HEADLINES
	Birthday Bash for David Cypress
	Vivian Villarreal, "The Texas Tornado"
	Seminole Students and Seniors Visit South Dakota
	Tribe Donates $5K to Don Shula Foundation
	Canadian Travel Channel Visits Billie Swamp Safari
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By Libby Blake
SEMINOLE COUNTRY — Vivian Villarreal, aka “Texas Tornado,” is making history as the first player in the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) to be sponsored by Native Americans. The Seminole Tribe of Florida will be her primary sponsor for at least the remainder of the 2003-2004 season.

Villarreal, currently ranked fifth in the world, was in town recently for a photo shoot at Billie Swamp Safari. The photos, including Ms. Villarreal in a traditional Seminole patchwork jacket, are for a cover story about her in an upcoming issue of Billiard’s Digest Magazine.

During her visit to Big Cypress, I had the opportunity to speak with Willie Villarreal about his daughter. The conversation lasted nearly two hours but seemed to be over too soon as Willie related numerous anecdotes about Vivian’s youth.

To know and understand Vivian and the drive that has taken her to the top of her field, one must start at the beginning and with Willie.

According to Willie, Vivian was and is “Daddy’s girl.” From the time she could crawl, Vivian followed Willie. He worked the fields around San Antonio, Texas; Vivian went with him. Willie drove dump trucks and semis; Vivian went with him.

Wherever Willie went Vivian went. Her mother grudgingly “allowed” this only because of Vivian’s crying and, later, complaining if she didn’t get to go.

When Vivian was five or six years old, Willie put her on the back of his Harley and took her to her grandmother’s place, Mollie’s Lounge, in San Antonio. It was during this time that Vivian became fascinated with pool. Vivian says watching the balls disappear into the pockets amazed her.

Not big enough to reach the pool table, Willie would prop Vivian up on beer boxes. “And if she still couldn’t reach a shot she would shoot with one hand,” says Willie.
Vivian played in her first tournament at the age of seven. Not knowing anything about English or position, but able to pocket the balls, she placed second. Willie says, “Vivian started crying, and when I asked her why she was crying, she said because she didn’t get the trophy (for first place) to take back to her grandmother.”

He added, “I told her then – there’s always going to be someone better than you at some time in your life and you better learn now to be a good loser. You have to be a good loser if you want to be a good winner. – Vivian promised me right then not to cry again and she never has since.”

Vivian continued to play in local bar tournaments soon filling up Mollie’s with trophies. Vivian says some of her fondest memories are riding on the back of her Dad’s Harley with a cue stick in one hand and a trophy in the other.

Playing against professionals as an amateur at an open event in Austin around age 12, Vivian placed third. She also learned to drive.

Willie told me a story of driving back in his semi from a haul with Vivian and a cousin of hers in the truck. Willie got tired and since there was a nice big cab with a nice big bed, he asked Vivian if she thought she could drive the truck.

“Sure I can Dad,” said Vivian. So here they go down a two-lane highway, Vivian at the wheel barely reaching the pedals. Willie wakes up, looks out the cab just in time to see a Greyhound bus coming towards them in the opposite lane.

Willie says he could see the bus driver looking and looking as he approached the semi. As the bus passes the driver finally sees the top of Vivian’s head just above the steering wheel.

Willie laughs and laughs remembering and describing the look on that bus driver’s face. He says he still wonders what the man thought about what he saw or if he even believed what he saw.

Early on, Vivian’s parents had agreed that any money she won would go into a college fund. In spite of her success, Vivian’s mother wasn’t happy about the bars and the late hours and felt Vivian’s time should be spent concentrating on her studies.

Vivian graduated high school and went on to college. While in college, she met Robert “Duffy” Doores, who would become her mentor.

Doores saw Vivian shooting one day at a place near campus and approached her. He told her that with a little help she could be a world champion.

Duffy, a lifetime student of the game, taught Vivian all about English, ball position, and the little subtleties of the game. With Duffy’s coaching, Vivian turned pro in 1991.
Vivian’s quick one-two style of play and whirlwind shot-making skills are what earned her the nickname “Texas Tornado.” It has also earned her nearly a dozen Classic Tour titles, including being WPBA National Champion and Player of the Year.

Her next tournament will be the WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball event at Sandia Casino in Albuquerque, N.M. September 10 – 14, 2003.

Vivian also held pool clinics at the Brighton, Big Cypress, and Hollywood reservations during her stay. Many Tribal members took advantage of her time and skills in an effort to improve their own game.

Videos for beginners and advanced players will be available soon to all Tribal members.

For more information on the “Texas Tornado” go to www.vivianwillarreal.com or www.wpba.com and follow the links to the players’ area.