Ray Dickinson spent much of his
working life as a professional billiards player, but he didn’t allow
the travel and competition to interfere with normal family life as
husband and father. Ray had five children
and 27 grandchildren, who he visited as often as possible. Ray credited
his wife with holding the family together during his absences
in the 1920s and 1930s. When possible he took some of the kids with
him on trips to give them a chance to see the country. Although he was never a national billiards
champion, Ray appeared in exhibitions with such champs as
Ralph Greenleaf, Luther Lassiter, Jimmy Karas, and Don Willis. He
also defeated the young Willy Hoppe. His highest run in his long
career was 265 straight balls before missing. Ray admits that he did
a little hustling in his day, as all pool players did, but he made
his living basically as a skilled player and trick shot artist. In
his later life he enjoyed good health and still gave occasional exhibitions. “You slow
down with age,” he admitted, “but experience helps a lot. I know trick
shots so well that I don’t even have to practice. When you’ve played
pool for 60 years, it’s easy.” Ray wisely supplemented his income as
a pool player by working as a furnace heating salesman.
Ray Dickinson spent much of his
working life as a professional billiards player, but he didn’t allow
the travel and competition to interfere with normal family life as
husband and father. Ray had five children
and 27 grandchildren, who he visited as often as possible. Ray credited
his wife with holding the family together during his absences
in the 1920s and 1930s. When possible he took some of the kids with
him on trips to give them a chance to see the country. Although he was never a national billiards
champion, Ray appeared in exhibitions with such champs as
Ralph Greenleaf, Luther Lassiter, Jimmy Karas, and Don Willis. He
also defeated the young Willy Hoppe. His highest run in his long
career was 265 straight balls before missing. Ray admits that he did
a little hustling in his day, as all pool players did, but he made
his living basically as a skilled player and trick shot artist. In
his later life he enjoyed good health and still gave occasional exhibitions. “You slow
down with age,” he admitted, “but experience helps a lot. I know trick
shots so well that I don’t even have to practice. When you’ve played
pool for 60 years, it’s easy.” Ray wisely supplemented his income as
a pool player by working as a furnace heating salesman.