Robin Bell Dodson
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (1956-05-30) May 30, 1956
Omaha, Nebraska
OccupationBilliards player
Years active1968–1998
Children3, including Drake Bell

Robin Bell Dodson (born 30 May 1956) is a former professional billiards player.

Early life and career

Dodson was born in 1956 in Omaha, Nebraska. Her father, a commercial baker, played pool and gambled. When Dodson was three years old, her parents separated and her mother, Helen Hansen, settled in Westminster, California, alongside her two sisters. Her mother worked two factory jobs, only coming home to make dinner. The family lived in an orphanage. Dodson started playing pinball and learned to play billiards when she was 12. By the time she was 13, she would hitchhike to pool halls at night. Dodson dropped out of Westminster High School during her freshman year. She won the California Women's State Championship at the age of 16 and continued to win for the next two consecutive years.[1] During this time, Dodson suffered from drug addiction, having smoked marijuana and taking various depressants, PCP, and LSD. She later moved into her older sister's residence, which she described as a "hardcore heroin environment". Dodson was arrested twice but never went to jail. In 1977, she and her firstborn son moved into the Harvest House, a Christian homeless shelter in Santa Ana, California. [2] After a long break, she began to play again in 1984. Between 1984 and 1998, Dodson won various major tournaments, including the National Championships and the WPA World 9-Ball Championships.[3][4] She was inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame in 2005.[5][6]

Personal life

Dodson is a born again Christian. She has struggled with drug addiction, including heroin. Dodson received her GED in 2001.[7]

Dodson has three children, including actor and musician Drake Bell.[8] She was married to Robert Bell.[9]

Titles & achievements

  • 1973 Southern California State 9-Ball
  • 1974 California State 14.1 Championship
  • 1984 Lite Beer Series of Tavern Pool 8-Ball
  • 1984 Caesars Tahoe Billiard Classic
  • 1985 Resorts International Last Call For 9-Ball
  • 1985 North California Fall 9-Ball Classic
  • 1986 Cleveland Spring 9-Ball Open
  • 1988 King of the Rings 8-Ball
  • 1988 Hard Times 9-Ball Open
  • 1988 Gina Cue 9-Ball Open
  • 1989 Cleveland Fall 9-Ball Open
  • 1989 WPBA National Championship
  • 1990 B.C. Open 9-Ball Pro-Am Doubles
  • 1990 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
  • 1991 Southern California 9-Ball Open
  • 1991 Brunswick Munich Masters
  • 1991 WPA World Nine-ball Championship
  • 1991 International 9-Ball Classic
  • 1991 Big Island 9-Ball Classic
  • 1991 Al Romero Classic 9-Ball
  • 1991 Billiards Digest Player of the Year
  • 1992 WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
  • 1992 Brunswick Swedish 9-Ball Cup
  • 1992 McDermott Masters 9-Ball Championship
  • 1993 Hard Times 9-Ball Open
  • 1993 Tommy Billiards 9-Ball Open
  • 1993 Connelly Billiards Tucson Classic
  • 1993 Continental Productions Boston Classic
  • 1993 Riverside Classic
  • 1994 San Diego Classic
  • 1994 Gordon’s 9-Ball Championship
  • 1994 Brunswick Billiards Atlanta Classic
  • 1995 BCA Detroit Classic
  • 1995 Kasson Atlanta Classic
  • 1995 Gordon’s Boston 9-Ball Championship
  • 1995 Connelly Billiards Denver Classic
  • 1998 BCA Minnesota Classic
  • 2005 Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
  • 2009 WPBA Hall of Fame

References

  1. ↑ "Robin Dodson". www.insidepoolmag.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  2. ↑ "THE SUNDAY PROFILE : A Cue from God : At rock bottom of a troubled, drug-addicted life, Robin Bell found divine inspiration. That's how she became a world pool champion". Los Angeles Times. 10 September 1995.
  3. ↑ "Robin Bell Dodson - Pool Player, Hall of Famer, Businesswoman!". www.pro9.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  4. ↑ 25 Years of the WPBA | Retrieved on 3 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Hall of Fame Inductees, 2002-2010 - Billiard Congress of America". bca-pool.com. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  6. ↑ Writer, MATTHEW WILDE Courier Staff. "Pool player sticks to work and God". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  7. ↑ "Pool player sticks to work and God". 29 March 2001.
  8. ↑ "Drake Bell Buiography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ No Jumper (September 12, 2018), The Drake Bell Interview, archived from the original on 2021-10-30, retrieved September 13, 2018
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