A Tight Knit Community – They Came Out in Droves for the Annie O Benefit

A Tight Knit Community - They Came Out in Droves for the Annie O Benefit

Anne Mayes, better know as “Annie O” of AO Custom Cues is a local Houston cue-maker who was also part owner of the Heart of Tejas Tour and played on the WPBA pro tour in the 80's. Anne Mayes was diagnosed with Stage IV, non-small cell carcinoma and word had quickly spread throughout the billiard community.

It wasn't long before I received an email from Dallas Pittman. Dallas, a local player and friend of Anne's emailed to say that he would like someone to produce a benefit pool tournament for her and was wondering if that someone would be me. I thought about it for sometime and came up with a few ideas. First, I secured a date for the event at Bogies Billiards and Games and decided not only on a benefit tournament, but to have a two day raffle and silent auction all in accordance with the Hunter Tour Stop in progress that same weekend. The Hunter Tour girls were gracious enough to share their weekend and a great deal more!

Everything was in place and our list of sponsors and donated products had grown by leaps and bounds in only a matter of days! Saturday, October 13th raffle ticket sales brought in $2250 with a Ray Schuler Cue raffle giveaway at 8pm before the tournament started.

We had a whopping fifty-two players in our $15 entry benefit 9-ball pool tournament Saturday night. First place was an Annie O cue donated by Jerry Williams. Congratulations to Lanny Herrin on his new AO cue and special thanks to Doug Young who donated his second place McDermott cue back to the benefit! Helen Hayes tore her way through the event to finish third which yielded her a new Omega Cue and $50 for last lady standing! Scott Tollefson walked away with 4th place and a new Rosewood Bunjee Jump Cue. Thanks and congratulations to all of our players. You all showed a lot of heart!

Raffle tickets were also sold on Sunday and the final raffle item was an Annie O cue with three shafts donated by Amanda Lampert. Congratulations to Sharon Townsend who won the cue and a two hour lesson with Jeremy Jones to boot! We had so many items donated and so many winners! Way to go!

Sunday at 6pm the silent auction items were awarded to the following people:

Pub Set (International Billiards): Belinda Campos-Calhoun $275
Norwella Cue (Jim Griffin): Tara McCracken $200
Blue Book of Cues
3rd Edition (Brad Simpson): Jillian Valles $60
Tiger Tips(Tiger Products): Roger Allen $136

Rebecca Goodnight previously raffled off a cue which she gladly added to the mix. Her contribution was $1,115.00. You go girl!

The response from the billiard community would bring a tear to anyone's eye. Pool players came from everywhere to support this cause and with their help the benefit yielded $4690.

A special, HEARTFELT “thank you” to everyone who helped make this event a success.

God Bless.
Kim White

Donated Items-
Pub Furniture Set
(2) Allison Fisher Posters
(2) Allison Fisher Signed Balls 8 & 9
Autographed Allison Fisher Men's Club Cap
AO Custom Cue/3 shafts
AO Custom Cue
Schuler Cue
Norwela Cue and Case
Omega Cue
McDermott Cue and Case
Bunjee Jump Cue
Beginner Cue
Cuetec Cue and Case
(1) Box of 12 Sniper Tips
(1) Box of 12 Everest Tips
(6) One Year Subscriptions to Pool and Billiard Magazine
(1) One Year Subscription to Billiards Digest
(2) One Hour Pool Lessons – Jeremy Jones
$25 Roger Allen Cue Repair
Joe Porper Travel Bag
(3)WPBA Posters
(6) Autographed Cue Balls
(1) Brunswick Wood Rack
Hunter Classics Tour Stop Entry
Fast Eddies Tour Stop Entry
(4) Copies of the novel “STROKE”
$50 El Chico/Cantina Laredo Gift Card
Sam's Side Pocket Goodies
Blue Book of Cues 3rd Edition
Soprano Pool Cue

Special Heartfelt Thanks to Our Many Sponsors-
Bogies Billiards President Jerry Williams and Staff
Hunter Classics Women's Tour Melinda Hinijosa and Staff
World Champion Allison Fisher
WPBA's Kim White, Allison Fisher, Belinda Campos-Calhoun and Amanda Lampert
Men's Professional Jeremy Jones
International Billiards
Schuler Cues
Tiger Products
Pool and Billiard Magazine
Billiards Digest
Jim Griffin
Lawrence Metts Pro Shop-Side Pockets Billds. Shreveport, LA.
Dallas Pittman
Alvin Johnson at Game Room Warehouse
Rebecca Goodnight
Author Carlos Ledson Miller
Fast Eddies Tour
Roger Allen Cues
Brad Simpson Publishing
Michael Tuscano
www.azbilliards.com
www.womensportreport.com
www.stjpt.com (South Texas Junior Pool Tour)
Julie Stephenson
Doug Gray “Waco Doug”
Chris White
International Cuemakers Association