The American Cuemakers Association has announced 5 new members to its Hall of Fame for 2023. Dan Prather Sr, Tim Scruggs, Bill Stroud, Paul Drexler, and Thomas Wayne will all be inducted at the annual awards banquet at this year’s Super Billiards Expo on April 15th, 2023.
Dan Prather Sr started out helping Verl Horn construct cue parts and eventually started supplying parts to other cuemakers as well. He started the business “By Prather” with his two sons, Jeff and Daniel Jr. Together they built Prather Cues and operated Prather Custom Cue Parts. Their cues have been featured in multiple Gallery of American Cue Art shows and their cue parts and service has helped start and supply many of today’s top cuemakers.
Tim Scruggs was a machinist who wanted to be more involved with his love of pool. Tim worked briefly with fellow Hall of Famers Dan Janes and Bill Stroud in the early days of Joss Cues. Tim later returned to Joss after Bill went out on his own and worked with Dan for nearly 6 years. In 1978 Tim started making cues on his own in Baltimore, MD. Tim went on to help the cuemaking careers of Bob Fry as well as Mike Cochran.
Bill Stroud and Dan Janes started Joss Cues in the late 60’s in Baltimore MD. After several years Bill went out on his own and started Josswest Cues in Aspen, Colorado. Bill was one of the first cuemakers to bring CNC technology to the pool cue industry. Bill was using computers to not only help build the cues but to produce computer images so the client could see the cue before it was built. Bills cues have been featured in many publications including the Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalog. He has attended many high end cue shows and helped start the International Cue Collectors Society.
PFD Studios is the collaboration of Paul and Ellen Drexler. In 1989 Paul took his woodworking background learned from his grandfather, a master carpenter and cabinetmaker who immigrated to the USA from Holland in 1920 and started making cues. It was when his wife Ellen, joined Paul and began the exacting execution of the various intricate inlays that ultimately distinguish the work of PFD STUDIOS, the business prospered. Their cues have been featured in Asprey’s of London, The Gallery of American Cue Art, the Smithsonian Museum, and several ICCS shows.
Thomas Wayne’s woodworking skill was originally from cabinetry and furniture design. He has made furniture, guitars, knives, jewelry, and skateboards. His work in pool cues is distinguished by the complex inlay work that often wraps around the cue. He coined the term 4-D inlay, which refers to the designs he can achieve using 4th axis machining technology that appear to be multi dimensional and question how they are put together. Thomas’s cues have been featured in The Gallery of American Cue Art, the Smithsonian Museum, Robb Report Magazine, and several ICCS shows.
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