Wade crane killed in car wreck last night
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Just heard of this tragedy on Facebook! He was one of the best players I've ever had the pleasure of playing with. First meet him in the early 70's and was told his name was Billy "White Shoes" Johnson because he wore the white shoes like Pat Boone. In the 90's when Champs opened in Dallas I ran into him again as Wade Crane. I use to practice with him at Champs (later became CJ"s). Everyone thought he played 9-ball but 8-ball was his game.
Rest in peace my friend!
If someone knows the arrangement could they post them here!
Rest in peace my friend!
If someone knows the arrangement could they post them here!
Wade Crane was an ICON. I had the great experience of competeing against him. Wade was a gentleman. He was so good for the game and helped so many players.
Thanks Mr Wade for being a part of this pool world for all of us.
Thanks Mr Wade for being a part of this pool world for all of us.
What a friend of pool !
Wade and I grew up in the same area of western North Carolina. Wade was from Robinsville and I from Franklin. He was two years older than I, making him 64. I'm not sure what month he was born but I seem to remember his birthday being in the summer time, maybe August. He used to come to our little pool room looking for a game as a teenager and it didn't take me long to realize I didn't want to play him on a regular basis. However I did make a few trips to his home town and play him but wasn't going to do that many times either. Wade worked in that old poolroom in Robinsville as a rack boy from time to time but also primarily he worked the old shoe shine booth. Later in years when they finally closed down the old poolroom there, Wade told me that he purchased that old shoe shine booth to put in his home as a reminder of days that were.
The last time I played him was in a tournament in Chattanooga, Tn.. We went hill-hill on a old 8 foot Olhousen table and I though I might have a chance but he broke and ran out the last rack so I guess I can say I never beat the old goat.
At one time Wade returned to his home town and opened a small poolroom / gameroom. I think it might have stayed open for only about two years. The last time I talked to him about home, he said he would never go back there again. I know he still has a few cousins living there but that may be all as far as family goes. I don't think Wade has been married in a very long time. I don't know who will be in charge of taking care of his arrangements.
I am grateful I have several stories and memories of Wade "Billy - Boom Boom - Johnson" Crane.
I will truly miss him !
Wade and I grew up in the same area of western North Carolina. Wade was from Robinsville and I from Franklin. He was two years older than I, making him 64. I'm not sure what month he was born but I seem to remember his birthday being in the summer time, maybe August. He used to come to our little pool room looking for a game as a teenager and it didn't take me long to realize I didn't want to play him on a regular basis. However I did make a few trips to his home town and play him but wasn't going to do that many times either. Wade worked in that old poolroom in Robinsville as a rack boy from time to time but also primarily he worked the old shoe shine booth. Later in years when they finally closed down the old poolroom there, Wade told me that he purchased that old shoe shine booth to put in his home as a reminder of days that were.
The last time I played him was in a tournament in Chattanooga, Tn.. We went hill-hill on a old 8 foot Olhousen table and I though I might have a chance but he broke and ran out the last rack so I guess I can say I never beat the old goat.
At one time Wade returned to his home town and opened a small poolroom / gameroom. I think it might have stayed open for only about two years. The last time I talked to him about home, he said he would never go back there again. I know he still has a few cousins living there but that may be all as far as family goes. I don't think Wade has been married in a very long time. I don't know who will be in charge of taking care of his arrangements.
I am grateful I have several stories and memories of Wade "Billy - Boom Boom - Johnson" Crane.
I will truly miss him !
I saw him play Toby Sweet about that time. The played 15 ahead for $15,000.00. We all settled in for what we thought would be a long night. Wade nearly ran out the match. It took like just over an hour. I think Toby won 2 games.
Wade Crane aka "Billy Johnson"
I remember the first time I had the privilege of watching Wade pay 9-ball was in 1979 in Dallas,Tx. at Rusty's Billiards on the North West Hwy., he and Buddy Hall were playing a set for $5,000 on the big table, all I remember was that both Crane and Hall had the most unique strokes I ever seen, the balls pocketed by both players seemed to just flow to the hole.
