Long-time APA ambassador Tom “Dr. Cue” Rossman has been elected to the Billiard Hall of Fame. Dr. Cue has been entertaining APA members and introducing new players to the sport of pool for nearly two decades. He was born in Minonk, Ill., and studied business management at Eastern Illinois University. But pool was always Dr. Cue’s true passion and he has parlayed that love into a 40-plus year career as a competitor, promoter, innovator, teacher and ambassador in the sport.
Dr. Cue is credited with being the founding father of the modern day “Artistic Pool” movement. He developed and promoted numerous events through the 1990s and was asked by the World Pool-Billiard Association to help develop professional artistic pool competitions within the association’s worldwide federation and have the discipline formally recognized by the world organization. He served as president of the WPA Artistic Pool Division for more than a decade. The WPA World Artistic Pool Championship was first staged in 2000, and has been held every year since. Dr. Cue won the title in 2006, and was runner-up on three occasions.
Dr. Cue’s efforts in organizing trick shots as a competitive discipline was also instrumental in the development of the ESPN Trick Shot Magic shows. Trick Shot Magic continues to draw the highest ratings of any televised billiard programming in the U.S.
Dr. Cue is a master teacher as well, certified as an Advanced Instructor by the Professional Billiard Instructors Association. He continues to travel the country promoting the sport, reaching thousands of junior players and enthusiasts.
“I am humbled and honored to be elected into the BCA Hall of Fame,” Rossman said upon hearing the news. “Starting out as a rack boy at the age of 10 provided an initial foundation for my billiard journey. My wife and business partner, Marty, and I share the joy of the roll with players, fans and students of the game around the world. We have been actively involved with all facets of the billiard industry at the junior, amateur and professional levels for a long time.
“The Hall of Fame designation is extra special in so many ways. When a person connects with his or her dreams, visions, blessings and passions in a heartfelt manner, he or she may truly rack up a victory in the game and, more importantly, in life.”
Dr. Cue will join World Champion Darren Appleton as this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. They will be the 69th and 70th members of the sport’s most prestigious hall of fame.
Appleton, 41, will enter the Greatest Players wing of the BCA Hall of Fame, while Rossman, 69, will be honored in the Meritorious Service category. Both will be formally inducted during ceremonies later in the year.
“It’s really amazing to know I’m in the BCA Hall of Fame,” said Appleton from Yorkshire, where he was visiting his ailing parents. “I can’t really put it into words. To be playing American pool full time for only 11 years and achieve this recognition is incredible. There is no bigger honor for a pool player. This is the pinnacle. It’s been a difficult year for me personally, so this is the kind of news I really needed. I’m very thankful.”