Noel Boland Texas (I'll add obituary later)
According to John Webster
who provided a bit of checker trivia about this 1994 3-Move Garland, TX National tournament, said
"It was the same
Hotel outside of Dallas where the movie
"Giant" starred Rock Hudson
was partly filmed. A
"scene" in the hotel where the fight took
place and Noel showed them the room. Noel was the sponsor/director of this National." He
also was the promoter and sponsor of many Southern Tournament. Another tidbit
of trivia, they all got together Friday night and celebrated or toasted to the honor of Derek
E. Oldbury. DEO had died just a month earlier July 9, 1994 and Webster
said they
gave him a fitting send off with many stories, recollections, and raised glasses.
Dr. Tinsley held morning devotion, and Tim Laverty played the piano. Don Brattin was referee.
John remembered there were 75 entrants. Wayne Gober's wife Terry made a super video on this National, capturing many of
the checker greats at the time. I plan to make this available on DVD. I understand that the wives and ladies
took in several tours around Dallas during the tournament and one included the
famous Texas spread where
"Dallas", the hit classic 80's TV series
was filmed and this large ranch with its stately mansion was a museum with
artifacts and memorabilia from the show, which some of the wives said, "it is
much smaller that it appeared on TV." Also when Noel died the Southern Tournament took a hit because nobody knew
anything about the funds or his business pertaining to it.