JANUARY 31, 2024 www.wintertexantimes.com 16 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Call today to schedule a free consultation and let us show you how professionally designed marketing materials with clear and consistent messaging can elevate your brand. You Only Get One Chance To Make A First Impression Make It Count With Promos & Prints On Your Side Sales@promosandprints.com (956) 580-7800 1217 N Conway Ave, Mission, TX A Division of Nexus Publishing LLC From the Cheap Seats As Venus Hall and I walked over to some bleachers away from the competitors to sit for this interview, the native “Okie” just climbed up to the top row as if he was 40 years old, younger than me, more stable on his feet and the only shuffling coming when he’s shuffle boarding either at Snow to Sun Park or during the current Golden Age Olympics with his wife Betty. As we took our seats, I sat one row below while he easily took a spot on the top row, the first thing I asked him was if the rumors were true that he was 102 years old. “January 13, 1922,” he quickly replied. From the Army, to living and working on a ranch “for a whole big $4 per day” to turning a crappie pole Still shufflin’ at 102 into a shuffleboard stick, Hall was as fascinating to talk to as it was to watch his wife Bettie play shuffleboard – winning a state championship twice and an international title once. “Man, she’s just won about everything,” Venus said. The couple met in Missouri and Betty needed to wait six years before she could retire. After that, some friends invited them to come check out life as Winter Texans. They came to visit and are now going on their 26th year at Snow to Sun. “They gave us some sticks and said, ‘Here, you are going to want to learn how to shuffleboard’,” he said. “We just got hooked on it. “We both started and here we still are. Everybody just likes it. She’s still competitive. I just play. But we’re still shuffling.” The rumors about Venus shuffling with a crappie pole is widely known among the shufflers. He confirmed this one as well. “I saw this pole leaning up against a tree at a yard sale and asked how much for it – just a couple dollars. I told Betty I’m going to make a stick out of that. She said you can’t do that. So, I took it home, put it in the shop and made it, and there I went with it.” Venus Hall. Photo by Henry Miller Photo by Henry Miller
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