Lakewood Louie
One of the most well known veterans of the poker world has to be the elusive ‘Lakewood’ Louie. This mysterious figure first appeared on the poker tournament circuit in May 1978 and it was in the $5000 Draw High event that he picked up his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet. As well as his first gold bracelet, he also picked up prize money of $21,000.
In 1979 he picked up his second WSOP bracelet in the $2000 Draw High event which netted him prize money of $22,800. In the same year he won another WSOP gold bracelet in the $1000 Ace to Five Draw event earning him another $22,200. His fourth and final bracelet was won in 1980 in the $1000 Razz event and for this he earned prize money of $33,600.
Louie also finished 3rd in the $1000 Seven Card Stud event in Amarillo Slims Superbowl of Poker in 1979 and won $4400. This three year period saw Lakewood Louie burst onto the scene and many had hopes that he would be a huge name in the world of poker and would be up there among the greatest.
His four cashes at the World Series of Poker saw him pick up total WSOP winnings of $99,600 out of total tournament winnings of $104,000.
However those who were expecting great things from Lakewood Louie were left with a sour taste in their mouths as he disappeared from the poker tables just as quickly as he appeared. He had made his mark in the three years that he played and his four WSOP bracelets ensured that his name will go down among the greats in poker.
