Don "The Cincinnati Kid" Willis

Born May 1, 1909, Don Willis was arguably the greatest money player to ever play the game of pool. The former World Champion, Luther "Wimpy" Lassiter, a life long friend and fellow road warrior is quoted as saying:

"If I ever had to have someone else shoot pool for my life, win or lose, live or die, the man that I'd have shooting for me is Don Willis."

For 15 years, they kept a very low profile in their travels from coast-to-coast playing the best the towns and cities had to offer. That’s not hustling that’s asking for it, but they walked away winners most of the time.

Unfortunately, Willis didn't play in tournaments so he holds no titles to substantiate Lassiter’s claim. "I don’t play tournaments, never have", Willis told Steve Doerschuk, of the Canton Repository in 1979, "You don’t make money playing in tournaments. Lassiter made $10,600 playing tournaments one year", he explained. "That wouldn’t keep me in whiskey." His jowly face would shake in good humor at such a remark. But more often than not, his furtive eyes would reveal an uneasiness about having his picture taken to accompany the interview in which the words were spoken. "If somebody sees my picture, and knows who I am, and tells someone, then I don’t make any money, " he reasoned in 1977, before agreeing to pose at a pool table. "I never made any money having my picture taken." Nevertheless, even without his seeking acclaim, the legend of Don Willis grew to mythical proportions over the years, to the point where it is difficult to separate fact from fiction.

Our organization, the Greater Canton Amateur Billiards Association, was created to recognize the achievements of amateur pool players in Greater Canton, Ohio. We felt it was necessary to include Don Willis as a charter member, even though he wasn't an amateur by any means, because he is legendary here where he was born and raised and called home.

He learned to play pool at the age of 13 at a local YMCA. "I came up during the Depression," Willis once explained. "There wasn’t $4 in town, including in people’s pockets," He told Doerschuk, "About the only guys who seemed to have any money were pool players. I made pretty fair money for those days. I’d have to have been Clarence Darrow to have made the kind of money (as a lawyer) as I have playing pool." Like a lot of young people, I started out wanting to be a doctor or a lawyer", he said, "When I decided I didn't want to go to college, my mother cried for a month", Willis said, "But I could make too much uptown. If you can make $1,200 playin pool, you're not gonna go to school that afternoon."

In his youth, he was an outstanding softball and basketball player in addition to being a semi-pro football player. He was champion of three counties plus city champion in table tennis and he excelled at horseshoes. He reportedly beat a local ping pong champ using a pencil instead of a paddle at one event. "In grade school through his early 20s", says his daughter Nancy Stephens, "he was in YMCA sponsored tournaments and "champion" in several areas including marbles, checkers, chess, ping pong, pocket billiards and even 'running backwards' .... a special event one year". This might explain why as an adult, he reportedly scored big by outrunning a highly-touted Duquesne University track star .... they both ran backwards. He held city and state championships in ping pong and pool but decided to make a living with pool so he quit entering any contests to become and stay .... unknown. It's a blessing in a sense that he didn't hold any titles for that is the charm behind this man.

His first recorded achievement begins in the 1920s. He was champ of his Central High chess team. According to a 1924 Repository article, his chess team was in first place of the chess and checker club, and Willis was leading his class with 17 victories and no defeats. Willis had already been playing pool for a couple years at the YMCA but on August 1, 1926, he won his first championship - in something other than pool - The City Horseshoe Championship. He would have been about 16 years old at the time, throwing 60-percent ringers. He and his partner Reese, represented Waterworks, as they dominated the doubles event. Later that day, Willis came from behind to defeat Reese, 2-1, in the individuals event as well.

Willis was also a champion in table-tennis. He won the Canton City table-tennis championship on December 29, 1933. In their article, the Repository mentioned that he also won the Akron City championship several weeks previously. He won the first annual Stark County open table-tennis tournament according to a Repository Article, dated 1935. And, he beat Jimmy McClure of Indianapolis, national title holder, in two of three table tennis exhibitions according to a 1934 article. These are documented wins. He abandoned his mother's wish that he become a lawyer and began in the 1930s to make a living off his skill with a cue stick. "There were times I literally played for a loaf of bread," he said, "The six ball would be a quart of milk." He had three kids by the age of 22. "I didn't dare miss." says Willis, "You can't tell the gas company you over cut the eight ball."

