It seems that this period is another one of those, when we hear of deaths of significant people left and right. Right before the month of May began, Amarillo Slim passed away after battling colon cancer. I am ashamed to say that I even missed the announcement and didn’t hear about it till a week later. That goes to show how people may have forgotten this man who brought poker to a whole new level.

Born Thomas Austin Preston Jr. in Dec. 31, 1928 in Johnson, Arkansas, the poker great became known as Amarillo Slim as became the face of poker for America. The guy won the World Series of Poker main event way back in May of 1972, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Amarillo Slim was known for his passion for the game, and how he would seek out any game. Any game. Never mind that it was not a profile event as the World Series of Poker. If there was a good game around, trust Slim to sniff it out.

He was also known for making weird bets, not necessarily poker-related. Whether or not the stories are true, they say he would make bets such as playing pool using a broom stick. Of course, there are some negative things that can be said of Amarillo Slim, including assault charges. Whatever you say about the man, though, he was definitely a character and a man well-loved by the poker world.

They say that till the very end, he was playing the game. Amarillo Slim, you will be missed. Rest in peace.

Via LA Times