Thomas Austin Preston, aka Amarillo Slim, winner of the 1972 World Series of Poker Main Event, passed away yesterday, Sunday, April 29, 2012, while in hospice in Amarillo, TX.
Amarillo Slim was already a living poker legend early in his life, but now, as of Sunday, April 29, 2012, he passes into true legend, as he died in hospice care in Amarillo, Texas.
He was born on December 31, 1928 as Thomas Austin Preston, but donned the name Amarillo Slim after enduring a 22 hour WSOP main event tournament in 1072 to emerge the champion. Ever since, he has been a very public figure (and persona) in the poker world, all the way up to his death on Sunday.
He finally “busted out” as it were at St. Anthony Hospice, a Baptist institution, at the age of 83. His daughter recalls him playfully resisting death all the way up to shortly before the end, down to requesting he have his favorite pair of cowboy boots with him, in case he got the chance to ride. Touched by that sentiment, a friend of his brought Slim’s two horses to hospice to help see him off.
In addition to his poker wins, Amarillo Slim was also well-known for stunts like riding camelback through a Marrakesh, Morrocco casino, beating Willie Nelson (born today, incidentally) in dominoes for $300k, beating Evil Knievel at golf while using a hammer as his club, and beating Minnesota Fats at pool using a broom handle. He also wrote a book recounting some of these incidents that was entitled “Amarillo Slim in a World of Fat People”.
