Hall Of Famer Terry Bell Passes Away At 82 Years Old
Rest in peace to Terry "Texas Terry" Bell1943 - June 27, 2025Inducted in the BCA Hall Of Fame in 2010Terry "Texas Terry" Bell (1943–2025) was a pioneering figure in American billiards, best known as the co-founder of the American Poolplayers Association (APA) and a 2010 inductee into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. A former professional pool player who logged thousands of miles on the road during the 1970s, Bell recognized that the sport needed more than just elite competitors—it needed fans and a strong amateur base to truly grow.In 1979, alongside fellow pro Larry Hubbart, he launched the APA, revolutionizing amateur pool by introducing the Equalizer® handicap system, which allowed players of all skill levels to compete fairly. Under their leadership, the APA grew into the world’s largest pool league, with hundreds of thousands of members across multiple countries.Beyond organizing leagues, Bell was a passionate teacher and produced instructional content to help playe…
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Rest in peace to Terry "Texas Terry" Bell1943 - June 27, 2025Inducted in the BCA Hall Of Fame in 2010Terry "Texas Terry" Bell (1943–2025) was a pioneering figure in American billiards, best known as the co-founder of the American Poolplayers Association (APA) and a 2010 inductee into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame. A former professional pool player who logged thousands of miles on the road during the 1970s, Bell recognized that the sport needed more than just elite competitors—it needed fans and a strong amateur base to truly grow.In 1979, alongside fellow pro Larry Hubbart, he launched the APA, revolutionizing amateur pool by introducing the Equalizer® handicap system, which allowed players of all skill levels to compete fairly. Under their leadership, the APA grew into the world’s largest pool league, with hundreds of thousands of members across multiple countries.Beyond organizing leagues, Bell was a passionate teacher and produced instructional content to help players improve their game. His vision and contributions helped make pool more inclusive, structured, and accessible to everyday players, leaving a lasting impact on the sport.