The most unusual story of our classmates could be that of Harry Sims. At age 12 or 13 Harry and I went to the Orpheum Pool Room to try our luck. Harry liked it a lot. He quickly became a good player. He advanced to Snooker and moved on to three cushion Billiards. Harry became very good and in a few years was the best player in town.
After high school he moved to Hollywood, California. He bought California Billiards where a lot of famous people played. He gave lessons and made custom cues. Harry gave lessons to several actors and actresses. He also repaired and installed pool and billiard tables in their homes.
Harry played in billiard tournaments in several countries. He was considered one of the top billiard players in the world. He showed me a picture of him riding a camel in front of a pyramid in Egypt. The President of Mexico invited Harry to play the best billiards player in that country. All expenses were paid. Harry played and won. He was treated like royalty.
Actor Paul Newman played "Fast Eddie Felson" in Jackie Gleason's "The Hustler". Harry knew the real Fast Eddie and they played billiards together.
In his last years Harry had moved back to the midwest and lived in St. Louis near me. He was happily married to his wife, Sandie at the time of his death. He left behind two sons, Doug and Brian.
Harry and I had been friends since kindergarten at Butler School. We then both moved to Hay-Edwards. I was best man at his wedding and we were friends till the end.
Charles Martin 'Mart' Markwell
The most unusual story of our classmates could be that of Harry Sims. At age 12 or 13 Harry and I went to the Orpheum Pool Room to try our luck. Harry liked it a lot. He quickly became a good player. He advanced to Snooker and moved on to three cushion Billiards. Harry became very good and in a few years was the best player in town.
After high school he moved to Hollywood, California. He bought California Billiards where a lot of famous people played. He gave lessons and made custom cues. Harry gave lessons to several actors and actresses. He also repaired and installed pool and billiard tables in their homes.
Harry played in billiard tournaments in several countries. He was considered one of the top billiard players in the world. He showed me a picture of him riding a camel in front of a pyramid in Egypt. The President of Mexico invited Harry to play the best billiards player in that country. All expenses were paid. Harry played and won. He was treated like royalty.
Actor Paul Newman played "Fast Eddie Felson" in Jackie Gleason's "The Hustler". Harry knew the real Fast Eddie and they played billiards together.
In his last years Harry had moved back to the midwest and lived in St. Louis near me. He was happily married to his wife, Sandie at the time of his death. He left behind two sons, Doug and Brian.
Harry and I had been friends since kindergarten at Butler School. We then both moved to Hay-Edwards. I was best man at his wedding and we were friends till the end.
RIP my friend,
Mart