JOE KERR
1945 - 2008
MERITORIOUS & ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Joe Kerr lives and plays out of Akron, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Akron, majoring in Marketing and Communication, which would serve him well in later years. Joe began playing pool in 1977 and practiced four hours each day both at pool and table tennis. He soon became proficient enough to become resident pro at Starchers Recreation in Akron. He went on to become a pool player, table-tennis player, author, promoter and director. He made his love of pool into a realized dream of a lucrative profession in the sport. He joined the Professional Billiard Tour Association (PBTA) and captured the 1983 Detroit Open tournament and later the 1985 Challenge Cup at Canton’s own Hall of Fame Lanes. Although Joe lived in Akron, he competed regularly with the Stark County talent of Barry Hixon, Meredith Cobedash, Glen Knowles, Fred Martin and the great Don Willis to name a few. He made a name for himself as "Akron Joey" and later "The Joker" for his business, Joker Promotions. He promoted and directed over 250 major professional national and international events. He writes for the National Billiard News as well as the Pool and Billiard Magazine. He was Tour coordinator for the PBTA from 1991 to 1992. He was Executive Director of the Men's Professional Billiard’s association from 1988 through 1990. In 1992, he was unfortunately stricken with Myasthenia Gravis disease which has cut his illustrious career short. MG is a Neuromuscular disease which can be fatal. Joe, however, shows his courageous heart in his battle to overcome this extreme adversity. Joe is overwhelmingly qualified for this induction to the GCABA.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR
BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
CURLY MOON
Born July 16, 1921
MERITORIOUS & ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Curly Moon, a native of Alabama, has played pool for fifty-five years. He has the distinction of having run thirteen racks of 9-Ball and seven racks of 8-Ball as well as having won many tournaments. Curly continues to play in tournaments in the Akron/Canton area. With his positive outlook, cheery countenance and jokes and storytelling, Curly is never at a loss for words. He always sets out "to have a good time" and has "never met a ‘stranger’ or hustled a friend." These qualities in tandem with his unwaring sportsmanship, have earned Curly many friendships as well as great respect from his peers. Of his home state of which he is most proud, Curly told that "The men is men and the women is tickled to death over it!" That’s Curly!
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
JIM STOETZER
1943 - 2002
MERITORIOUS AWARD
Jim has been playing pool since he was twelve years old. He grew up playing at the old Cue & Cushion in Massillon, Ohio. He would enjoy watching Don Willis and Harry "The Head" at the Hall of Fame Lanes, L&M and the old Academy. Jim is being recognized for reopening the first "upscale" poolroom in Stark County and establishing a precedent for rooms that followed. Jim always wanted to own a poolroom but didn’t want the stereotypical, dark, smoke-filled room or bar which were the only kind of rooms available. He dreamed of a poolroom brightly lit, free of smoke and foul language, where players would have the best equipment, and couples could play and feel comfortable. His dream became reality after his retirement, when he opened The Academy Billiards, in downtown Canton. He featured ten Gold Crown tables with Simonis cloth, Artimus rails, Centennial Balls and Dufferin Cues. Jim was known to keep his tables and equipment in outstanding condition. He used "elbow grease" to bring back the shine in the old wood floors, where they sparkled once again to bring back the shine when 50 years earlier this was an old dance studio. All of this was complimented by brass lights and walls lined with past and present professional pool players. In May, 1994, he held an invitational tournament called the "Willis Memorial". Howard Vickory defeated Johnny Archer in that event. In April, 1993, he invited Earl Strickland to town, to give an exhibition. Strickland loved the tables. For the league players of the Canton Billiard League and others who played there, there was never a complaint about his equipment. One could find Jim daily, polishing the pool balls because he remembered growing up and playing on dirty equipment, he didn’t want his patrons to have this same experience. Jim was called "Dad" by several players because of his fatherly image.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
MERV BURLESON
Born January 5, 1947
Merv began playing pool when he was 15 years old. While he learned the basics for the next several years, he honed his skills at the College Bowl playing ring games against Bob Bowers and other locals who frequented the room. As the case with other pool players at that time, there were no tournaments or leagues to judge players. It was gladiator, live-or-die action on a pool table; that was life in ring games. He quit playing in 1974 until organized league play was introduced to the Canton area. He started playing again in 1985 to play on his brother Noren’s team, the old Log Cabin, nka Bennetts.
