

Anyway fell free to leave a story or a message for one of the all time Canadian and billiard sport legends.

Tap Tap Tap
God Bless
Sean Wilson

 

[Big Business]

Also keep your eyes peeled for the Bill Ganne Memorial Tournament that will be announced in the near future with what we hope will be an amazing prize fund to honor him.

 

[JAM]

I am trying to locate a picture of Bill Ganne to post on this thread, but I cannot locate one.

There is a great Canadian pool website: http://www.shooterville.com/Photo Gallery/

Can you find his picture in these groupings? Many readers may recognize Bill Ganne from attending various tournaments, if they could see his picture.

May he rest in peace! God bless his family and friends, and may they find the strength to get through these difficult times.

JAM

 

[Big Business]

Thanks JAM.

Here is a link to his facebook site.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=30735475471

 

[supergreenman]

It is with a heavy heart but free spirit we send to the heavens a true legend, gentleman, friend, father and mentor. On Thursday April 10, at 10:10pm bill passed on after a battle with lung disease. Bill had many battles in life but making friends was not one of them. Those who were blessed to meet him and share a moment with him quickly realized how good a person he was. Never mind the fact that all over North America he let others know of his talent for all billiard sports by giving them a sound farewell out of the tourney brackets. His service was yesterday and was attended by all sorts who chose to show their respect for him.

I am sure many of you have run across bill either on the winning side or losing side, and win or lose, his graciousness was just as stunning. I really only know Bill from a distance but my other half knew bill better. I have watched a lot of bills past matches with great awe as he spun the cue ball with tremendous precision. He is a Former champion in of many titles and a VNEA hall of fame member. I only imaging what more he could have taught me as I learned so much just from watching him. It is funny that as accessible as he was he intimidated the heck out of me in a good way.

Anyway fell free to leave a story or a message for one of the all time Canadian and billiard sport legends.

Tap Tap Tap
God Bless
Sean Wilson

I was shocked when they announced his death at the opening of the Walmac tournament here in Edmonton on Wednesday. I didn't even know he was sick.

 

[jay helfert]

It's a sad day in the pool world. Bill was just a great guy with a kind word for everyone. And what a player! He always finished high in any event he played in and he played at the highest level.

Bill WON a major Mizerak Tour Senior's event held at the Peppermill Casino in Reno about ten years ago. He beat Varner and Buddy his last two matches! I lost to him 11-9 in the third or fourth round and I was very proud of that. I ended up 13-16th out of a strong field of 64 players.

Bill was very unassuming, never bragging about his accomplishments. You hardly ever knew he was there, until you were down to ten players or so, and he was still standing. What a class act he was. One of those guys who stands out among the players I have met over the years.

There are some wonderful people who love to play pool. And Bill was certainly one of them.

 

[GeneSF]

In Reno at the 43rd Sands-Regency 9-Ball Open, held in June 2006, I wrote this in my recap: Shot Of The Week honors would have to go to Bill Ganne. With the score at 8-8, Jeremy Jones hooked him so bad that it seemed totally hopeless. The cue ball was in the jaws of the corner pocket and the one ball was on the end rail, nine feet away. Bill played a ?Z Bank? shot, very similar to the famous Efren Reyes shot at the Sands a few years ago against Earl Strickland. Bill?s shot, however, was from further away and there were balls all over the table. He shot the cue ball through all that traffic to the side rail, back to the other side rail, down to the end rail, making the one ball and then running out to win the match 9-8! He then got Edwin Montal 9-8 and Robbie Saez 9-4, before losing to Dennis Orcollo 9-8 and then to Gabe Owen 9-6. He was a player who could slide the cue ball around artfully, and before you knew it the nine was down, and you might blink and think, yes, it really can be that easy. He was an unassuming, unpretentious person, the kind of person any tournament director loves to see enter the room.

 

[JB Cases]

Bill was one of those players whom I enjoyed giving money to. He could really lay it down and make you feel happy to be playing at all. Bill was a hell of a player who seemed like the nice guy next door but with a stack of bodies (beaten players) buried under the porch.

I always looked forward to his soft hustle whenever he and I met in Vegas. I regret that the past few times I just didn't have the time to donate some more money to him in a friendly one pocket game.

Goodbye Bill, you and Fats are hustling St. Peter right now.

 

[Josh Palmer]

Really sorry to hear this.. Bill was a humble guy, and could really play. He could talk to anybody.

 

[Jason Robichaud]

There is a picture of him playing in the Canadian 9 ball tour in Edmonton with a little article on www.canadian9balltour.com. I never heard of Bill until I went to Edmonton for my first Canadian tour event. He was hooked up to oxygen while waiting to shoot. I noticed him because of the oxygen, but it was his excellent play that made me sit and watch. He could really shoot!

 

[PoolSponge]

I met Bill in Vegas several years ago in Vegas during the VNEA championship. He was an incredible talent and equalled only by his character. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet him and watch him play. Weeks after returning from Vegas I saw a match he was playing on television. He was a true professional.

Rest in peace and my condolensces to his family and friends.

 

[dogginda9]

A class act all the way. My condolences to his family and friends. RIP

 

[Big Business]

It has been announced that the VNEA Wal-,ac Pool League is now going to rename the Open Division Championship after Mr. Bill Ganne. This was thunderously approved by the participants in this years year end major tournament at the Shaw Conference Center. Could not be more suited.

 

[Ron Cook]

To those of us that got to know Bill Ganne ......

We have lost a great player and a good friend with Bill Ganne passing from us. I was shocked to see an article of Bill leaving us. This man was pure joy to be around and always welcomed our company. Bill was a fierce competitor on the pool table and he will be sorely missed as our personal friend!

This man would share his heart with you and few men could match his humility. Bill, you had talent that we could only wish we could come close to!

Gene Miller had it correct, case game hooked behind several balls, playing Jerremy Jones, Bill went 2 rails and kicked in the object ball and ran out and won the match. What a finish, and I believe he took 3rd place in that event, the Reno Open, what a moment of excitement in time, for he matched Efren's 2 rail kick shot against Earl case game that was also played in Reno. One step further, Jeremy had hooked Bill twice just before that shot and twice Bill came out swinging and hit the object ball and left Jeremy no out at the table and only a safety play.

Bill, you will be remembered for your greatness, and may God Bless your family in this time of sorrow.

You can sign Bill's book of Condolences at:
http://www.glenwoodmemorial.com


Ron & Robbi Cook