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Womens Professional Billiard Association in Billiard Wholesale Directory

 

The WPBA was originally formed in 1976 under the name of the Womens Professional Billiard Alliance. The organization was developed by then contemporary female billiard pros Palmer Byrd and Madelyn Whitlow, along with Larry Miller, then editor of the National Billiard News. Pro player Billie Billing was president from 1977 to 1981. Paul Balukas headed the association from 1981 to early 1982. Fran Crimi was elected president in February that year. Following Ms. Crimis term of office, billiard promoter Barry Dubow served as managing director of the organization until 1985 when Belinda Bearden (Campos) became president and served in this capacity until November 1987. Peg Ledman was elected the new president in 1987 and served two two-year terms until 1991. John Lewis, now with the BCA and a board member on the WPA, served as our executive director. During 1991, Harold Simonsen was president of the WPBAs tour marketing association, continuing on in 1992-93 as a consultant to the development of the 1993 Classic Billiard Tour, a tour that would forever change the history and status of womens pro billiards. Serving as president from December 1991 to 1995 was Vicki Paski, who was elected to consecutive two year terms during the WPBAs biggest growth years. Her presidency saw the formation of the Classic Billiard Tour and the firm establishment of womens billiards as a major market sport. 1993 was the inaugural year of the Classic Billiard Tour, receiving wide acclaim both inside and outside the billiard industry as the sports first formal major market tour. WPBA membership, purses, and number of events quadrupled, along with industry participation in the pro billiard tour. In 1994-96, Gordons Gin and Vodka signed on as the sports first outside industry corporate sponsor, with a series of $50,000 events that drew unprecedented media coverage as well as additional television exposure on the Sports Channel and ESPN. In January 1995, Sigma Marketing took on administration, management and marketing of the WPBA, under the executive direction of Mark Cord, who from 1988-1993 served as Executive Director of the Billiard Congress of America. In 1995, ESPN sweetened the Classic Tour pot with the addition of regular television exposure of our events on both ESPN and ESPN2. This tradition continues, and the new millennium can only spell new growth and popularity for the WPBA! Ewa Mataya Laurance served as president in 1996 and 97, Aileen Pippin took the post in 1998, and Dawn Hopkins finished out the 20th century as 1999 president. Steve Tipton, voice of the WPBA as our expert tournament director and master of ceremonies, took over tour administration from Sigma Marketing during 1998-1999. Heading into the new millennium, the WPBA will be guided by its newly elected president, #1 ranked Allison Fisher, while the WPBA boasts its biggest move ever, hiring Sumner Ryder & Snyder of New York City to bring our tour to the next level of mass market appeal.

 

Address: Womens Professional, Billiard Association, P.O. Box 546, Goodlettsville, TN 37070
Telephone: 615 859-9722
Website: http://www.wpba.com/