His teams, which included Hall of Famer Bob Bowers, won the Canton Louisville league four straight years and MVP one year. Merv played on the Canton Billiard League several years and finished high in the standing each year. He quit because he preferred play in scratch leagues. However, he left his mark before quitting as he held the high run of 64 consecutive balls. This record has since been bested only twice; by Troy Frank and Brian Halter. Merv continues to shoot in mini-tournaments throughout the area including Fiddlestix plus he plays for a Bennetts team.
Merv also enjoys playing softball and fumble ball. He has been pitching (slow pitch) for about thirty years. Not unlike his success with pool, he and his teams have enjoyed many softball championships. Merv is a welder by trade and is employed by Local 5 of the Iron Workers Union.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
SOL FLICKINGER
1907 - 2002
ACHIEVEMENT & MERITORIOUS AWARD
Sol had his pool beginnings in Jeanette, Pennsylvania and has played for almost 80 years! Though he once favored 3-Ball and straight pool, he loves 8-Ball and has amassed fifty plus trophies from Massillon tournaments alone. Sol was a great force at places such as the Tiger Bowl and Satellite Grill in that he helped organize tournament and league play. He is known in the Canton, Massillon, Louisville and Cleveland areas. Sol has also shared his talent with family members in teaching them how to play pool. Though he has retired his Richard Black cue, he still plays in tournaments, only now he uses a K-Mart brand cue. Sol’s most recent tournament win was May 31, 2000 - - at the age of 92!
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
TOM POST
September 22, 1933
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Tom was born and raised in North Canton and graduated form Hoover High School in 1951. He joined the Marine Corp after graduation and served until 1954 with an honorable discharge. Tom started playing pool at the age of 12 while setting pins at North Canton Recreation Bowling Alley. Tom regularly watched his father play and vividly remembers watching him play Ralph Greenleaf at the old Strand Billiards in 1948. His dad ran 38 balls but could only marvel as Greenleaf ran 125 and out. A player Tom enjoyed watching later as he honed his skills was Don Willis. As Tom’s game improved, he graduated to play pool greats Bob Bowers and Harry "The Head".
The first league that Tom got involved with was the Monday night Clark & Sons Mixed League. He has been part of six championship teams playing for the Town Pump, in East Sparta plus two championships for the Flying Horse, in Magnolia. Amazingly, Tom has won the MVP award for that league four times. Tom has also played on teams in the Valley League as well as the Canton/Louisville League. Tom met his wife, Joann, on June 18, 1973 and they have been together ever since. Tom drove truck for McAdams from 1982 to 2000 and now enjoys driving limousines and busses for Zona, with the Akron-Canton Airport.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
BALDY MARTINO
1945 - 1998
HONORABLE MENTION)
John V. Martino, better known as "Baldy" by his affectionate friends and family, was a long time member and contributor to the local billiard community. He operated at least three billiard rooms in and around the Canton area. He opened the Silver Cue in downtown Canton when he was 30 years old. Later, after the College Bowl closed their pool room, he opened Baldy’s on Fulton Road at the age of 50 years old. He operated that room until it was closed because of a fire. A few years later, he opened the Silver Cue II at its current location on Columbus Road NE. There, he fulfilled his dream and did what he loved for approximately thirteen years until his death. While Baldy played some pool, poker was his game of choice. The GCABA deemed it appropriate to include Baldy on our newly established Honorable Mention Plaque on display at the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION
BUD REED
Dates unknown
HONORABLE MENTION
Bud Reed was a long time resident of Canton and played in the area most of that time. After retiring from East Ohio Gas Company, Bud moved to Florida and has since become deceased. Bud was of sound character and possessed excellent billiard skills which he applied against some of the areas best known talent. It was revealed, completely unsolicited, to board members from people with whom Bud worked, the level at which he performed. He was recognized for his love of straight pool and 9-Ball. By the combined corroboration of several Canton Amateur Billiard Board members and other players that were familiar with him, we felt if appropriate to include Bud on our Honorable Mention Plaque on display at the Greater Canton Amateur Sports Hall of Fame.
THE GREATER CANTON AMATEUR BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION