Unknown Ohio road men of an earlier era

[TheCueHunter]

Sherm -

Since most of us know of and have seen Jason, how would he fair against Gary? Was Jason a student or just got schooled?

I saw Gary only once at DCC, and was blown away.

Secondly, when I lived up there in Liberty Township a couple years ago, I was told that Micheal of Micheal's Billiards was tough action for most road bankers. Never seen him play, but he was always great to me.

Ken

Ken, my friend....Michael had standing orders to play anyone in world full racks banks getting a ball. 8-7. Tony Fargo tried it and didnt like it very much:thumbup:

 

[T-dog]

Then there was Bill Stigall from Mansfield, who may have played as good or better than either of these first two. But Bill was brash and cocky and got himself in jams because of it. He would come into a room and announce that he wanted to play the best player in the house and they could bet what they want. He got himself some good games this way and did make some scores but also he got himself robbed more than once with his boasting about playing for big money. Back then the big Ohio poolrooms were not places for the faint hearted.

I may have played this guy back about 10 years ago in Iowa if he was still around. He said he was from Minnesota at the time and i remember him so well because we played a race to 5 in 8 Ball and I lost the toss, broke twice and never got to shoot. It so memorable because of the wisdom my wife gave me afterwards. I told her the story and she said "Sounds like you need to work on your break".......lol Short Guy and had a cigar in his mouth the whole time.

 

[cuesmith]

Ya ever run into Kenny McCoy back when you were around here Jay? I know you had to at some point.

I know Kenny, "the truck driver" McCoy. He was a tough player. Joey once told me that Kenny was the best pool player in the country who works every day at a regular job. That was a big compliment coming from Joey!

 

[cuesmith]

Sherm -

Since most of us know of and have seen Jason, how would he fair against Gary? Was Jason a student or just got schooled?

I saw Gary only once at DCC, and was blown away.

Secondly, when I lived up there in Liberty Township a couple years ago, I was told that Micheal of Micheal's Billiards was tough action for most road bankers. Never seen him play, but he was always great to me.

Ken

Ken,

Jason was about 14 when he started hanging around Gary and I. We took him to some tournaments and put him in action a few times when he was still young and unknown. He was definately a student of Gary's and a good friend. While I consider him one of the best bankers alive, I don't think he ever reached Gary's top speed. Gary was playing his best while he was dying of cancer which to me was amazing. But he developed more patience towards the end and his game went up with his patience level. Almost the same situation with John Brumback except Johny didn't really "run" with us, he came around a lot of the places we were and always studied Gary when he played.

Mike Medley was a very good bank pool player, a level below the aforementioned players but still very good. He like to trap good nine-ball players playing bank pool. Very few good nine-ball players play bank pool at high levels. Gary was in my mind the best bank pool player/nine ball player who ever played! Only Efren was at his level IMHO! Ask Shannon Daulton about his prowess in both games.

 

[cuesmith]

Thanks Jay for that brief on the top Ohio players of the 60's era. Having grown up in Cincinnati, graduating from HS in 1959, and playing in all of the Cincinnati area tournaments, I knew and played several of the players you described, including Donnie Anderson, Clem and Joey Spaeth. I just wish that someone on this forum could recite some stories about Joey Spaeth's father, "North Side "Eddie" Spaeth" He was a monster, and I doubt that any of the players you mention who played him ever took the cash. Probably why Joey and his son Gary were so good. "The apple does not fall far from the tree"

Cross-Side-Larry

"Learn from the best, and beat the rest"

Larry,

I've heard you ask this question before and I was hoping someone would answer. The only thing I remember was I remember asking Gary once, if his granddad was a player and I got a one word answer, "Shortstop" . I think there was a falling out between Joey and his Dad at one point and Gary hardly knew his grandfather. There was an uncle, Joey's brother I believe, who came in my pool room one day and asked me about Gary and Joey. Gary wasn't in town at the time and Joey was about 10 years gone. He didn't stick around and never came back that I know of. That's about all I've got except that Marie, Joey's wife passed about a year after Gary.

 

[SCCues]

George was the best of the best! Luther Lassiter (no less) called him the best 9-Ball player he ever knew. He was the one guy Luther did not want to play. Actually they were good friends and Luther would often visit George in Dayton back in the 60's and 70's. Don Willis was another running buddy of theirs. How would you like to draw to this threesome back then? Doubtful they ever lost when traveling together in the 50's.

I'll never get tired of reading stories about the good old days of pool. I don't get to see many games today in my area, but back in the 60's & 70's there was quite a bit of action. There was one room in town that had a lot of one pocket and 9 ball action, but today almost nothing......

