Puggy Pearson 1929-2006
Apr 13th, 2006 by Mark
One of the most colorful people in poker passed away on Wednesday April 12, 2006. Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson passed away at 77. Pearson was one of the original players invited by Jack Binion to participate in the first WSOP. Puggy won the WSOP in 1973.
Pearson served in the Navy from age 16, after being raised in poverty in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was always quick with a one-liners.
Pearson was an excellent pool player. Looking for more challenges he moved to poker. Pearson came up with the idea of “freeze-out” play. Later to become tournament play. Benny Binion would use that format to create the WSOP. Pearson also came up with the “Texas TEARS” format of play.
Playing poker in Vegas long before it was ‘cool’, he continued to play after the boom in the Vegas card rooms.
Some of you may remember him being dressed up in a ‘very patriotic’ outfit on the WSOP broadcast.
He will be missed. A photo from the good ol’ days. Puggy is in the center.