Melinda Bailey
Fred Pankey MELINDA BAILEY
Fred Pankey is a long-time one-pocket player who hangs out at the local pool room (Rusty’s Billiards) in Fort Worth, Texas. When I say “long time” I’m not exaggerating - he’s 96 years old! Fred is a funny, great guy with a huge sense of humor in his small, little body.
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s a matter of fact, when I called him to ask a few more questions, he asked me, “Do I need to get my teeth in for this?” hahaha. He’s very smart, alert, and still shoots pool – even on his birthday on March 14th (see photos). One of the greats we meet in the poolrooms. Let’s get to know him! Q: Okay, Fred, first of all how does it feel to be 96 years young? A: “No particular feeling, really. I think back to about when I was 25… I don’t run as fast anymore; I’ve slowed down, and don’t play pool like I used to. ” Q: Why do you still go to the pool room? A: “Well, all my friends are in the pool room. I don’t have any friends my age or in their 90s like me. My friends in
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the pool room are getting older, too (he laughs), but, I associate with them and we’ve been friends for 20 or more years. “ Q: How often do you go? A: “I go only about once a week now. I can’t drive anymore, because I have numbness in my right foot and don’t know if my foot is on the gas or break. So, I stopped driving –I don’t want to hurt anybody. ” Q: Your Dad owned a pool room across from the courthouse in downtown Fort Worth when you were growing up. Tell us about that. A: “It was called “Pankey and Whitaker” back in 1918. He sold veggies and fruit out front, and ice cream, malts, root beer, and fishing tackle inside. My Dad also rented guns. It was the Depression in the 1920s and a lot of people didn’t have guns, so he rented them. ”