Tell me about Bryan Atchley

BPG24

BPG24

Banned
Those of you who knew Bryan Atchley please tell me and others about him and his game.

I have heard a few stories from one of his old backers but would love to hear more. Some claim that on any given day he could beat anyone in the world on a bar table.
 
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I know he was sponsored by Meucci at one time because I read an old article on him in a Billiards magazine called "on the snap". (i think)

He was being showcased because of some tournament wins, not sure of the year though
 
I didn't know Brian personally, except to say hello, but back in the early to mid 80's , I got to watch him play in 3 or 4 different tournaments in Mississippi.

He was well liked, gentleman, sorta quiet guy, kept to himself mostly from what I gathered.

Brian had the smoothest stroke!, It was very unique, I often thought to myself that he and David Matlock are the only two people in the World that stroke their cue this way, and till this day i've not seen any others that do.

I've watched Brian make many 8 and out runs in 9-ball during tournaments.
He was something to behold for sure!


David Harcrow
 
Brian (correct spelling) was one of the best bar table players of his day, right there with Keith, Buddy, Matlock and Townsend. He quit young due to health issues, and last I heard he is doing just fine and not playing pool. I guess I lost track of his passing. He was way too young, in his 30's. I tried to resurrect him.
 
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He lived in my hometown(Dothan,Al.) for a while back in the 90's and not only was he a great player, he was a great guy.
We used to have several 5x10 tight pocket snooker tables and he would practice for hours WITH THE BIG BALLS and he would just fire balls in. If you think that is easy give it a try.

I remember that he beat Scotty T. for the cash even on a big table. That is pretty sporty. imo

As I said earlier he was a good guy and it was a terrible loss for pool when he passed.
Peace
Todd
 
jay helfert said:
Brian (correct spelling) was one of the best bar table players of his day, right there with Keith, Buddy, Matlock and Townsend. He quit young due to health issues, and last I heard he is doing just fine and not playing pool. I guess I lost track of his passing. He was way too young, in his 30's. I tried to resurrect him.
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Brian... Thanks for the correction, I really wasn't sure.

I heard he had quite a few great battles with Matlock and others. I had no idea he passed away, didn't mean to offend anyone. So many people in Arkansas and Tennessee had great things to say about his game, I always wondered just how good he really was. Ron Mason (pool room owner in Arkansas) used to tell stories about taking Brian on the road and busting people all over the country.
 
sizl said:
He lived in my hometown(Dothan,Al.) for a while back in the 90's and not only was he a great player, he was a great guy.
We used to have several 5x10 tight pocket snooker tables and he would practice for hours WITH THE BIG BALLS and he would just fire balls in. If you think that is easy give it a try.

I remember that he beat Scotty T. for the cash even on a big table. That is pretty sporty. imo

As I said earlier he was a good guy and it was a terrible loss for pool when he passed.
Peace
Todd
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It's funny that you mention him living in AL. Brian really must have moved around alot because I have heard MS, AR, TN, AL, etc. I guess he followed the action.

Any action or tournament stories?
 
BPG24 said:
It's funny that you mention him living in AL. Brian really must have moved around alot because I have heard MS, AR, TN, AL, etc. I guess he followed the action.

Any action or tournament stories?
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Brian was featured on the cover of the Feb/Mar, 1990 issue of The Snap magazine. He had just won the Mid South Open and the Tennessee State Championship back to back with all the best players competing. How's this line up he beat in Tennessee: Earl Kellum 9-7, Carlos Viera 9-8, Joe Lawrence 9-5, Scott Kitto 9-3, Buddy Hall 9-5 and Larry Price 9-4 for the hot seat. Larry went left and played Keith (who had just got by Buddy 9-8) and beat him 9-8. So he now had to beat Brian twice. He won the first set over Brian 9-6. Then the 29 year old Brian dug down deep and took the second set 9-5! These were bar box events.

