BORN APRIL 23,
1951
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Johnnie Ray was born in Greenville, Alabama. In 1969, he took up residence in Massillon and started playing pool at Roy's Pool Room on Tremont Avenue. The late Wally Anderson taught Johnnie. He and the Walnut Road Cafe joined the Massillon Tavern 8-Ball League when it formed. One of Johnnie's teammates was Hall Of Famer Sonny Russell. He competed in the league system for ten years. Over that period of time his team won the league championship in 1983. They had finished runner-up in 1982,1986 and 1988, playing in many memorable matches and being a dominant force in the league. Johnnie was also a regular on the local tournament scene, winning weekly tournaments all throughout Massillon. One that he remembers fondly was at Sugardale Meats in which he finished second to Hall of Famer Phil Matie. Johnnie stopped competing in 1988. He now plays recreationally with some friends and old teammates. Johnnie sights playing and winning in the Massillon Tavern 8-Ball League against its fine players and teams plus the camaraderie they shared as the highlight of his pool career. Johnnie has been married for 17 years to his wife Connie. They have 2 children, Johnnie Jr. and Jackie and they have 8 grandchildren. The Timken Company employs him. Those of you who know Johnnie realize the passion and respect he has for the game of pool and it's players. He is a gentleman that has always displayed the highest level of sportsmanship, graciousness and faith. He is the prototype inductee and role model for today's player.
BORN SEPTEMBER
28, 1950
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Steve Sutherland was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, started playing pool at the age of 8 years old and learned from his mentor, Jimmie Lee at the age of 15. He has lived in Massillon since 1980. Steve is legendary in the Massillon area and the Massillon Tavern 8-Ball League. His Tracks Teams won numerous championships over a five-year stretch from 1986 thru 1988 and later at the Satellite and Cobies. His most recent team championship was with Whiteys (Navarre) in 2002. Steve is also well known and highly regarded by the best pool players in Massillon. Talk of Steve Sutherland and every single player will tell you something they learned from him. Steve never played in any individual leagues but estimates his high run is approximately 51 balls. He also didn’t play in many tournaments but won or placed in the few he did play in. Steve is an unpretentious and humble person. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for him to talk about his life and accomplishments on the pool table. Steve is not able to commit to league play at the present time because of kidney problems. Steve also likes to fish. He has two daughters, a son and one grandson.
BORN SEPTEMBER
20, 1939
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
A second-generation player, John started playing pool at 10 years old at his fathers E. Canton Billiards room. John practiced all day as a youngster and by age 16, he was playing high stakes games at North Industry Billiards. John traveled frequently with work and played all over. Despite varying rules, John never got into a fight and never hustled a soul. Pool is John’s hobby and he enjoys playing the game and the people who play it. This past year he won the VNEA silver division top 32 singles tournament. In the Canton Billiard League, John won a Senior Straight Pool League in 2001, an 8-Ball League in 2003 plus an Open Straight League in 2003 with a high run of over 30 balls. John recently retired and helps at Fiddlestix. He enjoys bowling, golf and fishing plus spending time with family (5 children & 5 grandchildren) and his many loyal friends.
BORN NOVEMBER 9, 1951
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sam Wheatley was born and raised in Minerva, Ohio. At the age of 12 years old, he started playing pool and has continued playing for 42 years. He began playing competitive pool at the pool hall in Minerva. He played against some great players such as Willie Masconi, Minnesota Fats and Don Willis. His high straight run is 87 balls in a row. In 1972, he won his first major tournament in Minerva. In addition, he won first place three times at the Academy Pool Tournament as well as winning second and third place numerous times.
Sam began playing in organized pool leagues in the 1980s. In the 1985-86 season, his team won first place in the 8-ball league and individually won Most Valuable Player. Moreover, in the 1986-87 season, his team won first place in the A-League and individually he won Most Valuable Player. Throughout the years of playing in the A-league, Sam was on numerous pool teams that placed first, second or third. Sam acquired roughly sixty trophies as a result of talented pool playing. He recently donated about 50 of those trophies to different organizations. He has placed in 1st or 2nd place in numerous local pool tournaments. Sam has continually proven that he is a good sport on and off the pool table. His love and skill for the game has kept Sam playing until the present and will likely keep him playing, well into the future.
1935 – 2003
HONORABLE MENTION
Glen was born in Canton, Ohio on August 24, 1935. He married Velma Flickinger and had three children, Gayle, Glen Jr. and Midge. He spent a lot of time with Velma’s father, Hall of Famer, Sol Flickinger (inducted in 2000) learning and playing the game of pool. After years of playing bar pool, he was one of the first ones to join organized pool leagues. Glen was always one of those players you could count on in a clutch! He won many tournaments over the years and had a league championship in the VNEA with his daughter Midge, on is team! There were many highlights to his pool-playing career, a game, which he fell in love with! When the weather turned nice, you could find him on his boat water skiing or camping. He was also an avid bicyclist who enjoyed biking all over the area!
He later married Judy Klintworth and had two sons, Shawn and Steve. Glen also started his own business, Hall of Fame Window Cleaning, a window cleaning service that grew to over 3,000 regular clients. Not only residential, but they would also clean high-rise buildings. He also modified some of his equipment over the years to make them safer for his workers, including harnesses. That was typical of how he was - always looking out for others. Glen was a great sportsman and a great person. Glen passed away in April 2003, following an accident at his home.
1937 - 2002
HONORABLE MENTION
Ross Guiffre along with the help of his wife Ruth and Dave Hollinger founded the Massillon Tavern Pool League over 24 years ago. It is currently one of the oldest, if not the oldest, tavern league system in Stark County. Ross is best known for his work behind the scenes and organizing skills for the league system along with his team sponsorship. In its first year the Massillon Tavern Pool League had only four taverns sponsoring a total of eight teams and forty players. Ross and company presided over its growth to twenty-four Taverns sponsoring over thirty-two teams with over 345 players.
His wife Ruth played on the old Tiger bowl teams for many years while Ross played mostly as a sub for his tavern, the Satellite. Although he didn’t play competitively, he was a very good player in his own right. But pool was not his only talent. Ross was an avid golfer who had several holes-in-one playing mostly at the Elms. He won several significant tournaments over the years. He also enjoyed spending quality time with his granddaughters.
Because of his inspired support for billiards growth we congratulate Ross with this Honorable Award.
1950 – 2002
HONORABLE MENTION
Larry Kraft was a fair man with a great sense of humor. He was also very, very intelligent and could “wow” you with his vast knowledge on many different subjects. He learned to play pool at his family’s establishment, Kraft’s Corner, now known as the Village Tavern in Massillon. After he met his wife Julie, and soon after they started a family, Larry became ill with kidney disease. Though a plumber by trade, Larry had to go on social security, which was $5 less than their farm payment. When Larry felt well and had an extra $5, he would compete in pool tournaments. Winning a $40 first place meant treats like homemade pizza and ice cream for his family. Julie said, “His skill sometimes actually fed his family!”
When Larry’s health improved, playing singles pool was
his choice of entertainment. Team play, he felt, was more difficult because he
didn’t ever want to let down his team. Later
when his son Joe became a good player, Larry and Julie decided to form a BCA
team and play together! As Julie told, "Larry was extremely excited and
proud that Joe had taken an interest in the game, and showed potential."
When not playing on the league, Larry, Julie and Joe could often be found
playing pool together recreationally at Fiddlestix.
Larry was an honorable man and left a poignant legacy with his family that can feed other areas of their lives as well as pool. He once told Julie “When someone cheats you at the game, there is no need for confrontation. It’s a game and that’s how you will always remember them.” She will always remember these words. Good night Larry.