Almost too many to list, sad to say. The guys who left an indelible impression on me include:
FATS - One of a kind! He could draw a crowd in a snowstorm in Alaska. People flocked to him everywhere he went. They would stand there and hang on his every word. And he never failed to leave 'em laughing. He knew me for 30+ years and always called me The Little Man, never Jay.
LOUIE ROBERTS - The most charismatic pool player of all time. He had star power! If pool had gotten big in his lifetime, he would have been rich and famous. Also the best shot maker ever to stroke a cue. There isn't a close second, maybe Jimmy Reid. Louie and Holly lived with me for one month in L.A. A little too much drama though, every day!
The GUMP, STEVE GUMPHREY - Never saw him without a smile on his face. He had a good word for everybody. The best friend you could ever have. He would actually tell you what he liked about you. A very good player too. Died too young from a cancerous melanoma.
JERSEY RED - My favorite of the top players I knew. The best story teller by far. He would tell stories while he was shooting and running out on someone for the cash. And usually the story would be about the guy he was beating. He would beat you and make you like it. He had the class to call his friends when he knew he was dying. Not many people will do that. He had courage in the face of death.
LARRY LISCIOTTI - One of the few guys who ever hustled me successfully. I was always drawn to Larry, and he liked to confide in me for some reason. I would sit at the bar with him and he would pour out his heart to me. After he got drunk, I could barely understand what he was saying. His words turned to gibberish, but I would nod and acknowledge him anyway. One of the best gamblers ever. He also called me when he knew he was on the way out.
LOUIE LEMKE - Another wonderful human being. Louie was a free spirit and a talented musician. He could play the guitar and the mouth harp with the best of them. One time in Reno we went bar hoppin' and he sat in with the band at the Silver Legacy. He sang a love song and played the harp. It was beautiful. And so was he.
RICHIE FLORENCE - Had more heart than any pool player I ever saw. He just wouldn't quit. He could be stuck a ton and still come back and beat you. There was fire in his belly. Richie was a natural born leader. He nearly single handedly led the pool players out of the wilderness. The story is in my soon to be released book.