Willis' first documented pool talent was in his early adult years as a corporal in the U.S. Army. According to an article dated July 12, 1944, in "The Army Weekly", the Army reporters had discovered his talents after watching him in a table-tennis match. He had been the subject of considerable talk around base after trouncing Lennis Summers, Acad. Regt. the Post table-tennis champion. "If you think the guy can play table-tennis, wait until you see him shoot pool" a G.I. mentioned to the reporter. Deciding to take the hint, the reporter dropped into Company K dayroom one evening and watched Corporal Willis give a personal exhibition. Willis started by clicking off 83 consecutive balls. The reporter learned he had beaten Erwin Rudolph, Ralph Greenleaf and others who at various times held the world’s title. He then told the reporter that he had beaten Jimmy McClure and Sol Schiff, both former world table tennis champions. After displaying his talents, it was arranged for Willis to give exhibitions in both pool and table tennis in the various dayrooms of the 3rd infantry.

 To the left is a picture from "The Army Weekly", dated October 27, 1944, of Corporal Willis practicing for an exhibition match. If you think this picture isn't old, there's another picture on the next page of this paper of Lt. General Mark W. Clark talking with Staff Sergeant Joe Louis after the heavyweight champion put on an exhibition as part of the Army's Salerno Day commemoration exercises in Italy.

Here is still yet another picture from "The Army Weekly" of Corporal Willis playing Erwin Rudolph, which is undated, but is in this same time period. Willis is playing Erwin Rudolph, five time world champion, in a straight pool exhibition match. Rudolph won this match by a 125-87 score. In their other two matches at Lawson Field and Harmony church service clubs, Willis administered severe thumpings by a 125-73 score at Lawson Field, and in the rubber match, 125-49 at Harmony Church.

After his discharge and later in his career, Willis was often seen with such notables as his best friend and former pitcher Dean Chance, Early Wynn, Herb Score, Bo Belinski, Bob Lemon, Hall of Fame Quarterback Bob Waterfield and his wife the actress, Jane Russell. He played literally all over the world including one period, he represented the United States in exhibition matches in Saudi Arabia. With Willis pool was a necessity not a game it provided him and his family a fairly good living for many years. It was his life style, he once said that he would rather play anyone for a few bucks than a world champion for fun. He did hang around Canton long enough to be married to wife of 55 years, Mary, and produce six children. They are:

  * Daughter, homemaker
  * Daughter, Retired executive secretary of Timken Company
  * Daughter, Retired school principal of Canton City Schools
  * Daughter, Retired executive secretary to President - Doctors Hospital
  * Daughter, Cosmetologist (now deceased)
  * Son, Holds a black belt, Owned a Karate school plus a sign painting business

Don had 13 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. He had beaten every world champion pool player of his era. Willis had been written up in books, magazines, Sports Illustrated, newspapers and Billiard News at least 100 times through the years. Despite the pomposity and apparent lack of concern many pool players seem to possess, Don Willis was always willing to aid a worthy cause. One which warmed his heart came in December, 1969 when Don was invited to give a pocket billiard exhibition in Mannington, W. Va., site of the mine disaster. The benefit raised $1,000.00 which was turned over to the fund for widows of the miners who perished. Willis enjoyed visiting the Canton Police Boys Club to present ping pong clinics for the young members. This picture was taken at one of his exhibition matches with his best friend, former pitching standout, Dean Chance.

