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Amarillo Slim Real Name: Thomas Austin Preston Jr. He/Him
Amarillo Slim → Thomas Austin Preston Jr.
Amarillo Slim's real name is Thomas Austin Preston Jr.
- Known as
- Amarillo Slim
- Real name
- Thomas Austin Preston Jr.
- Also known as
- Amarillo Slim
- Section
- Texas Road Gamblers
- Category
- Poker Players
Quick answer
Amarillo Slim's real name was Thomas Austin Preston Jr. (December 31, 1928 – April 29, 2012). He was born in Johnson, Arkansas, and took his nickname from Amarillo, Texas, where his father moved. He won the 1972 WSOP Main Event and four WSOP bracelets in all, and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992.
Real name and nickname origin
Preston was born in Johnson, Arkansas. His family moved to Turkey, Texas, when he was young. After his parents divorced, his father settled in Amarillo. The Guardian's obituary quotes him: "Amarillo Slim sounds a heck of a lot better than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin." "Slim" referred to his tall, thin build.
On the road
After serving in the U.S. Navy, Preston worked the Texas Circuit with Doyle Brunson and Bryan "Sailor" Roberts. The three shared a bankroll out of Odessa around 1960 and are often credited with bringing Texas hold'em to Las Vegas. All three played in the first WSOP in 1970.
Prop bets (mostly from his own memoir; treat as legend unless otherwise sourced): In Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People (2003), Preston describes beating Minnesota Fats at pool with a broomstick and Bobby Riggs at table tennis with frying pans. He also tells of winning big from Willie Nelson at dominoes and from Larry Flynt at poker. These are his own claims and haven't been independently confirmed.
Career highlights
- 1972 WSOP Main Event champion. He beat Walter "Puggy" Pearson heads-up and won $60,000.
- 4 WSOP bracelets: 1972 and 1974 (No-Limit Hold'em), 1985 and 1990 (Pot-Limit Omaha)
- Runner-up to Phil Ivey in the $2,500 PLO event at the 2000 WSOP
- Poker Hall of Fame, 1992
- Made multiple appearances on The Tonight Show (PokerNews says ten) and had a small part in Robert Altman's California Split (1974)
- Founded Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker (1979–1991)
Legal matter
In August 2003, a Randall County, Texas, grand jury indicted Preston on charges of indecency with a child involving a 12-year-old grandchild. Under a plea agreement, the charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault. On February 10, 2004, Preston pleaded no contest and received a $4,000 fine, two years of probation and court-ordered counseling. In a 2009 interview he said he was innocent and had taken the plea to spare his family a trial (Las Vegas Review-Journal, 2003; PokerListings, 2009).
Preston died of colon cancer in Amarillo on April 29, 2012, at 83.
More Texas road gamblers
This profile is part of Texas Road Gamblers, our guide to the rounders of the old Texas Circuit. Only Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim and Sailor Roberts traveled together as one bankroll partnership; the others played the same circuit separately.
FAQ
What was Amarillo Slim's real name?
Thomas Austin Preston Jr.
Was Amarillo Slim from Amarillo?
No. He was born in Johnson, Arkansas, and grew up partly in Turkey, Texas. He took his nickname from Amarillo, where his father lived, and he later lived there himself.
How many WSOP bracelets did Amarillo Slim win?
Four, including the 1972 Main Event and two Pot-Limit Omaha titles.