Ross Keith Thompson
Verified Member
I was barely 14 years old when I met John Duke Dowel.
Met him at the corner pocket cue club in Pasadena Tx.
Actually I conned him in to staking me to play someone some 50 cent 9 ball, lol.
For real, John DUKE Dowel was the first backer ever of the Mighty Squirrel, LOL.
I beat the guy, whomever it was and split 4 bucks with him, I think he was just fascinated with me and gave a youngster a shot.
He was fresh out of the Army and would try his luck in the pool rooms around Houston area.
He was already an established player when he got out of the army, but that would change in the next few years.
By the time I was 15 yrs. old we were both regulars at the LaCue CLUB in downtown Houston where the top players hung out.
By the time I was 17 yrs. old, Duke's game had risen above all most everyone in town with the exception of a few like Jersey Red and Greg Stevens and when he was on his game he could play anyone competitive 9 ball or one pocket, very, very, complete player.
He was not the best niner or one holer or 14 and 1, but then it didn't take long to call row either!
He was always there to give me advice when I needed it and that was quite often, lol.
Very quiet guy most of the time and really didn't have any cockiness in him, I believe Joey Spaith was his identical twin, no really, both of these guys were quiet assasins.
If you walked into a pool room and cased the joint looking for action you were the unluckiest hustler in the world if you asked one of these two to play.
Both of these guys were great all around players, they could put 5 packs on you in 9 ball and were very proficient at one hole and other games.
Let me get back to Duke cause he was my mentor so to speak, even though I played him quite a few times I have more respect for him as a person and player/hustler as anyone I have ever known.
He was always my friend and he still is today.
Top Tier as a player but a better person and if any of you people ever get to meet him or shake his hand, know that you met one of the great players of my era.
THE DUKE, he has Walked with Giants and he gave as good as he got!
Coolest and classiest guy I ever known and the pool world needs to know it!
Thank you sir for you are Legend with me!
Met him at the corner pocket cue club in Pasadena Tx.
Actually I conned him in to staking me to play someone some 50 cent 9 ball, lol.
For real, John DUKE Dowel was the first backer ever of the Mighty Squirrel, LOL.
I beat the guy, whomever it was and split 4 bucks with him, I think he was just fascinated with me and gave a youngster a shot.
He was fresh out of the Army and would try his luck in the pool rooms around Houston area.
He was already an established player when he got out of the army, but that would change in the next few years.
By the time I was 15 yrs. old we were both regulars at the LaCue CLUB in downtown Houston where the top players hung out.
By the time I was 17 yrs. old, Duke's game had risen above all most everyone in town with the exception of a few like Jersey Red and Greg Stevens and when he was on his game he could play anyone competitive 9 ball or one pocket, very, very, complete player.
He was not the best niner or one holer or 14 and 1, but then it didn't take long to call row either!
He was always there to give me advice when I needed it and that was quite often, lol.
Very quiet guy most of the time and really didn't have any cockiness in him, I believe Joey Spaith was his identical twin, no really, both of these guys were quiet assasins.
If you walked into a pool room and cased the joint looking for action you were the unluckiest hustler in the world if you asked one of these two to play.
Both of these guys were great all around players, they could put 5 packs on you in 9 ball and were very proficient at one hole and other games.
Let me get back to Duke cause he was my mentor so to speak, even though I played him quite a few times I have more respect for him as a person and player/hustler as anyone I have ever known.
He was always my friend and he still is today.
Top Tier as a player but a better person and if any of you people ever get to meet him or shake his hand, know that you met one of the great players of my era.
THE DUKE, he has Walked with Giants and he gave as good as he got!
Coolest and classiest guy I ever known and the pool world needs to know it!
Thank you sir for you are Legend with me!