Cole Dickson Hospitalized

[Alfie Taylor]

All the great players from this era, there's just not much written about them in hard-copy print media, and for sure, there's very few photos, sad to say.

Here's what looks to be a scanned black-and-white photo by Bill Stigall of a very young Cole Dickson.

I didn't recognize the pics of Cole with his beard and country hat...but this is definately the baby faced kid from Cali who burned the backs out of the pockets at the LeCue in Houston, in the 70s. And, this is the kid who made me grovel to my wife about coming home a bit light from testing him.

"Oh! He can't play one pocket, Alfie. Play him some. He's only a nine ball player." Yeah, right! I'd like to catch the guy who told me that. How many moves do you have to know if you make every freakin' ball you can see?

Mr. Dickson has carved himself into a piece of pool history. Get well for your friends, buddy.
Alfie

 

[fred bentivegna]

Here's a brief YouTube snippet of Cole DIckson firing in bank shots, twsiting them in -- WITH AUTHORITY ---> 2010 DCC Cole Dickson versus Luat I think it's Buddy Hall commenting, but I can't put my finger on who the other voice is.

Funny you mentioned that shot. I featured it in my book in 2002. Cole shot it with impunity on me many times.

Beard

In the YouTube video the object ball was far enough off of the rail whereby he didnt need to elevate.

I have known Cole since he was 16-17 when he went on his first road trip to Chicago and then Johnston City. Always had fun around him. Another good friend, Race Track Phil is also going under with Liver cancer, and all this getting old stuff is a little hard to digest. I will never forget the shooting performances Cole and Keith put on at the Burlington tournament playing on the toughest tables I have ever played on. The pocket shelfs were so deep the object ball could actually disappear from sight when it hung.

 

[grampa1951]

In our thoughts and prayers.

In our thoughts and prayers.

Hey Cole, I am hopeing that some day you will be reading this thread and thinking, "That was a close one."

 

[bstroud]

I am sad to hear about Cole. Barb will be too.

He was a great opponent and a good customer.
We had some great battles on the pool table.
You really learn what people are made of when you play long sessions.

Last time we played I gave him 9 to 7 at Beanies and lost.

The best thing I can say about Cole is that he could find CENTER ball.
Not many players can.

Bill S.

 

[NH Steve]

I have heard that he is "hanging in there" -- that's good news.

 

[Island Drive]

All the great players from this era, there's just not much written about them in hard-copy print media, and for sure, there's very few photos, sad to say.

Here's what looks to be a scanned black-and-white photo by Bill Stigall of a very young Cole Dickson.

When I think of Cole I also think of the late sixties, and Louie Roberts. Here were two of the best looking and playing, young roadies with charisma. I still think Cole was the more handsome of the two, blonde hair, go figure, and he dressed sharp during those hippie years, he was electricity in the room. I'm guesssing he's 61 or 62 yr old now.

 

[fred bentivegna]

I posted this excerpt on AZ in the Cole thread, so I will post it here also. This is from my upcoming book.

"He was about 19 at the 1972 Stardust tournament in Las Vegas. He went to the crap table and lost about $3,500. They never checked any ID, and he proceeded to quickly blow his whole store. He borrowed $200 from someone and immediately went back to the tables to try and get even. But now that he was a "short-horn"* with a small bankroll, they asked him for ID and wouldn't let him play anymore because he was underage. He howled like a banshee but the creeps still wouldn’t let him play. You see, once he was almost broke he suddenly became too “young” to gamble.

At the same time this was going on, there was a high-rolling sucker wandering through the Casino. He had on his head a beanie with a propeller on top. He had a loud whistle around his neck, and whenever he felt like it; he would blow it as loud as he could. He also sported a 15 or 16 year old blonde girl on his arm as he cavorted through the Casino. No security people even glanced at him. "

Beard

 

[Jimmy B]

I posted this excerpt on AZ in the Cole thread, so I will post it here also. This is from my upcoming book.

"He was about 19 at the 1972 Stardust tournament in Las Vegas. He went to the crap table and lost about $3,500. They never checked any ID, and he proceeded to quickly blow his whole store. He borrowed $200 from someone and immediately went back to the tables to try and get even. But now that he was a "short-horn"* with a small bankroll, they asked him for ID and wouldn't let him play anymore because he was underage. He howled like a banshee but the creeps still wouldn’t let him play. You see, once he was almost broke he suddenly became too “young” to gamble.

