Year Inducted: 2004
Nominated By: Michael J. Drier (colleague)
Sports Competed In: Billiards
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Athlete
Billiards:
Has played billiards both individually and on teams in Pueblo, CO for 28 years...She has been the best female player here for a decade or more...Plays both men and women in the local pool leagues, and has won many local tournaments...Debbie has also attended national and international events for more than 15 years and competed in them....The recent tournament in Las Vegas, NV (May 14-22, 2004) was sponsored by the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and was called the “28th National 8-Ball Championships”... However, this tournament is truly International because players from Canada, Mexico, Spain, England, Australia, and many other countries competed. Debbie competed in the Scotch Doubles (Man and Woman partners), The Team event, and the Open Individual event...In the Open Individual tournament 569 players were entered in the normal double elimination format...This means that the player who survives with one loss will have to defeat the surviving player with no prior loses twice in a row to win the tournament...Debbie lost a match to the woman she eventually face in the championship match and she defeated her opponent twice to win...Snook is the “only player from Pueblo” to accomplish this feat. No man has won the International tournament in the Men’s division.
BCA 8 Ball Championship Finals:
Forced a rematch with the undefeated Katherine Friend from Maryland. But once the race-to-4 second set went hill-hill, neither player could close out...The comedy of errors began when Friend broke but sank no balls...Snook pocketed a solid, but soon missed a shot on the 3 ball...Friend seemed in control when she sank a 10-9 combo, and later two balls in opposite corners in a single stroke...But with just the 14 ball left, Friend snookered herself behind the 6, muttering a terse ‘Sons-a-bitches.’ Snook in turn jawed a 1-ball, and failed to pocket the 3 ball after a Friend safety...Friend then missed on the 14 ball with a too-hard stroke...Debbie jumped up on her 3-ball attempt, missing again, and after a safety battle, Friend failed to even make contact with the 14 ball. With cue ball in hand, Snook finally ran out. ‘It gets your heart thumping,’ the 52 year-old Snook said later. ‘My nerves got away from me.’ With her $5,500 winnings, school-bus driver Snook planned to fix up her home..
Occupation:
SSnook is a bus driver for School District #70.
Personal:
Debbie lives in Boone, CO with her husband Roy Gibson.
