Lowell family has fun with billiards

LOXLEY, Ala. — There’s something about the clack of billiard balls hitting each other, the mathematical precision with which the cue ball caroms off other balls, and the satisfying “thunk” the balls make as they drip into the pocket.

And then, there’s the people who like to play “pool.” They are raucous, and everybody seems to have a good time.

Put the Lowell family and friends in the latter category. The family which consists of patriarch Richard Lowell, his daughter Kristina Miller, sons Roger Lowell of Loxley, Brian Lowell of Rosinton, grandson Jonathan Lowell and Jonathan’s wife, Christi of Summerdale, friend Chris Savage (“I call him my redheaded step child,” jokes Richard Lowell) and Jenny Walden of Marlow.

The team, called the “Gulf Coast Droppers,” play throughout the area. Their “home” tables are at the Robertsdale Veterans of Foreign Wars post on Highway 90.

The “Droppers,” who play at various locations throughout Baldwin County, are vying to get a City Cup Championship which will earn them a ticket to a national tournament sanctioned by the American Poolplayers Association in Las Vegas.

There’s just one problem with that. Because the Lowells run a family business, Rick’s Gun and Pawn, in Foley and Loxley having all the team members vanish for more than a week just isn’t in the break.

That’s true even for a pool-friendly business that has tables in the back of the building for employees to use.

“We can’t close nine days to go to Las Vegas,” said Richard Lowell. “If we win, my son Brian and I will stay to run the business.”

Don’t feel too bad for Lowell. The former Marine and his son led a team to the Las Vegas tournament in 2004.

Lowell started on one team, but the “Droppers” formed when so many of his friends and family expressed an interest in playing pool.

Lowell says he would “slip out of junior high” to play pool. His time in the service just added to his skills.

“I like pool,” he said. “It’s challenging, and there’s no limit on how good you can get. I’m not very good, but I have a lot of fun trying.”

Lowell says there was a “pool table in the basement“ of his home.

That’s how the younger Lowells came to the game.

“I grew up with pool,” said Miller. “There was a pool table at home. Then my brother Brian came into it.”

For Miller, the game is a release.

“It’s a way to get out on my own with my family and friends,” she said “It’s something I enjoy doing.”

That’s the case for a lot of couples, says Kelly Champion, who runs the American Poolplayers Association franchise in this area.

“Often a team is a group of friends or a family,” Champion, who lives in Fairhope said in a telephone interview. “It’s a way to get out and compete.”

Because of the APA “handicapping” system, teams of relative neophytes stand as good a chance as a team of expert players of reaching tournaments. It encourages play and a lot of fun for all, Champion says. He estimates that he has about 60 teams in his area.

Playing pool became a Lowell family affair. In fact, Miller expects her niece, Stephanie Lowell, may express interest in joining the team when she turns 18 in May. Another branch of the family led by William Perry plays in another APA division with with Ron and Tasha Perry.

Women have been coming to pool in increasing numbers, Miller says, attracted to the fun, friendly atmosphere. It also helps that pool is a game of skill and the smallest woman has the same opportunity to do well as the biggest man on the team.

“You have a lot of husband-and-wife teams,” Miller said.

And while playing for titles with family members might sound like a good way to cause conflict, Miller and Lowell say that’s not the case.

“We just tell them to get the next one,” Miller said.

Lowell proudly displays a photo of Miller and Jonathan Lowell. The duo had just taken a “Scotch Doubles” tournament. What he won’t tell you right away is that the pair beat him and one of his sons.

“They did good,” Lowell said.