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Luther Lassiter

Luther Lassiter (November 5, 1918 – October 25, 1988),[1] born Luther Clement Lassiter, Jr.[2] and nicknamed Wimpy, was a world-renowned American pool player from Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The winner of six world championships and numerous other titles, Lassiter is most well known for his wizardry in the game of nine ball at which he is widely considered one the greatest player in history,[3] if not the greatest.[4][5][6]

[edit] Biography

Lassiter received the nickname Wimpy during high school for his propensity to devour massive quantities of hot dogs and Orange Crushes much the way the Wimpy character of the Popeye comic strip inhaled hamburgers.[4]

This coup was soon followed by his first world title in 1942. Over the following three decades, Crane won almost two dozen major championships, including the World Crown in 1946, 1955, 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1972, the Ballantine International Championship in 1965, the International Roundrobin championship in 1968, and the World Series of Billiards in 1978 at age 65. Of these triumphs, his win at the 1966 World Crown is the most celebrated. At that tournament he ran 150 and out in the finals, never letting his opponent to the table; an accomplishment that has never been equaled. Crane also holds the record for the most runner-up finishes for the World Crown with 13.

[7]

When another hall of famer, 'Champagne' Edwin Kelly was asked who was the toughest player he ever played against, he responded that it depended on the game but that if it was "9-ball, it would have to be Luther Lassiter...Wimpy was the best...He was the best shot-maker that I ever saw."[8]

He is famed for having said "I watch a man shoot pool for an hour. If he misses more than one shot I know I can beat him."[9][10]

Lassiter was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1983. That same year he was also inducted into the North Carolina Sport Hall of Fame.[11] In 1999 Crane was named as one of Billiard Digest's top ten players of the century.[12] In 1980 Crane retired from professional play. He stopped playing entirely in about 1996. On October 25, 1988 at age 69, Lassiter died of natural causes in his hometown of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He was found by his nephew next to his pool table where he had apparently been practicing.[1] Lassiter was interred in Hollywood Memorial Park in Union County, New Jersey.[13] and was survived by two brothers and three sisters.[3]


Considered by many to be the finest 9-ball player ever, LUTHER LASSITER was born in Elizabeth City, NC. Lassiter earned his nickname "Wimpy," for all the hot dogs and Orange Crushes he could pack away as a youngster hanging around the local pool hall. By the time he was 17, "Wimpy" was packing away his share of opponents. Lassiter's biggest years in tournament play came in the 1960s. In the 11 years of the Jansco brothers' all-around championships in Johnston City, IL (1962-1972), Lassiter won the straight pool title five times, the nine-ball title four times and the one-pocket title once. On three occasions Lassiter went on to capture the All-Around title (1962, 1963, 1967). He also won the BCA U.S. Open in 1969 and the Stardust World All-Around championship in 1971. [4]


He authored a number of books on the sport including

Luther (Wimpy) Lassiter, who won six world billiards championships, died Tuesday. He was 69 years old.

Mr. Lassiter, who was considered by many to be one of the greatest nine-ball players of all time, was found by a nephew in his home in Elizabeth City, the town in which he was raised.

Mr. Lassiter, who had been in failing health, apparently collapsed a few hours before, not far from the pool table where he still played every day, according to James Todd, a family friend.

I know he played yesterday and probably this morning because I went in and there were still seven balls and a cue ball and his cue stick on the table, Mr. Todd said. Pool meant everything to him. He told me once that if he couldn't play pool, he didn't know what he would do. Praise From Mosconi

Willie Mosconi, a 15-time world champion, said Mr. Lassiter thrived on the game of pool.

That was his life, Mr. Mosconi said from his home in Haddon Heights, N.J. Half the time he didn't eat a good meal. He was a very good player, one of those quiet sort of guys hanging around pool halls.

Mr. Lassiter was given his nickname for his habit of devouring hot dogs in high school much like the Wimpy character in the Popeye comic strip ate hamburgers. Mr. Lassiter dropped out of school at 16 and began hustling pool games.

In the 1940's and 50's, Mr. Lassiter played in pool halls throughout the country. He once listed his biggest payoffs as $15,000 in a week, $11,000 in a single night.

