Puggy Pearson: 1929 – 2006

He was known as a gambler, but he was no dummy. Sure, he emblazoned his $200,000 motor home, dubbed the “Rovin’ Gambler,” with the credo, “I'll play any man from any land any game that he can name for any amount that I can count,” but he was smart enough to know that he should still only play when he had an edge. That’s why he followed it with the disclaimer, “providing I like it.”

Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson, one of the most colorful characters in poker, passed away April 12 in Las Vegas at the age of 77.

The exact cause of death is unclear at this time, but his family informed the Las Vegas Sun that he fell and hit his head Wednesday. He had oral surgery Tuesday and may have suffered a heart attack.

Pearson was a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and 1973 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Champion. He was widely credited with inventing the “freezeout” tournament format after suggesting it as a replacement for determining the World Series champion, who was originally decided by a vote. The freezeout is now the most popular tournament format around the world.

The same year he won the WSOP Championship, he also won the $4,000 limit seven card stud event at the WSOP, as well as the $1,000 no-limit hold’em event.

In his prime, Pearson was among the best in poker. Said Larry Grossman, gaming analyst and historian, “At the time he was at his peak of powers, he was as good as anybody. He came on with his Tennessee drawl a little bit, but he was shrewd and he was smart. He was incredible in a number of different gambling-type games, be it poker, backgammon, pool or golf — and he was very successful in hustling all of them.”

Later on, as poker become more and more popular, he showed up at the WSOP dressed in hilarious costumes. Once a Viking, once an American Indian chief, once an Arab sheik…all were a way to show everybody that while he was always trying to take people’s money at the table, poker was still a game. And it was still fun.

Just this past summer, Pearson was introduced to the crowd prior to the start of the final table at the WSOP Main Event. Wearing a baseball cap that read, “PUG,” he entertained the players and fans by belting out the song, “I’m a Rovin’ Gambler.” At first, some of the young players and fans who had no idea who he was looked at each other, as if to say, “Is this guy crazy?” But after a few bars, and seeing how much joy was in his face and voice, even the too cool, internet generation started clapping along with everybody else and even cheered for more when officials had him stop. It was truly a celebration of poker.

Puggy Pearson, the man who fittingly got his nickname after squashing his nose in an attempt to impress a girl in his typical flamboyant style by walking over 2-by-4’s with his hands, was both feared and adored by his fellow poker players. He will be missed.

Originally published April 17, 2006