Vernon Elliott Passes Away

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
Today at 2:30 p.m., I am sad to relay the passing of Vernon Elliott, one of the greatest gamblers of all time.

He was a notorious road man and known to have won large amounts of money and other things. Vernon could tell some great pool tales.

Vernon and Buddy Hall used to be road partners together and are very good friends. Buddy Hall decided to go the tournament soldier route, and Vernon wanted to fly under the radar. There's a funny story about Buddy going AWOL and meeting up with Vernon. Buddy eventually returned, but he had a hell of good time and still has fond memories of his road trips with Vernon.

RIP, Vernon Elliott. My deepest sympathies to the Elliott family and his many friends.
 
Vernon Elliott was inducted into the One-Pocket Hall of Fame in 2006. I am so happy he got to enjoy this great honor!

Here's a great picture of him, which is on the Onepocket.org website: http://onepocket.org/ElliottHOF.htm

This picture was copy-and-pasted form Onepocket.org and was taken by PoolPics by Hoppe (Diana Hoppe).
 

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Hopefully, some folks will post up some Vernon Elliott memories. He loved pool so very much.
 
R.i.p vernon,,,,,,,,,,

So sad,,,,another pool icon leaves us,,,,

i hope freddy chimes in with a few great stories on he and vernon,,,,,,,,,,,
 
I knew Vernon for many years, he could do things on a pool table that mortals simply could not. Very, very sad news.
 
if stories are wanted,in 1973 Vernon posed as a contactor and called on me at my real estate office,it wasn't too long until we matched up to play some one pocket,I had a check in my pocket for $500 made out to me or George Balabushka,I was undecided whether or not I wanted to buy such an expensive cue,Vernon relieved me of the decision by banking balls in all day.I say all day,but it was more like 30 minutes.

Years later he had aged to the point that i didn't recognize him,he had been away for a while.He came to CJ Wileys and offered me 2 pick and the pop at one hole.I thought I had the nuts,but it turned out I didn't.He was a master of his craft.
 
Tragedy befalls us again. Yet another old road soldier gone to rest with the legends. A salute to Vernon. Thanks for the memories. God Bless and Keep you.
 
I didn't now Vernon is his great years but did met him in his later years and at his HOF induction. He showed dignity and respect to an admirer and had stories for every name I mentioned.

His fantistic proposition banks are legend that some are proud to reproduce but none are with the talent to invent.

With all due respect---Tennessee Joe
 
I was told that Vernon suffered from heart problems, and from what was relayed to me, that is how he passed, complications with his heart.

I am so happy he is in the One-Pocket Hall of Fame. He will always be remembered in the pool world for his great story-telling, good sense of humor, and, of course, his strength on a field of green.
 
Too bad no one has any photos of the young Vernon Elliott. He was a handsome young man. I first met him at Johnston City in the 60's. He was with old man Spivey laying down trap after trap, and taking off some pretty good players. He was a notch above the rest when it came to hustling.
 
JAM said:
Today at 2:30 p.m., I am sad to relay the passing of Vernon Elliott, one of the greatest gamblers of all time.

He was a notorious road man and known to have won large amounts of money and other things. Vernon could tell some great pool tales.

Vernon and Buddy Hall used to be road partners together and are very good friends. Buddy Hall decided to go the tournament soldier route, and Vernon wanted to fly under the radar. There's a funny story about Buddy going AWOL and meeting up with Vernon. Buddy eventually returned, but he had a hell of good time and still has fond memories of his road trips with Vernon.

RIP, Vernon Elliott. My deepest sympathies to the Elliott family and his many friends.
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I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Elliot on a couple occasions. He is a legend and very few people knew who he was until after he took their money. I'm looking forward to a lot of great stories on this thread.

May he Rest In Peace.
 
Damn! Another legend has left us. I doubt we will see the like of many of them, ever again. RIP.
 
Vernon pics

jay helfert said:
Too bad no one has any photos of the young Vernon Elliott. He was a handsome young man. I first met him at Johnston City in the 60's. He was with old man Spivey laying down trap after trap, and taking off some pretty good players. He was a notch above the rest when it came to hustling.
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I have a few pics of the young Vernon sent to me years ago by his friend Doug Wood. I'll tell a few tales later on when I feel a little better. This morning his son, and then his friend Doug called me. Truman Hogue another dear pal of Vernon's left me a message on the answering machine. I'll call him later and reminisce with him, and probably Wade Crane too. I'm sure they feel as badly as I do. Diana Hoppe was also very disturbed by it, and we talked too. It aint no secret that Vernon and I were good pals. His son broke me up when he said they were going to bury him in the Bank on Brother cap that I signed and sent to him years ago. For now I'll just say this, you aint gonna see his like for a good while. He did things that made Buddy Hall and Eddie Taylor gasp. Good-bye old friend, it was great just getting to hang with you out on the trail.

the Beard
 

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freddy the beard said:
I have a few pics of the young Vernon sent to me years ago by his friend Doug Wood. I'll tell a few tales later on when I feel a little better. This morning his son, and then his friend Doug called me. Truman Hogue another dear pal of Vernon's left me a message on the answering machine. I'll call him later and reminisce with him, and probably Wade Crane too. I'm sure they feel as badly as I do. Diana Hoppe was also very disturbed by it, and we talked too. It aint no secret that Vernon and I were good pals. His son broke me up when he said they were going to bury him in the Bank on Brother cap that I signed and sent to him years ago. For now I'll just say this, you aint gonna see his like for a good while. He did things that made Buddy Hall and Eddie Taylor gasp. Good-bye old friend, it was great just getting to hang with you out on the trail.

the Beard
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I am so sorry for your loss, Freddy. Vernon was very fortunate to have you as his friend.
 