He is survived by two brothers and three sisters. [3]

In the nineteenth century and up through the mid 1950s, a common way for world billiards titles to change hands was by a challenge match, meaning a challenge was issued to a championship titleholder accompanied by stake money held by a third party. Lassiter's successful defense of his title in 1966 against Cisero Murphy was the last title challenge in billiards. Colorful character, psych, shark, pretended to fall asleep during a long run by Murphy. Reprotedly, When Murphy noticed Lassiter sleeping he promptly missed. Lassiter, who was wide awakem jumped out of his chair and ran out the match for the win.[15]

Mr. Lassiter won six world championships from 1955 to 1967. In 1983 he won the ESPN Legendary Pocket Billiards Stars Tournament by beating Willie Mosconi, Minnesota Fats and Jimmy Moore. He also was elected to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. In the 1940s and 1950s, Mr. Lassiter barnstormed pool halls throughout the country. Some of his biggest paydays came in the 1940s, when he lived in Norfolk. He listed his biggest payoffs as $15,000 in a week and $11,000 in a single night, but admitted to high living and gambling away much of his winnings. [16]

You would not know by looking at Luther Lassiter's hands that he can perform magic tricks with a cue stick. They are small hands, with stiff, inflexible-looking fingers. And the hands don't just move; they fly about in swift, jerking movements that give tile impression of a bad case of nerves rather than evidence of a Godgiven talent.[17]

Luther Lassiter, 69, who held six world billiards titles and was considered by many to be one of the greatest nine-ball players of all time, died Tuesday at his home in Elizabeth City, N.C. He won six world championships from 1955 to 1967. In 1983, he won the ESPN Legendary Pocket Billiards Stars Tournament by beating 15-time world champion Willie Mosconi, the legendary Minnesota Fats and Jimmy Moore. He also was elected to the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. Mr. Lassiter, often... [18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b MyFamily.com Inc. (1998-2006). U.S. Social Security Death Index Search. Retrieved December 5, 2006
  2. ^ R. A. Dyer (2004). Wimpy Lassiter. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c The New York Times Company (2001). Obituaries section: Luther Lassiter, 69, Billiards Star Who Captured Six World Titles. By the Associated Press, October 27, 1988. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  4. ^ a b c Billiard Congress America (1995-2005). BCA Hall of Fame Inductees: 1977 - 1984. Retrieved November 22, 2006.
  5. ^ CNN/Sports Illustrated (2003). The 50 Greatest North Carolina Sports Figures. Retrieved December 5, 2006
  6. ^ Dragon's Journal at AZBilliards.com (2006). Buddy Hall quote reported by Professional, Charlie Williams. Retrieved November 22, 2006.
  7. ^ Shamos, Michael Ian (1993). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York, NY: Lyons & Burford, Page 272, Appendix A. ISBN 1-55821-219-1.
  8. ^ AzBilliards (2006).AZbilliards interview with 'Champagne' Edwin Kelly. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  9. ^ ISearchQuotations.com (2006). Quotations for Luther Lassiter. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  10. ^ Cyber Nation International, Inc. (1997-2003). Quotations for Luther Lassiter. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  11. ^ NC Sports Hall of Fame (2005). North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame listing for Luther Lassiter. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  12. ^ Sun-Times News Group (2006). NOTEWORTHY, Chicago Sun-Times, December 15, 1999, by Elliott Harris.
  13. ^ Find A Grave, Inc. (2003). Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter. Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  14. ^ Amazon.com
  15. ^ Shamos, Michael Ian (1993). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Billiards. New York, NY: Lyons & Burford, Page 46 and 182. ISBN 1-55821-219-1.
  16. ^ The Washington Post Company (1996-2006). Deaths Elsewhere: Luther Lassiter (Oct 27, 1988). Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  17. ^ The Washington Post Company (1996-2006). Nine-Ball Takes a Cue From Master's Hands by Joan Ryan (Feb 3, 1977). Retrieved December 5, 2006.
  18. ^ Philly Online, LLC. (2006). Philadelphia Inquirer article: Deaths Elsewhere: Luther Lassiter (Oct 27, 1988). Retrieved December 5, 2006.
Persondata
NAME Lassiter, Luther
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Wimpy
SHORT DESCRIPTION American pool player
DATE OF BIRTH November 13, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Elizabeth City, North Carolina
DATE OF DEATH October 25, 1988
PLACE OF DEATH Elizabeth City, North Carolina

[[Category:American pool players|Lassiter, Luther [[Category:People from North Carolina|Lassiter, Luther [[Category:1913 births|Lassiter, Luther [[Category:2001 deaths|Lassiter, Luther

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