And that's not all, on the big tables he finished third in the Cue Time Classic behind Earl and Joe Lawrence. He finished ahead of Kim, Rodney, Johnny and Jimmy Reid among others. Shortly after that Brian played in he Capital City All Stars and came in fourth behind Scotty, Johnny and Buddy. He finished ahead of Tommy Kennedy, Larry Price, Ray Martin, Jimmy Wales, George Breedlove and David Howard.

He could play a little!
 
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I remember brian coming down to Texas and playing in the Showboat Joe event. I first noticed him because he was playing with a McDermott cue, of which i had quite an interest. Super smooth and quiet, a perfect gentlemen while he was in the state.
 
I was around with "Sizl" when Brian was in Dothan. He left and came back a couple times. I think he was already sick then.
Helluva player. He got the "Baron of the Barbox" title but he could play on
the 9 footers as well.

While at the time Dothan had tons of action and on any day anyone could drop in I can still remember EVERYONE being fond of BA. It still stands out to me that he remembered the old timers and talked with everyone.

Unfortunately we cant say that about all top players.


I used to have a Snap magazine signed by him and wish I still did.
 
I was in with McCready when they played ten ahead on the bartable here in Raleigh. Brian was a super nice dude. Keith beat him after about eight hours. Brian could definitely play, though. It was one battle.
 
Brian Atchley in Texas

Brian lived in Temple,Texas after he came here from Lilborn,Missouri. He had a brother who was at Ft.Hood and had an a/c business. Brian played a ton of pool at Shooter's in Waco. He practiced for hours. He got to the point of beating all the local players, then fanned out to Dallas, Houston,Austin,etc. He got to the point of not being able to get a game anywhere in Texas. He went to Houston and further developed his game. He then locked up with a backer out of Paragould,Ark. If my memory is correct he went out with Jack Cooney. I know he took a very young Johnny Archer on the road for a while. I made Brian mad once and he ran racks on me for almost an hour. He was a quiet person, a gentleman and a super player on any size table. He strung together more multi-rack runs than anyone I have ever seen. Could play for days on Dr.Pepper and Potato Chips. Brian was a once-in-a-lifetime player for us. God rest his soul.

Catdady and Carl
 
Brian was from Lilbourn MO..... I first met him at the Wagon Wheel in Atlanta and saw him often at events all over the south. He was a wonderful player and a great person. Very easy to talk to and be around. He was never selfish with his time or knowledge about the game and many times took quite a while to explain things when I asked. This guy could play tournaments and for the cash.

True story: After seeing him at a couple of small local events and watching him play, I knew he was something special. About 2 weeks later we are at the Wagon Wheel and the matches are getting started and he is up to play. I was looking for some action and started scoping out the stands for someone who might be interested and happened upon this guy who strung me along for a while.... and finally gave me a $50 sweat bet. We sat and talked throughout the match, which Brian won handily. As soon as the match was over, Brian walks over and starts talking to the guy like they know either other. I'm standing there looking all puzzled :confused: about why this guy would bet against Brian if he knew him and the guy turns to me and says, I'd like to introduce you to Brian. Brian begins to tell me about how much he likes this guy and respects him, etc.... then walks away. The guy was Mack McCook from Arkansas and that was the beginning of a great long relationship! I thought I'd reeled in a sucker for a bet and he says he bet me cuz he justed wanted to talk for a while! We were together for a long time and Brian was a great friend during those years until he became sick. Mack and I used to stop in his home town when we would pass through to see him, but at that time he didn't venture out much.

A great guy and he IS missed..... I think of him often.

Tammie Wesley-Jones
 
BPG24 said:
Those of you who knew Bryan Atchley please tell me and others about him and his game.

I have heard a few stories from one of his old backers but would love to hear more. Some claim that on any given day he could beat anyone in the world on a bar table.
Click to expand...

I got to know him a little bit when I was a teenager. He was a super nice guy. He was definitely not the loud guy telling everyone to "bet $10,000", blah blah blah. He was one of those "Dave Hemmah" types that just seemed like too nice of a guy to be a pool player. (and I mean that as a compliment) :) I never really got to see him match up. I only saw him in tournament play, but he was a very good player. I also heard that he was a top player on the bar table but I never got to see him play on one.
 
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