A colorful sports figure, Don could captivate a crowd for hours with stories and trivia. He had a sharp mind and could list all states and capitals in three minutes, all capitals of the world, the 130 largest cities in the country as well as the 71 enshrinees in the Pro Footfall Hall of Fame and Heisman trophy winners in chronological order. Also, he liked entertaining with his card tricks. In addition to pool, Willis enhanced his reputation by excelling at poker, rummy, horseshoes, free-throw basketball shooting and juggling. It is said, he beat eleven world champions in three different sports. At table tennis, he had beaten Jimmy McClure for $800 and Sol Schiff, both former world champions. At horseshoes, he beat champion, George May. Add these to the nine World Champions in Canton as documented in this May 17, 1964 advertisement, including Caros, Greenleaf and Masconi, and the count was actually twelve.

Don Willis - The Story Teller:

Don Willis on the Eufaula Kid

This chubby, 5'8" gentlemen from Canton, Ohio was the Yogi Bera of pool. He loved to tell stories and would often precede them them by saying, "Here's a good story" or "Here's another little story." "One time a fellow in Chicago," Willis begins, "asked me how good the Eufaula Kid was. I said I don't know. I'd never seen him play." The guy said, "You beat him, didn't you?" I said, "I did but I did all the shooting and didn't see him play."

Don Willis on Lefty Burton

"Frank 'Lefty' Burton was probably the fastest good player that ever lived, Willis said." "One time playing nine ball, he shot the eight and the nine in, and the seven hung up. That's fast."

Don Willis on The Cincinnati Kid

Willis said he was known as the Cincinnati Kid long before Steve McQueen starred in the movie of the same name. And though some contend the movie was based on Willis’ life, Willis says "It would be impossible to prove." Willis said there are several versions of how he came to be known as "The Cincinnati Kid." The most common version is that I was playing a guy one day and he called me 'Cincinnati' because he knew I was from Ohio but that was the only town he could think of." Willis said. "But I really got it many, many years ago in a bar in Columbus, Ga. "I was trying to buy this girl a drink but she wouldn't pay any attention to me," Willis recalled. "She wouldn't even turn around and look at me. Finally, the bartender, who was a friend of mine, came over and said, 'Leave it to me. I'll show you how to make her notice you." "So, a couple minutes later, the bartender looked over to the table where I was sitting and, acting as though he'd just noticed me, shouted, 'Well, if it isn't the Cincinnati Kid!' Then he nudged the girl and said, 'Hey, don't you know who that is? That's the highest rollin' man in the country." Obviously impressed, the girl took notice after that and "The Kid" bought her a drink.

Don Willis Encore

Another story I like is the one about Willis beating a world champion using a bar of soap as his cue stick. When asked about it, Willis said in a 1979 interview. "Pure bull. "I beat a guy with a bar of soap all right - a big cake of Ivory. But the guy was a rank amateur".

Shortly after his marriage in 1928, Willis and his wife took a trip from Canton to her parents' house in Newark, N.J. "We had $15 which would about get you there if you didn't have too many flat tires," he says. "We stopped in Greesburg, Pa, which is just outside of Pittsburgh. "My wife stayed in the hotel room and I went down to the local pool hall. I beat Pete The Greek out $1,500. I got paid in ones, fives, tens and twenties. It wasn't folded very good". He went back to the hotel and began stacking the money in a better order. His wife took a look at this and started to cry. "She thought I'd robbed a bank", says Willis laughing. "Since then I've never looked back." There is one thing Willis never did. He would never knock another competitor. "I didn't get my reputation by knocking people. I got it by beating them. My sensibilities are such that I'm too high class for that. If I'd see it in print, it would hurt me." Though he earned his reputation hustling pool - Willis said the game was "just a sidelight." "I never depended entirely on pool", he said. "Why I could make 100 times as much money playin’ cards as I could playn’ pool." It's said that he once played a session for $260,000. That his wife once burned a bag of $60,000 in cash. She made a mistake, picked up the wrong bag, and it was gone... in a cloud smoke! It has been written of Willis, "He won money in amounts like telephone numbers... with zip codes." Smiling at such testimony, Willis says, "Most of it's not true. But I wouldn't tell you if if were.", he told Rich Koster, of the St. Louis Globe, in July, 1978. There aren't very many pictures of the legendary Willis because he avoided cameras and publicity in his early years. This one was taken well after his days on the road were over.