James

 

[jay helfert]

Ya ever run into Kenny McCoy back when you were around here Jay? I know you had to at some point.

Kenny "The Trucker" was a damn good player and a good gambler as well. He beat guys all over the country, when he got out of that truck and visited the local pool hall. They heard of him all over the place. Kenny got around real good! His name was well known all over the midwest. For a guy with a full time job, he probably beat more people than any other working stiff. He never hid his name or his game. He would tell people they call me Kenny The Trucker or Trucker Kenny. I think he used it for intimidation.

 

[jay helfert]

Then there was Bill Stigall from Mansfield, who may have played as good or better than either of these first two. But Bill was brash and cocky and got himself in jams because of it. He would come into a room and announce that he wanted to play the best player in the house and they could bet what they want. He got himself some good games this way and did make some scores but also he got himself robbed more than once with his boasting about playing for big money. Back then the big Ohio poolrooms were not places for the faint hearted.

I may have played this guy back about 10 years ago in Iowa if he was still around. He said he was from Minnesota at the time and i remember him so well because we played a race to 5 in 8 Ball and I lost the toss, broke twice and never got to shoot. It so memorable because of the wisdom my wife gave me afterwards. I told her the story and she said "Sounds like you need to work on your break".......lol Short Guy and had a cigar in his mouth the whole time.

Bill moved to Florida back in the 70's. Tampa area I believe. He was a contractor, building houses and stuff. Still played pool though up until he died about 10-15 years ago.

 

[jay helfert]

Jay, all that and no mention of Tommy Parker or Billy Stopher(sp).... what a shame. But then again, some of the best unknowns are still unknown.

Did you ever run into either of these guys ?

Thanks Geno. I didn't know Tommy Parker that well, but I did hear about him. I think he was mostly playing up in northern Ohio. But a big thanks for reminding me about Billy Stauffer. I haven't heard that name in over thirty years. He was a good shortstop who stayed in action and had quite a rep for gambling. I never knew how good he really played. I don't think he could play Joey or Steve Cook or Chuck Morgan, but was probably a good match for guys like Johnny Dollar or Larry Ridgeway.

 

[imagemker]

Jay,
Thanks for the story, when I was in college I spent a lot of time at Pete (Papa)
Glenn's home (Phx) and when he was not out on the road he would be in the pool room just banking balls for hours and hours. He also always seemed to bring home the next generation of great cue maker. (always a new cue with him when he came home) what a neat guy. I am told you should never have played shuffleboard with him either

Michael

 

[BHQ]

what about kenny abnee, abney? spellcheck , great bigggggggg guy, played bank. worked at the golden tee part-time
is bucky bell running around in a wig and disguise considered an unknown ohio player? :thumbup:

 

[Smithy]

Wow, this is like a trip down memory lane for me. I only joined this site a week ago. In the late 60's I hung out at the Golden 8 Ball in Columbus, where all the pool action was hapening at the time. Kenny McCoy, Howard Vicary and many road players made for some good action. I used to live and travel with a pool player named Bud Alexander and, if anyone knows where he is, I sure would like to know. Last I heard he was in Washington DC, but that was yers ago.

Fast forward to the late 80's, early 90's and I found myself in Cincinnati, Oh. Found a pool hall called Family Billards, owned at the time by none other than Cuesmith. I met Joey and Gary Spaeth, Donny Anderson and the like. Got into playing a little bit, but never was a player.

I joined this site because I am going to start playing again as I am closing down my shop in January and my time will be my own. This is a great site...

 

[Buddy]

What about Bucky..when was his hay day

 

[cuesmith]

What about Bucky..when was his hay day

Bucky was originally from Michigan and came to Ohio in the 90's IIRC. His best days were probably in the 80's where he made a name for himself primarily on the Barbox. He played well on big tables too and even played a little 3C but by the time he came to Ohio Gary was pretty much Top Dog. Bucky is a good friend of mine and I still like the old guy. He was in my shop one day after a visit back home to Michigan. He told me about playing in a small tournament there. After the draw, he said he heard a young guy looking at the chart say, "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" Bucky told him "I am son, and you're about to see what it's like to have your bell rung" I made Bucky a cue and put a ring on it that I engraved with "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" When Bucky came by to pick up his cue and saw the engraving he was beaming! He showed that cue to everyone he ran into for quite some time.

