Dorothy Wise facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Cool Hand" Dorothy |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | 1914 Spokane, Washington |
| Died | 1995 (aged 80) |
| Residence | Redwood City, California |
| Spouse(s) | Jimmy Wise |
| Sport | |
| Country | United States |
| Sport | Pool |
| Achievements and titles | |
| National finals | Champion, United States Open (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971) |
| Updated on 3 August 2013. | |
Dorothy Wise (1914–1995) was an American professional pool player. She was born in Spokane, Washington. Dorothy became famous for her amazing skills in pool, a game where you use a stick to hit balls into pockets on a table. She was known as "Cool Hand" Dorothy because she stayed calm under pressure.
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Dorothy Wise: A Pool Champion
Dorothy Wise was a pioneering woman in the sport of pool. She showed incredible talent and determination. She helped pave the way for other female players. Her career highlights include winning multiple national championships.
Early Days and Challenges
When Dorothy first started playing pool professionally, there were not many big tournaments for women. Most competitions were local or state-level events. Even without national championships, Dorothy was a strong player. She won many local and state tournaments. Because she won so often, she even called herself the "world champion."
Becoming a National Champion
The first national tournament for women in pool finally happened in 1967. Dorothy Wise entered and won this important event. This was a huge moment for women's pool. She didn't stop there! Dorothy kept winning the national title for the next five years. She was the champion in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971.
Her winning streak ended in 1972. She played in the final match against a very young player. Her opponent was 13-year-old Jean Balukas. Jean Balukas went on to become another legendary pool player.
Hall of Fame Honor
Dorothy Wise's amazing career was recognized in 1981. She was inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for pool players. Dorothy was the very first woman to be given this award. It showed how important she was to the sport.
Learning the Game
Dorothy learned how to play pool from her husband, Jimmy Wise. Jimmy was also involved in the world of pool. He managed places called billiard parlors. These are places where people go to play pool. He managed parlors in several cities across the western United States. Jimmy was able to see Dorothy win her first national championship in 1967. Sadly, he passed away later that same year.