My favorite story about Willis, and the one that inspired me to do more research, was about how he acquired the highest recorded run in Canton, Ohio. I was at Imperial Lanes, talking with Joe Monastra, a few years ago, about old pool matches on his tables at the center. He then told the following story about Willis. It wasn’t until a few years later, when I started doing research, that I ran across an article in the National Billiard News, recanting the very story Joe told me. This event took place in the mid-1060’s. Sadly, nobody knew of the story, or who held the high run, or any other accomplishments in pool in Canton, Ohio. For as these former pool greats die, there stories are sadly buried with them after time. So the Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association was born to preserve forever the facts and stories behind them: For years the city record stood at 206, held by Mr. Willis. While the Imperial record was 183, also held by Don. In a match about a year back, Jimmy Caras broke both records with a run of 208. Well, let Don tell the rest:

"Jimmy Caras was champion of the world. I didn't like him and he didn't like me. I beat him every time. He comes to my home town, if you can imagine that, and breaks my record by running 206 balls. In my home town of Canton, Ohio. It took me a couple of years. I was playing on the same table and ran 210. The proprietor stopped the match and brought out champagne and sparkling burgundy. After having several, I went back and ran six more before missing." The next day the headline of the story read, "210 before and six after - champagne and pool don't mix." Amazingly, nobody in the city knew of his 216 ball run and the history behind it except for Manastra and perhaps a few others. Now we have an organization to permanently record these legendary events.

Miscellaneous Articles:

NATIONAL BILLIARD NEWS
APRIL, 1965

It is our opinion that Don Willis of Canton, Ohio has beaten more top notch players than any other player in the world. Dons list of "victims" reads like the "whose who" of Billiards.

***

NATIONAL BILLIARD NEWS
JUNE, 1965

J.B. of Detroit writes - "How do you rate "Don Willis" so high? I never heard of his winning any tournaments! Don never entered a tournament, so naturally, hasn’t won any. We will try to answer your question - In talking to dozens of top players over the years, almost without exception they rate "Don" as either the best or as good as any nine-ball player in the country. For example we will give you a few quotes.

Jimmy Moore - one of the top players of all time, "In 35 years I only lost once for money. I lost to Don Willis in Louisville, KY. Al Coslosky, veteran Pha. player who won the World nine-ball title a few years ago says "Every Worlds Tournament I attended Willis had an open challenge to play anyone nine-ball." Luther Lassiter, (photo from Grissom's book "Billiards"), considered the best money player of all time said "Don Willis has the heart of a lion, if he were to play regular, he is subject to beat anyone". Harold Worst Worlds Champion Three cushion players in Sports Illustrated March 20, 1961 - "Don Willis in my opinion is the best nine-ball player in the World". From the files of the Canton, Ohio Daily Newspaper:

J.B. we still say Don was a pretty fair player even though he never won a tournament. 

Willis once pocketed 42 "wing shots" in a row. This is believed to be a record at least at that time. He also had runs of 206, 216, 230 
plus a high run of 281 balls. 

***

NATIONAL BILLIARD NEWS
UNDATED
Who is this Guy?
Who I is

Al Coslosky, winner of the "World’s Nine Ball Championship, a few years ago was telling us some stories the other day. Among them was one I think is worth repeating. A few years back all of the best players in the world were in Bensingers Billiard Parlor in Chicago awaiting the opening of the Worlds Tournament. This night they were all crowded around watching Willie Masconi play a player when in walked a colored player who wasn’t known to anyone. He announced that he wanted to play anyone in the place some 50 dollar nine-ball. "I’ve always wanted me a Tournament player." he said. Al says "All these champions and the greatest players in the world were asking," "who is this guy." Don Willis who was in the group said, "Who is he?" "Who cares who he is, he better start wondering who I is." With that, Don went over and challenged him to play for any amount. "Get away from me "Willis Man" I said a tournament player." Jimmy Stewart the popular Detroit Billiard Proprietor was his backer. Jimmy who had once backed Bazil Maxwell against Don to his sorrow wouldn’t let him play.