Wade Crane will always be remembered as an all time great player of pockett billiards.
David Harcrow
I remember the first time I had the privilege of watching Wade pay 9-ball was in 1979 in Dallas,Tx. at Rusty's Billiards on the North West Hwy., he and Buddy Hall were playing a set for $5,000 on the big table, all I remember was that both Crane and Hall had the most unique strokes I ever seen, the balls pocketed by both players seemed to just flow to the hole.
Wade Crane will always be remembered as an all time great player of pockett billiards.
David Harcrow
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My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
R.I.P Sir
R.I.P Sir
i first met Wade some 40+ yrs ago when he gave me the 8 for 20 a game on a 5 x 10 at Lorimars in Oak Park, Il.
In less than an hour i'd won 1 game and was stuck a couple hun.
i'll always be gratefull to him for providing a career altering experience.
RIP and i'll see ya down the road
In less than an hour i'd won 1 game and was stuck a couple hun.
i'll always be gratefull to him for providing a career altering experience.
RIP and i'll see ya down the road
I always remember this story from Buddy's book about Wade. It was said that Wade Crane/Billy Johnson had a standing offer to play anyone a race to 50 and they didnt' need to bring a cue. The offer went that Wade would play the ghost a race to 50 where he got all the breaks and no ball in hand. He reported had a standing offer to bet anyone 10k on that proposition and no one took him up on it.
This is very sad news. My condolences to all who knew him. I only knew of his legend. It would be nice if we could have a space on here for departed players where their stories could be gathered. Eventually I'd like to see those stories published so that these great players won't be forgotten.
Rack Em Up St. Peter. Rest in Peace Mr. Crane.
This is very sad news. My condolences to all who knew him. I only knew of his legend. It would be nice if we could have a space on here for departed players where their stories could be gathered. Eventually I'd like to see those stories published so that these great players won't be forgotten.
Rack Em Up St. Peter. Rest in Peace Mr. Crane.
Forget the cut break and all it's nuances. Billy simply exploded the rack with balls flying everywhere. To this day the only man I ever saw break object balls off the table. He would bet even money he could make ten balls in five breaks. Try that sometime. I'd make that bet with anyone alive today.
And with all that power he still had the sweetest slip stroke this side of Jimmy Moore. When Eddie Kelly went on the road with Ronnie, they cut a swath across the country, leaving victims in their wake. Kelly was considered the best 9-Ball player in the country back then. Well, they ran into Billy in Atlanta and played for a few days. Kelly broke even with Billy and was glad to get out of there. Before he left he told Billy, "Kid, YOU'RE the best 9-ball player in the country, not me." Ronnie told me this story when he got back home. He said Kelly finally pulled up, Billy wanted to keep playing.
Yes, Billy/Wade shot a perfect 1.000 Accu-Stats at Resorts in Atlantic City. It was a Race to Seven and he played a perfect first set, running all seven racks. The match was two out of three sets though, so he had to win one more set. He did too. I can't remember who he played in that one. It was the finals.
I know Billy would have been at DCC this year. We need to do something special for him there.
And with all that power he still had the sweetest slip stroke this side of Jimmy Moore. When Eddie Kelly went on the road with Ronnie, they cut a swath across the country, leaving victims in their wake. Kelly was considered the best 9-Ball player in the country back then. Well, they ran into Billy in Atlanta and played for a few days. Kelly broke even with Billy and was glad to get out of there. Before he left he told Billy, "Kid, YOU'RE the best 9-ball player in the country, not me." Ronnie told me this story when he got back home. He said Kelly finally pulled up, Billy wanted to keep playing.
