Charles C. Peterson

Charles C. Peterson (February 28, 1879 – June 23, 1962) was an American billiards player. Known for his trick shots, he owned a billiard hall in St. Louis and was nicknamed the "Missionary of Billiards" for his widespread promotion of the sport. He was an inductee of the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.

Early life and military service Peterson was born on February 28, 1879, in Milwaukee, to Anthony and Anthonette Peterson. An attendee of religious schools, he enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, on April 26, 1898, and served in the Spanish–American War. He served for nine months, during which he gained his interest in billiards, as tournaments were hosted where he was stationed. By the end of his service, he was ranked a sergeant.

Career After the war, Peterson moved to St. Louis and began working at the Houser & Royal Billiard Parlors, a choice made over job offers in Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, and Detroit. In 1909, he established his own billiard hall, which included 31 billiard tables, an amphitheater, and a bowling alley with eight lanes. He was an early supporter of women billiards players, hosting biweekly meetings of a women's billiards club at his hall. He represented the Billiard Congress of America in countrywide tours of colleges and clubs, with fellow billiards player Willie Hoppe, to perform trick shots and promote the sport. For this, he was nicknamed the "Missionary of Billiards". He was said to have made every shot presented before him, and was billed as "Charles Show-Me-a-Shot-I-Can't-Make Peterson".

On August 16, 1930, Peterson played billiards inside a Curtiss T-32 Condor II airplane flown by British World War I Captain Frank Courtney, in the air and travelling at . At one point, Courtney flew to and traveled at , but lost the speed and elevation due to the cue balls vibrating too much for play. There were a total of four flights. In the first, thirty minutes long, Peterson scored 70 points in 42 seconds. The fourth flight, which was the official flight, departed from St. Louis Downtown Airport. He scored 100 points in 28.5 seconds, compared to his 26-second record on land.

Personal life and death Peterson married Katherine Kleser, having three children with her. Besides billiards, he was an outdoorsman and played golf. He was intensely patriotic, carrying a small American flag in his pocket, which his mother gifted him following his 1898 enlistment. On national holidays, he would greet visitors of his hall with an American flag pin. He died on June 23, 1962, aged 83, in Los Angeles, of a heart attack, though his obituary in The New York Times says he died at age 82. In 1966, he, along with Ralph Greenleaf and Willie Hoppe, were posthumously inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, with Peterson being part of the Meritorious Service category.