***

From the Article
THE CINCINNATI KID (From Canton)
By Dave Gruber
Approximately June, 1982

Cowboy Jimmy Moore, the world’s greatest 9-ball player says that in 35 years of touring he lost only once match. And that was to Don Willis in Louisville, where the Cincinnati Kid broke him on that occasion playing $150, 9-ball. Willis admits this is true, but he remarked (in Willis style) it was his toughest match. Moore won 15 games in a row. Willis, backing himself, was hooked for four grand, and had enough left for maybe two or three more games. Willis came back, staging a ferocious rally, breaking loose. It is exhibitions of this sort that gave Willis his savage reputation as a money player.

His Final Years:

"I've had a good life. I've been married 48 years. I'm more in love today with my wife (Mary) than I ever was. I'm pretty well respected in my hometown I guess. I've never been arrested for anything. I've never stolen anything. "All my kids (six) are happily married. I'm the luckiest guy that ever lived."

This quote was taken from a Birmingham News reporter, for their January 30, 1977 edition, featuring an article about the legendary Don Willis. He appropriately describes himself as a loving family man, which was often overlooked by the public, unfortunately, because of his somewhat exciting and controversial lifestyle.

Hampered by diabetes and heart problems, including a heart attack at a Hall of Fame meeting, Don curtailed his appearances in later years but continued benefits for needy causes. Married for 55 years, Don Willis died on March 2, 1984 at the age of 74.

I felt it appropriate to close with Pages 201 and 202 of the very interesting and entertaining book (which is currently in circulation) called "Byrne's Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards". This book, which was written by pool guru Robert Byrne, includes a collection of his favorite pool related stories. I was particularly interested in Byrne's comments regarding Rudolph Wanderone, the self proclaimed "Minnesota Fats", who Byrne claims was a fictional character. Robert Byrne has written several books on the game of pool plus he has several instructional tapes available on the internet and billiard supply stores. You can hang your hat on whatever he says. I have always considered him to be very knowledgeable and informative about the game and find it helpful to review his material at the beginning of each pool season to help me along. However, recently, I have also discovered that he is genuinely interested and cares to see organized pool progress as he has a real passion for the game. In the past, our organization has contacted him for information several times and he has been most gracious to help us on every request. We are flattered that Mr. Byrne kicked off his chapter called "My Favorite Pool Stories" with a few stories about the legendary Don Willis.

Also, below, you will find the great book written by John Grissim, entitled "Billiards" and the classic by Thomas Fensch, "The Lions and the Lambs". I searched for days thinking of a few short words that described Willis best but really couldn’t think of them. I think Mr. Grissim best described him recently. When asked for permission to publish the material on our site, Mr. Grissim graciously agreed and he ended by writing:

"I remember Don with much fondness. He epitomized the best of American sporting life during an era in our history when it was possible for a brilliant player and good-hearted practitioner of the soft con to make a wonderful living, support a loving family, and sleep with a clear conscience."

Double click below to read the chapters, My Favorite Pool Stories, from Byrne's Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards, Don Willis - Pooldom's Greatest Unknown, from Grissim's book, Billiards and Don Willis - The Unknown Lion, from Fensch's book, The Lions and the Lambs:

The end

Emails from people who knew him

REFERENCES:
1. Robert Byrne, Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards, 1996
2. John Grissim, Billiards, 1979
3. Thomas Fensch, The Lions and the Lambs, 1970
4. Bob Mullen, National Billiard News, February, 1974
5. Bill Lumpkin, The Birminham Post Herald, January 19, 1977
6. Dave Johnson, The Evansville Press, August 20, 1977
7. Rich Koster, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, July 22, 1978
8. National Billiard News (Several articles and issues)
9. Dave Gruber, The Cincinnati Kid (from Canton), undated
10. Gary Brown, Canton Repository, October 10, 1994

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