This Day in Pool History

Dec
22
Fri
1991: Death of “St. Louie” Louis Roberts
Dec 22 all-day

Death of “St. Louie” Louis Roberts Dec. 22, 1991.

Jan
4
Thu
1771: Birth of cue tip inventor Francois Mingaud.
Jan 4 all-day

The inventor of the leather cue tip was Francois Mingaud, who was born on Jan. 4, 1771, in Le Cailar, France. He was an infantry officer in Napoleon Bonapartes’ army.

Jan
12
Fri
1953: Death of Straight Pool Inventor Jerome Keogh
Jan 12 all-day

Jerome Keogh, winner of five titles and the inventor of straight pool, dies at age 80 on January 12, 1953.

Jan
22
Mon
1922: 480-ball Balkline Pool High Run by Jake Schaefer
Jan 22 all-day

Jake Schaefer Jr. runs 480 balls in an 18.2 balkline billiards exhibition against Welker Cochran at Chicago, on Jan. 22, 1922.

Jan
31
Wed
1997: Death of Jack “Jersey Red” Breit
Jan 31 all-day
1997: Death of Jack "Jersey Red" Breit

Jack “Jersey Red” Breit was the famed one-pocket player featured in R.A. Dyer’s 2003 book, Hustler Days.

Mar
2
Sat
1984: Death of Don Willis
Mar 2 all-day
1984: Death of Don Willis

Don Willis (May 1, 1909 – March 2, 1984) was the long-time road partner of the great Wimpy Lassiter. Willis participated in few tournaments, but rather earned his reputation as a gambling road player. You can read more about his partnership with Lassiter and their “Big Hoorah” hustle at the #poolhistory website, here. 

Mar
7
Thu
1913: Birth of Masako Katsura
Mar 7 all-day

Board March March 7, 1913, Masako Katsura was nicknamed “Katsy” and sometimes called the “First Lady of Billiards.” The Japanese carom billiards player who was most active in the 1950s. She died in 1995.

Mar
15
Fri
1950: Death of Ralph Greenleaf
Mar 15 all-day

Ralph Greenleaf dies on March 15, 1950. 

Apr
6
Sat
1892: Birth of Emmett Blankenship
Apr 6 all-day
1892: Birth of Emmett Blankenship

William Emmett Blankenship was born in Olden, Missouri, an unincorporated area north of West Plains, on April 6th, 1892. He won the world pool title on his first attempt in 1916. Blankenship was the first person to run over a hundred balls at Straight Pool and had a personal best high run of 287 balls during an exhibition in Jackson, Michigan.

Apr
7
Sun
1911: The Birth of UJ Puckett
Apr 7 all-day
1911: The Birth of UJ Puckett

Utley Puckett, better known to the pool world as hustler U.J. Puckett, was born in 1911 and died 81 years later, on June 22, 1992. In life he knew fame and fortune as a professional nine-ball and one-pocket champion alongside fellow sharks Jersey Red and Ronnie Allen. He was famous for his large brimmed white Stetson and his larger-than-life persona. In death U.J. Puckett is known to some as the ghost who haunts a Texas poolroom.