Welker Cochran (October 7, 1897 – July 26, 1960)[1] was an American professional carom billiards player who won world titles in two different disciplines, balkline and three-cushion billiards.
Biography
editHe was born in Des Moines, Iowa, but moved to Manson early. He began playing at a young age in a billiards parlor owned by his father in Manson, and by the age of 17 was among the best players in the world.[1]
He won his first world title in 1927 in 18.2 balkline. The popularity of balkline faded in the late 1920s and early 1930s, causing Cochran to switch to three-cushion, in which he won his first world title in 1933. In 1945, Cochran set a new world record (now surpassed) by achieving a game average of 3 (60 points in 20 innings) in a match he won against Willie Hoppe. He retired from serious competition in 1946 due to arthritis, but did make a comeback attempt in 1954.[2]
He died on July 26, 1960, in Belmont, California.
Legacy
editCochran was inducted posthumously into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1967.[3]
Titles and tournament wins
edit- World 18.2 Balkline Championship (1927, 1934)
- World Three-Cushion Championship (1933, 1935-1936, 1944-1945)
References
edit- ^ a b Biography with Photo on Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Cue Expert Cochran, Shooter Gilbert Join 'Hall' Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Congress of America Retrieved 8 July 2012.
External links
edit
- Photo of Announcement Board 15. April 1945 at Bensinger's Billiard Academy in Chicago.
- Photo of Welker Cochran at the game
- Brunswick Balke Collender Co. Poster, 1934. Featuring Welker Cochran.
Further reading
edit- Robert Byrne, Byrne's Wonderful World of Pool and Billiards: A Cornucopia of Instruction, Strategy, Anecdote, and Colorful Characters, 1996
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