RIP Tommy Brown of Browns Billiards Daytona Beach, FL

This is very sad news.

Brown's Billiards was my favorite place to play on the Florida Tour...and one big reason was Tommy. He ran a sharp tournament and played in them most of the time. I very much enjoyed the matches we had. I knew that he would always give his best and was always a gentleman pool player.

I didn't see Tommy all that much outside the tournaments, but he always gave me a warm welcome with that big smile of his and made me feel at home.

He was a great player who I think made a decision that his family was more important than beating the world at pool.

I am very saddened and will miss him and remember him. My condolences go out to his family.

Mike
 
Another time the man in black, Richie Ambrose came into Miami and Tommy was matched up playing him thousand dollar sets. Tommy was young at the time, in his twenties and the local pool scene in Miami had a strong young crowd with a host of kids from 16-25 who played pretty good. We all hung out together and despite the differences some had with each other, when roadies came to town it seemed like the whole room got together and rooted for the local hero, in this case Tommy Brown. So the first set Richie and Tommy play the locals go in with Tommy on the bet. A bunch of us put in 50 and 100 each. Tommy loses the first set and its really close. The corporation huddled and Tommy says to us that he has to bet his own and that if everyone else wants to bet, get down with Richies backer on your own. He said he couldnt fade every time he missed the whole room od locals were all like "DOH!" It was easier if he didnt know who was doing what and just that he was playing for his own dough.

Later on Tommy started really putting it on Richie (he ended up beating Richie) and I go to the bathroom and when I walk in Richie Ambrose is there slapping himself in the face cussing to himself. He turns to me and holds up his hand that is blackish from pool table schmutz and says, "nice fekking eqpt you got here".. <scowl>. He then hit the door and went back out to finish up the beating that Tommy was giving him.
 
I remember the first time I saw Tommy Brown. Think it was about 1983 at Peg's Pocket in Miami. He was matched up with John DiToro playing straight pool. I had been to a major tournament before, so I had seen the best in the world at that time, however it was nine ball. Big breaks, power strokes, monster draw shots. But this was the first time I had seen the beauty of 14.1. Tommy just glided around the table, total concentration, he never took his eyes off the table.....sliding around balls, tapping them in the pockets, never pounding the balls just pure finesse. When you thought the run was over, Tommy would study the rack for a minute or so, then call a ball out of the stack and he would kind of slip stroke the cue and the intended ball would find a home in the pocket.

I really looked up to Tommy...He was the first "real" player I was around. He just looked like a pool player. Snappy dresser, pinkie ring, perfect hair the works. I even tried to emulate him, I bought a pair of snazzy pointed toed shoes and a small diamond pinkie ring. The shoes didn't have the same effect with a Kentucky country boy with Levi's and a pocket T-shirt though. LOL. I also took the ring off in the men's room to wash my hands and never saw it again.

I sweated alot of Tommy's action along with Uwate and Big Steve (Voodoo Daddy) at Peg's. The battles with Ambrose, C.J. Wiley and big Randy. I remember he won several tournaments on the Florida Tour and was always a threat. He finished 9th at the US Open one year (1983?) and came in third to Buddy Hall(winner) and Mike LeBron at the Carolina Cup which was a major tournament on the pro tour.

I remember the first year the Clyde Childress tournament moved to Lexington. I was home on leave from the Air Force and Tommy and John DiToro flew up to play in it. So who does Tommy draw in the first round....right, Richie Ambrose. Tommy won again and he and Johnny both got in the money. I am pretty sure this is where Tommy met his future wife, Wanda. Tommy was a tremendous talent and a nice guy to boot. I know he was always nice to me and offered encouragement. He will be missed by all.
 

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I just came home from the funeral..the locals REALLY thought alot of Tommy, his wife, kids and his mom Jane. The turnout was a testament of who he was and how many lives he touched. The younger crowd wanted to hear some Tommy stories because he was humble about his accomplishments so I told them a few.

I was asked to be a pallbearer which was an honor and we took tommy to his final resting place. There was a gathering at his room afterwards where at least 200 people showed up to pay respects. Im sure gonna miss Tommy Brown...Father, husband, CHAMPION and dear friend.

Big Steve {AKA} Voodoo Daddy
 
R.I.P. Tommy

I Moved from Daytona a couple years ago, and when I did Tommy seemed to be doing ok, he will definately be missed. I learned alot watching him. He would play anyone that came in the door still, and he was always a great guy.
I just found out about this as i donot frequent the baord that much and i am suprised still, it seems like yesterday I was playing bca league or a little game of poker with him.
 
Over the last several years Tommy and I got to be pretty good friends. Wanda and the kids and certainly Ma Brown, Fast became part of my family outside the home. I took a job at Brown's Billiards in October of 2007. Tom would tell of wonderful trips and tournaments across the world. Some of his fondest memories were those of his close friends, that he had played the game with. He had always promised to introduce some of them to me. It was hard to understand how sick he was until mid to late last year. He would always try to explain what I was doing wrong and how to fix it, but i was stubborn and did not listen.

It was not until his passing that I met so many of his friends. Friends like some of you here on this board (B.S.).

I was an honor to know him and to finally understand what he had been trying to teach me over the years.

If there are no clouds in the sky but you hear thunder, That is Tommy breaking balls in Heaven!!!

Tommy you will be sorely missed by all that you have touched!
Rest in Peace my Friend!

PS. God called me to ask if I could tell you to back off a bit, He is going broke!
 
TheJCat54 said:
Over the last several years Tommy and I got to be pretty good friends. Wanda and the kids and certainly Ma Brown, Fast became part of my family outside the home. I took a job at Brown's Billiards in October of 2007. Tom would tell of wonderful trips and tournaments across the world. Some of his fondest memories were those of his close friends, that he had played the game with. He had always promised to introduce some of them to me. It was hard to understand how sick he was until mid to late last year. He would always try to explain what I was doing wrong and how to fix it, but i was stubborn and did not listen.

It was not until his passing that I met so many of his friends. Friends like some of you here on this board (B.S.).

I was an honor to know him and to finally understand what he had been trying to teach me over the years.

If there are no clouds in the sky but you hear thunder, That is Tommy breaking balls in Heaven!!!

Tommy you will be sorely missed by all that you have touched!
Rest in Peace my Friend!

PS. God called me to ask if I could tell you to back off a bit, He is going broke!
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Tommy was one cool dude! The picture in my mind of Tommy is in his neat dress slacks, a very sharp sweater, super cool shades and that big hair-do that would put Elvis to shame. And he could play some pool too. We used to call him and Ditoro the "Miami Vice" twins. Two handsome guys with a lot of game. The girls were drooling over these two. They both should have been TV stars.

I'm sorry I didn't get to see Tommy one more time. He was one neat guy!
 
Three years ago today, I lost a dear friend in Tom Brown. He is sorely missed by all he touched. God Bless Tom. R.I.P.
 
RIP Tommy - Condolences to family and friends.

JIMMY L said:
We have received word that Tommy Brown age 47 owner of Browns Billiards has passed away.

He has had a great influence on many people and players in the Daytona Beach area and will be missed.

We wish to offer his family our sincere condolences during this hard time.

We will post any information we receive in regards to a memorial service for him.​
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That's sad to hear, I knew Tommy was battling some long term illnesses.

We played gambling matches several times down in Miami back in the mid 80s. He played really solid - we went back and forth several times with me on the losing end a few times.

RIP Tommy - Condolences to family and friends.
 
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