Amarillo Slim
Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Jr. (born December 31, 1928 in Johnson, Arkansas) is a professional gambler, famous for his poker skills and proposition bets. He won the main event at the World Series of Poker in 1972.
Professional poker player
Before becoming a well known face and tournament poker player, Preston was a rounder and toured the country looking for gambling action along with Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts.
Preston won the 1972 World Series of Poker main event. Following his victory he went on several talk shows, and even had a bit part in the movie California Split, making him moderately famous outside the poker world. He has appeared on The Tonight Show over 10 times, Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, The Tomorrow Show, Panorama, Georgia Today, and A. M. Los Angeles.
As of 2004 Preston has a total of 4 WSOP bracelets (including 2 in Omaha, and has won over $500,000 in tournament play. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
Preston had a minor role in the Robert Altman film California Split, where he played a regular in a $40/$80 razz game in Reno, Nevada.
Tales of a legend
Preston was the best friend of casino owner Benny Binion. On Preston's publicity run after his 1972 win he convinced Tom Snyder, host of The Tomorrow Show that came on right after The Tonight Show, to allow Preston, Binion, and Joe Bernstein to have the entire show. Binion didn't care to be in the public spotlight, but Preston convinced him to do it. When Binion died in 1989, he left his horse to Preston.
Preston is often quoted as saying that if a woman ever won the WSOP, he'd slit his throat, but the true story is quite different. During some of the early WSOP events an unpopular woman player got an early chip lead and declared that she was going to be the winner in front of the media. When she asked Preston what he thought of it, he told her that if she won he would slit his throat. She ultimately did not win.
Preston has also helped establish gaming facilities around the world. While he was helping open the Casino de Caribe in Colombia he was kidnapped by people working for Pablo Escobar, who mistook him for another person, but was eventually released.
Recent events
In May 2003, Preston published his autobiography Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, where he reveals tales of playing poker with Larry Flynt, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon, amongst others. He reportedly made an anti-semitic remark on a radio station that hurt a movie deal tied into his book. [1]
In August 2003 Preston was indicted on three charges of indecency with a 12-year-old child (against his granddaughter). The charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault in a plea bargain and on February 10, 2004 he pleaded guilty to the reduced charges, receiving a $4,000 fine and two years deferred adjudication. [2]
Preston is married, has three children, and currently resides in Amarillo, Texas.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship | $80,000 |
| 1974 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | $11,100 |
| 1985 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | $85,000 |
| 1990 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | $142,000 |