At the same time this was going on, there was a high-rolling sucker wandering through the Casino. He had on his head a beanie with a propeller on top. He had a loud whistle around his neck, and whenever he felt like it; he would blow it as loud as he could. He also sported a 15 or 16 year old blonde girl on his arm as he cavorted through the Casino. No security people even glanced at him. "

Beard

Good Cole story. One a scale of one to ten of things casinos do customers, that's about a two. That's why I wonder about these ****ing idiots who keep harping about some group of pool player who missed a pool ball and beat the no good creeps out of a few thousand dollars decades ago. I'd like to take them off with a good crew and some assault rifles, if I still had some nerve....

 

[Frank Almanza]

Here's a caracature poster from Red's Houston 1984 tournament poster, with Cole Dickson somewhere in the mix. I wish I could blow it up and see it. It's for sale, $24.95. Looks like a cute pool keepsake for anybody who likes collecting these items. You can purchase it ---> HERE

See if you can find Cole on there. Is he the one with the black-and-white checkered shirt holding a drink?

Could that be him standing to what appears to be Mike Segal and Dan Louie just to the left of center?

 

[androd]

Could that be him standing to what appears to be Mike Segal and Dan Louie just to the left of center?

Maybe this'll help Frank.
Rod.

 

[JAM]

Breaking news...

Breaking news...

This just in. Time to put those harps away, because Cole Dixon is on his way home and feeling good.

I just learned that he never was unconscious, as Ronnie Allen had thought, and he never did have an operation. He is leaving the hospital today, so that's good news.

 

[Island Drive]

Yahoo

Yahoo

Good news, thx.......

 

[wincardona]

I have been talking to Cole every day since he was admitted into the hospital we have been very close throughout the years. Cole is fighting this disease as hard as he fought at the table, and for those who know Cole you know how hard that is. Cole is truly one of pools really good guys, he played hard and fair and he is a very solid human being I really love him. Please pray for Cole, he's a very brave person that we don't want to lose.

Bill Incardona

 

[Ktown]

I am glad to hear he is doing better. I had the pleasure of meeting Cole at Derby a couple of years ago which was a real treat . He seemed to be a very personable guy, slightly reserved with a dry sense of humor.

I wish him the best in dealing with his health issues and would love to see him get to play derby at least one more time.

 

[Tahoedirt]

Thinking of you old friend

Thinking of you old friend

Cole- I doubt you'd even remember me. We played P pool at the Golden Q in Hayward in about 66-67. About midnight We'd pile into a couple cars- I was only 19 and you weren't old enough to drive. Hanging out at Cochrane's or the Palace in the city till dawn- I was proud watching you play some big names one pocket and take them all apart. Ran into you years later and reintroduced thrua mutual friend- you were interested in playing poker.
I am just hoping you the best with your health and hope if you read this- Please know a lot of people are pulling for you. I understand the concerns of good health now too as I had brain surgery a few months ago- Get well old friend.

Dave McCune

 

[Cowboy Dennis]

Cole- I doubt you'd even remember me. We played P pool at the Golden Q in Hayward in about 66-67. About midnight We'd pile into a couple cars- I was only 19 and you weren't old enough to drive. Hanging out at Cochrane's or the Palace in the city till dawn- I was proud watching you play some big names one pocket and take them all apart. Ran into you years later and reintroduced thrua mutual friend- you were interested in playing poker.
I am just hoping you the best with your health and hope if you read this- Please know a lot of people are pulling for you. I understand the concerns of good health now too as I had brain surgery a few months ago- Get well old friend.

Dave McCune

Welcome to the site Dave. Nothing like a good post to a long lost acquaintance.

Dennis

 

[JAM]

Cole- I doubt you'd even remember me. We played P pool at the Golden Q in Hayward in about 66-67. About midnight We'd pile into a couple cars- I was only 19 and you weren't old enough to drive. Hanging out at Cochrane's or the Palace in the city till dawn- I was proud watching you play some big names one pocket and take them all apart. Ran into you years later and reintroduced thrua mutual friend- you were interested in playing poker.
I am just hoping you the best with your health and hope if you read this- Please know a lot of people are pulling for you. I understand the concerns of good health now too as I had brain surgery a few months ago- Get well old friend.

Dave McCune

Wishing you all the very best, Dave. Thanks for contributing to the thread and sharing your memories. I enjoyed the read and hope the coming years for you are filled with peace, good health, and love in your heart always.

 

[MattRosendaul]

I just posted this in the cafe. Cole Dickson, George Middleditch, and Jimmy Mataya after a fishing charter on Lake Michigan.