Tony Morrison from 2010, pictured with Shannon Daulton, BJ Ussery and Jimmie Bullis
Friends of and competitors on the Great Southern Billiard Tour were saddened to hear of the death of Tony Morrison, a long-time friend and competitor on the tour himself. Tour director Shannon Daulton, who was informed of Morrison's death by motor vehicle accident on the final night of the US Open 9-Ball Championships, began immediate arrangements for a benefit tournament to help Morrison's family defer the cost of service expenses.
Morrison was a frequent competitor on the Great Southern Billiard Tour with numerous victories, dating back to 2008. Earlier this year (January) he finished second to Josh Newman at a GSBT stop in Albemarle, NC. In August, he faced Daulton in the finals of the Capital City Open in Raleigh, NC. He also competed on the Ozone Billiards, Jacoby Custom Cues and Viking Tours over the years. In 2006, he finished in the tie for fifth place at a stop on the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. His best (recorded) year was in 2010, a year in which he competed on the GSBT seven times, winning once and 'cashing' in the other six. He also won a stop on the Ozone Billiards Tour that year, and finished in the money twice on the Jacoby Custom Cues Carolina Tour.
The benefit tournament, scheduled for this Saturday, October 26 will be hosted by the Gate City Billiards Club in Greensboro, NC. Registration for the handicapped, 9-Ball tournament will open at noon, with the tournament scheduled for a 2 p.m. (prompt) start. Entry fee for this event will be $40, with 50% of the fees going to Morrison's family. Other forms of donations will come by way of auctions/raffles (any and all donated items accepted), cash donations at any event and food sales. Checks can be made out to Annie Quick (Tony's mother) and sent to Gate City Billiards, 6004-A Landmark Center Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27407. Gate City Billiards will be donating 10% of gross sales for the entire day of the tournament.
"Please come out to honor Tony and support one of our own," said Daulton in a flyer prepared for the event. "All proceeds will go to Tony's family to assist with the burial expenses."
Services for Morrison are scheduled for Monday, October 28 at 2 p.m. at the Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church, 2560 Winblow Road, Ellerbe, NC 28338
In addition to this weekend's benefit tournament, the GSBT has made arrangements for a Memorial Tournament to be held on the weekend of November 16-17 at Lucky Shots in Albemarle, NC. Check the GSBT Web site for further information. For further information on this weekend's tournament or direct donations to the family, contact the Gate City Billiard Club at (335) 856-8800.
