SUSAN DASHER -- 1997 WPBA SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR

On July 19, 1997, at the Annual BCA Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Susan Dasher accepted the 1997 WPBA Sportsperson of the Year Award.  Other nominations included Jeannette Lee and Allison Fisher.  She is not sure how she was able to top two superstars of the pool world, but she was grateful for  everyone's support and recognition.

The nomination from her peers in the WPBA recognizes that her commitment and efforts are instrumental in keeping their Tour the strongest in the world by interesting more women players in the sport of billiards.  Susan recognizes that the onway to keep the Pro Tour as competitive as it is today is to bring in more women players from the amateur ranks who are talented and expereinced in tournament play. 

Susan Dasher, a lawyer in Austin by day, (when she is not scuba diving in some exotic location) is the tour coordinator for the largest regional tour in the United States (Hunter Customer Classics Amateur Tour), is the vice president of the Women's Professional Billiard Association, and is counsel to and an honorary member of the American Cuemaker's Association. 

Susan Dasher has been the strongest proponent of women's amateur pool in the last decade.  She has devoted incredible effort, time and personal resources to make sure that amateur women's pool continues to grow at a steady rate.  And she has seen her efforts pay off.  The Hunter Tour has grown at a steady 10-20% per year with a strong core of women players who compete evenly on the pro tour.

Susan will retire as the Hunter Tour coordinator the end of this year but will continue to compete in as many tournaments as possible.  She is looking forward to having extra time to practice pool and actually begin to play the sport she has supported for so long.
 

Susan Dasher
     One of the Major driving forces behind women's pool in texas...

     Today, Texas is on a roll with hundreds of promoters, supporters and players in the Southwest nine-ball circuit and the Ladies Amateur Tour.  It was not always that way, particularly for the women.  Even  the professional women had no monied tournaments in the Southwest  until 1989.  Then, enter a feminist lawyer who discovered the fascination of 9-ball.  Suddenly, thanks to Susan Dasher, there was  money added to the women's side of tournaments and money in the ladies     player's auctions.  Then Susan's promotional genius started a matching  fund concept where the pool room owner, a traditionally male oriented group of good old boys, matched whatever she added.  For example, Don  Hoppe will not even consider a tournament at the Galaxy without at least matching and, once a year, doubling the grant from Susan Dasher and her law firm. 

     In 1990, Susan offered to add matching money to each Southwest 9-ball Circuit event which held a women's division tournament as part of the Circuit's event.  No one knew it would grow to the relatively well-financed machine it is today, let alone grow in to a professional qualifying circuit.

     Bev Carrick relates, from working with Susan on the Texas Ladies' Amateur Tour, that Susan sets standards do high and moves so quickly from idea to outcome, that she often leaves people standing and  shaking their heads.  This lady has made her training as an attorney work for her as a promoter of women's pool.  She works within a tight time frame from start to finish.  Dates are selected early and discussed with other schedulers, flyers are prepared for hand out at other tournaments and mail outs are sent.  She treats the players,  room owners and sponsors as the professionals and business persons  they are and gives them the respect they have never had in pool 
related matters. 
     Susan realizes most women players are young and have regular jobs where they get only 2 weeks vacation time per year.  Winning $250.00 for first place doesn't justify traveling to an unknown city when their chances of winning may be slim and Susan has encouraged new women players by providing entry fee scholarships which are paid back only if the player wins a cash prize.  This has given many players the chance to gain experience in tournaments as well as give them a goal. 
     When she decided to put money into the ladies' side, she hoped it would draw more women players.  She was right.  Professional players,  out-of-towners, beginners and the talented amateurs are competing  together, all of which betters the sport.  The quality of play on the ladies' side has improved exponentially as more women vie for the top places.  Now women are competing in Texas tournaments that have as much money added to the women's side as to the men's side.  This is due to Susan Dasher's tremendous promoting skills and willingness to add the financial support.

     This woman is also a director of the money-back Austin Division of the Southwest Eightball League.  The biggest event she promotes and sponsors is the Spring Fling Scotch Doubles Nine-Ball Tournament held at Eric's in Austin each March.  With the help of Randy and Karen      Goettlicher and Eric, Frances and Jimmy Teggeman and Lynn Aderhold,  Susan was able to raise a $3,000.00 added for this Tournament in 1991, and hopes to double it in 1992.

     But who is Susan really, aside from pool?  She is an attorney in Austin, Texas with a general civil practice.  She is a woman with a rich history in sports, ranging from her membership on the 1965 United States Field Hockey Team, to three years of All-State All Star Basketball status in Michigan between 1963-65 and two years all MIAA doubles tennis champion while at Kalamzoo College in 1964 and 1965.

     Aside from sports, she is generous, a proverbial soft touch, a bark without much of a bite.  She expected a lot from the people around her but no more than she expects from herself.

     From those of us who have benefited from her energy and her generosity, a long overdue Texas-size THANK YOU.