I know I can beat him." "The undershirt is the most foolish item in a man's wardrobe. I shall never wear one again." – at Johnston City, Illinois, November 1963 "Man is the strangest of all the Lord's creatures. The trouble with man is he doesn't know how to live ... I'm a pool player, so they ask me, 'Haven't you done anything with your life except shoot pool? Haven't you ever worked?' I always tell them, 'Well, no, sir, I can't say that I've ever worked.' That always gets those rascals, 'cause they always ask, 'But how have you managed to live?' Oh, Lawdie, that's so silly. I tell them, 'Sir, I live like a tree – 3 percent from the soil and 97 percent from the air.' You know, that's true." - to Tom Fox at McAnn's Saloon in New York City, 1967, during the World Straight Pool Championship, which he won after defeating Jack Breit, with a score of 150-73. "I don't know why so many people love to play pool. Might as well ask why a hen lays eggs or a cow stands still while a farmer burglarizes her." When another hall of famer, Ed Kelly was asked who was the toughest player he ever played against, he responded that it depended on the game but that if it was "9-ball, it would have to be Luther Lassiter...Wimpy was the best...He was the best shot-maker that I ever saw." Publications Lassiter authored a number of books on the sport including: The Modern Guide to Pocket Billiards. Fleet Pub. Corp. (New York, 1964), ; Billiards for Everyone. Grosset & Dunlap (New York, 1965). . Titles & Achievements 1954 National Straight Pool Tournament 1956 U.S Pocket Billiards Tournament 1958 National Championship Challenge 1962 Johnston City Nine-ball Championship 1962 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship 1962 Johnston City All-Around Championship 1963 Johnston City Nine-ball Championship 1963 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship 1963 Johnston City All-Around Championship 1963 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship 1963 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship 1963 Tampa, Florida Straight Pool Championship 1963 Tampa, Florida Nine-ball Championship 1964 Johnston City Nine-ball Championship 1964 Johnston City Straight Pool Championship 1964 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship 1966 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship 1966 National Invitational Championship 1966 International Invitational Championship 1966 BRPAA World Straight Pool Championship 1967 Long Beach International Open Tournament 1967 Virginia Pocket Billiards Tournament 1967 Johnston City