Yes, Billy/Wade shot a perfect 1.000 Accu-Stats at Resorts in Atlantic City. It was a Race to Seven and he played a perfect first set, running all seven racks. The match was two out of three sets though, so he had to win one more set. He did too. I can't remember who he played in that one. It was the finals.
I know Billy would have been at DCC this year. We need to do something special for him there.
I can't remember the year but it was 92-95 at the Texas Express Tour stop at the Radisson Hotel in Dallas. Sergio Vergas and Wade Crane were playing and started woofing at each other to gamble after the match. They agreed to play a race to 13 for $6K on the 9 ft. at CJ's. I was sweating a match between Bob Pyle's and Justin Whitehead on the bar tables at the hotel and told Wade I would come over after this set was over because I loved to watch him play. Well the set ended and I went to CJ's to watch the match. When I walked in Wade was flipping the coin and Sergio would not call the coin flip. He was asking for the breaks and Wade said No. Sergio put up his cue and I asked what happened and they told me Wade won the flip, broke and ran the set to 13 in a little over an hour. Sergio would not play another set unless he got the breaks and thats where I came in. I missed probably one of the best exhibition of pure shooting ability of my life time. One can only wish to have the stroke and ability that Wade had.
A true champion and ambassador to the game!
A true champion and ambassador to the game!
Terrible, sad news. I just got off the phone with Tommy Kennedy, reminiscing about how great of player Wade was. Back in the day, everybody would marvel at the power of his explosive break. Wade was a lot of fun - he had a contagious personality and he called it the way saw it. At times that could be very entertaining. He was one of those guys that was born to play pool, he was born to be a pool player. I am confident in saying that he enjoyed every second of it. RIP, Billy Johnson, you will be missed.
The pool world mourns the loss of one of the good ones...not only one of the greatest players of my generation, but one of the best people I have ever known.
Billy was my 'tournament buddy' when the men & women had their events together. No one, & I mean no one, has ever made me laugh like he did. I last spoke to him around the end of September & as we always did, talked on the phone for over 3 hours...So many of my memories from the 'old days' include Billy.
I am so sad - I loved him so much - he was my best friend in pool. I will miss you, Billy...rest in peace, my friend...Murr
Billy was my 'tournament buddy' when the men & women had their events together. No one, & I mean no one, has ever made me laugh like he did. I last spoke to him around the end of September & as we always did, talked on the phone for over 3 hours...So many of my memories from the 'old days' include Billy.
I am so sad - I loved him so much - he was my best friend in pool. I will miss you, Billy...rest in peace, my friend...Murr
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Does any one know the make of the vehicle Wade was driving and if he is about 66 yrs. old.
I found this police report online but I'm not sure this Wade as the Police is not releasing the name yet.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/d...ion-likely-cause-fatal-wreck/?partner=popular
KNOXVILLE — Police believed a medical condition may have resulted in a deadly accident this morning on Interstate 40 that killed one person.
At about 9:37 a.m., Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 West, just east of the West Hills exit, according to Sgt. Brian Evans. Witnesses told police that a 2000 Volkswagen crossed three lanes of traffic, striking the right concrete retaining wall. The vehicle then crossed back over five lanes of traffic and hit the center concrete retaining wall.
No other vehicles were involved and the driver was the only occupant of the car. The 66-year-old male driver, whose name has not been released, was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
I found this police report online but I'm not sure this Wade as the Police is not releasing the name yet.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/d...ion-likely-cause-fatal-wreck/?partner=popular
KNOXVILLE — Police believed a medical condition may have resulted in a deadly accident this morning on Interstate 40 that killed one person.
At about 9:37 a.m., Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 West, just east of the West Hills exit, according to Sgt. Brian Evans. Witnesses told police that a 2000 Volkswagen crossed three lanes of traffic, striking the right concrete retaining wall. The vehicle then crossed back over five lanes of traffic and hit the center concrete retaining wall.
No other vehicles were involved and the driver was the only occupant of the car. The 66-year-old male driver, whose name has not been released, was transported to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
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