William A. Spinks

William A. Spinks
A black-and-white photo of a middle-aged Anglo man with white, receding hair, round-rimmed glasses, and a somewhat serious expression, wearing a dark tie and sport coat.
Spinks in the January 1923 issue of Billiards Magazine
BornJuly 11, 1865
San Jose, California
DiedJanuary 15, 1933(1933-01-15) (aged 67),
Monrovia, California
Occupation(s)Billiards player, inventor, sporting goods manufacturer, oil company investor/director, farmer/horticulturalist
Years activec. 1892–1920s
EmployerSelf-employed entrepreneur
Known forCo-invention of billiard chalk; balkline billiards world record; the Spinks cultivar of avocado
TitlePacific Coast Billiard Champion
SpouseClara A. (Karlson) Spinks (1891–1933)
Awards18.2 balkline chuck nurse world record
Signature
Image of signature, reading "William A. Spinks" clearly

William Alexander Spinks Jr. (July 11, 1865 – January 15, 1933) was an American professional player of carom billiards in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was often referred to as W. A. Spinks, and occasionally Billy Spinks.[1] In addition to being amateur Pacific Coast Billiards Champion several times,[2][3][4] a world-champion contender in more than one cue sports discipline,[5] and an exhibition player in Europe,[6] he became the co-inventor (with William Hoskins) of modern billiard cue chalk in 1897.[6][7]

He was originally (and again in retirement from the billiards circuit) a Californian, but spent much of his professional career in Chicago, Illinois.[2][6] At his peak, his was a household name in American billiards;[8] The New York Times ranked Spinks as one of "the most brilliant players among the veterans of the game",[9] and he still holds the world record for points scored in a row (1,010) using a particular shot type.[3][10]: 289  Aside from his billiards-playing career, he founded a lucrative sporting goods manufacturing business. He was both an oil company investor and director, and a flower- and fruit-farm operator and horticulturist, originator of the eponymous Spinks cultivar of avocado.

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