I am really sad to hear about Vernon Elliott. I consider him a good friend of mine. I knew he was sick. God bless him. He was one of the better guys in the pool business. There's probably a lot of people that don't know who Vernon was, but I had the privilege of knowing him as a nice person, good heart, and a bar table champion, as well as a bank pool champion, one of the best bankers I've ever seen for the money. That's one thing Vernon could do is play for the dough.

I think it was in the early '80s or thereabouts when I was over there in Knoxville during the World's Fair. I was sneaking in around from bar to bar to bar, trying to stir up some action. I made a few good scores and was feeling my oats.

The first time I ever met Vernon Elliott was during this time. I stepped into one bar with only about three or four people in it. They had a few bar tables in there. I said, "Where's all the action around here?" hoping I'd get a nibble. Boy, did I ever get the big kahuna.

Vernon, unbeknownst to me, said, "I'll play you some," and I asked him what do you want to play for. He said, "I'll play you some, fifty or a hundred a game." I looked at this guy and thought I was stealing because Vernon didn't look like a pool player to me. Was I ever mistaken. LOL.

He got up there, run a 5-pack for 50 a game. I asked him if he wanted to bet a 100, hoping that he might start missing balls. He laughed at me and said, "Bet." Well, he got up and run another 7 and broke me. So I went and got some more money and came back. All I could round up was another 500. Well, he ran 5 more racks. He put me into a complete coma. That was my introduction to Vernon Elliott.

We talked some at the bar and he let me snap him back for a hundred, so I had a little walking money to go hustle some more bars, but I sad to myself right then and there that I would be leaving Vernon alone and he wouldn't be on my hit list. We actually became good friends after that. I watched him over there in Detroit betting as high as you could fly, some of the best pool I've seen for the money, and I'm talking about big money, not just 5 and 10,000 a set. They were playing 15 and 20,000 a game. That was Vernon Elliott.

Rest in peace, Vernon. You will be missed.
 
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Keith McCready said:
I am really sad to hear about Vernon Elliott. I consider him a good friend of mine. I knew he was sick. God bless him. He was one of the better guys in the pool business. There's probably a lot of people that don't know who Vernon was, but I had the privilege of knowing him as a nice person, good heart, and a bar table champion, as well as a bank pool champion, one of the best bankers I've ever seen for the money. That's one thing Vernon could do is play for the dough.

I think it was in the early '80s or thereabouts when I was over there in Knoxville during the World's Fair. I was sneaking in around from bar to bar to bar, trying to stir up some action. I made a few good scores and was feeling my oats.

The first time I ever met Vernon Elliott was during this time. I stepped into one bar with only about three or four people in it. They had a few bar tables in there. I said, "Where's all the action around here?" hoping I'd get a nibble. Boy, did I ever get the big kahuna.

Vernon, unbeknownst to me, said, "I'll play you some," and I asked him what do you want to play for. He said, "I'll play you some, fifty or a hundred a game." I looked at this guy and thought I was stealing because Vernon didn't look like a pool player to me. Was I ever mistaken. LOL.

He got up there, run a 5-pack for 50 a game. I asked him if he wanted to bet a 100, hoping that he might start missing balls. He laughed at me and said, "Bet." Well, he got up and run another 7 and broke me. So I went and got some more money and came back. All I could round up was another 500. Well, he ran 5 more racks. He put me into a complete coma. That was my introduction to Vernon Elliott.

We talked some at the bar and he let me snap him back for a hundred, so I had a little walking money to go hustle some more bars, but I sad to myself right then and there that I would be leaving Vernon alone and he wouldn't be on my hit list. We actually became good friends after that. I watched him over there in Detroit betting as high as you could fly, some of the best pool I've seen for the money, and I'm talking about big money, not just 5 and 10,000 a set. They were playing 15 and 20,000 a game. That was Vernon Elliott.

Rest in peace, Vernon. You will be missed.
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Thanks for the story Keith, I'm laying 7-5 JAMMY typed it for you, but seriously thanks for sharing that, Its tough to lose friends. We were talking about him at dinner lat nite at the Riv, me, Bobby LeBlanc(cotton), JA and a couple other players.
my best you,
eric
 
Fatboy said:
Thanks for the story Keith, I'm laying 7-5 JAMMY typed it for you, but seriously thanks for sharing that, Its tough to lose friends. We were talking about him at dinner lat nite at the Riv, me, Bobby LeBlanc(cotton), JA and a couple other players.
my best you,
eric
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Haven't you heard? Why, I am the great Keith McCready. Do you really think he exists? Don't look behind that curtain.
 
Condolences to the family & friends of a hall of famer !

I never seen him play in his prime..to tell u the truth I've only see him actually play twice..."was quite impressed both times"....both were well after his prime but you could tell even tho he was past his so call prime it was still better than most people will ever reach...prime or no prime.
 
I was also there for the induction dinner, and met Vernon too. I've heard some amazing stories about his play! I've seen Joe Tucker shoot some of Vernon's 'impossible' banks...simply amazing!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Tennesseejoe said:
I didn't now Vernon is his great years but did met him in his later years and at his HOF induction. He showed dignity and respect to an admirer and had stories for every name I mentioned.

His fantistic proposition banks are legend that some are proud to reproduce but none are with the talent to invent.

With all due respect---Tennessee Joe
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