 

[TheCueHunter]

Bucky was originally from Michigan and came to Ohio in the 90's IIRC. His best days were probably in the 80's where he made a name for himself primarily on the Barbox. He played well on big tables too and even played a little 3C but by the time he came to Ohio Gary was pretty much Top Dog. Bucky is a good friend of mine and I still like the old guy. He was in my shop one day after a visit back home to Michigan. He told me about playing in a small tournament there. After the draw, he said he heard a young guy looking at the chart say, "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" Bucky told him "I am son, and you're about to see what it's like to have your bell rung" I made Bucky a cue and put a ring on it that I engraved with "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" When Bucky came by to pick up his cue and saw the engraving he was beaming! He showed that cue to everyone he ran into for quite some time.

Bucky grew up and was born in Booneville county Kentucky. His father was a judge in that town. He may have LIVED there but was not "from" there with that Twang he has.

 

[BHQ]

Bucky was originally from Michigan and came to Ohio in the 90's IIRC. His best days were probably in the 80's where he made a name for himself primarily on the Barbox. He played well on big tables too and even played a little 3C but by the time he came to Ohio Gary was pretty much Top Dog. Bucky is a good friend of mine and I still like the old guy. He was in my shop one day after a visit back home to Michigan. He told me about playing in a small tournament there. After the draw, he said he heard a young guy looking at the chart say, "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" Bucky told him "I am son, and you're about to see what it's like to have your bell rung" I made Bucky a cue and put a ring on it that I engraved with "Who the hell is Bucky Bell?" When Bucky came by to pick up his cue and saw the engraving he was beaming! He showed that cue to everyone he ran into for quite some time.

a lot of people around here know bucky for his trick shot stuff that he likes to do when he's goofin' around , but..............
my best memory of bucky was one saturday , early afternoon, at michaels
after he stopped and shot the bull with me & my buddy,
he had his eye on a group of three boys, i'm guessing between 8 and 12 was thier ages
they were just hacking away, you know, just being kids

bucky goes over and asks them if they want to learn to MAKE the balls they were beating around the table
with a few nods of thier heads, he now had thier complete attention
and the lessons began
those boys eyes were just glued to him
this went on for everybit of an hour, at least
that man just loves pool and loves to teach
he didnt do any showin' off, just basic instruction to those kids
i thought it was really cool of him to take the time
that's "who the hell bucky (clarence) bell is" to me

dieckman chewed my ass out for calling him bucky, that it was an insult
i said thats how he introduced himself to me years ago at golden tee
so, i mentioned that to bucky next time i saw him,
he said dennis is the only person in pool that calls him clarence
and to call him bucky

 

[cuesmith]

Bucky grew up and was born in Booneville county Kentucky. His father was a judge in that town. He may have LIVED there but was not "from" there with that Twang he has.

You have a point about the accent! lol I just know that he lived in Michigan for quite a while before coming to Ohio. He used to talk about teaching Ewa Mataya back when she and Jimmy were together. I think Bucky was a tradesman of some kind. Sheet metalworker, or boilermaker, something of that nature I believe and worked in Michigan for many years. I'm sure you're right about his Kentucky heritage after reflecting on it.

 

[cuesmith]

a lot of people around here know bucky for his trick shot stuff that he likes to do when he's goofin' around , but..............
my best memory of bucky was one saturday , early afternoon, at michaels
after he stopped and shot the bull with me & my buddy,
he had his eye on a group of three boys, i'm guessing between 8 and 12 was thier ages
they were just hacking away, you know, just being kids

bucky goes over and asks them if they want to learn to MAKE the balls they were beating around the table
with a few nods of thier heads, he now had thier complete attention
and the lessons began
those boys eyes were just glued to him
this went on for everybit of an hour, at least
that man just loves pool and loves to teach
he didnt do any showin' off, just basic instruction to those kids
i thought it was really cool of him to take the time
that's "who the hell bucky (clarence) bell is" to me

dieckman chewed my ass out for calling him bucky, that it was an insult
i said thats how he introduced himself to me years ago at golden tee
so, i mentioned that to bucky next time i saw him,
he said dennis is the only person in pool that calls him clarence
and to call him bucky

Yes Brent you're right about Bucky. He liked to take people "under his wing" and teach them pool. He is a pretty good teacher also.

 

[BHQ]

Yes Brent you're right about Bucky. He liked to take people "under his wing" and teach them pool. He is a pretty good teacher also.

he taught me
charged me $50 for an hour
that was when i first began playing, 8 or 9 years ago
ended up spending 2 hours 45 minutes with me
guess he figured i NEEDED the extra help :thumbup:
disclaimer> im probably his worst example of teaching ever

 

[Tommy-D]

> I never got to see him play,and never did find out what his real name was,but back in the day guys at Starcher's used to talk about a guy they called "Junkyard Tom". How good did he play? Tommy D.