Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association to induct five into hall of fame

The Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association will induct five new members at its 27th annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 2.

The induction will be at Chateau Michele in Canton. Tickets are available at Clark & Son Billiard Supply in Canton through Sept. 23. More information is available at www.gcaba.org.

This year's class consists of Mario Cilitti, Steve Dickson, Mike Johann, Bill Miller and Tommy Porter.

Mario Cilitti

Cilitti has long been regarded as one of the finest and most respected players to come from Northeast Ohio. Three weeks after winning the 1990 Shamrock Shootout at the age of 21, Cilitti shocked the pool world by defeating reigning World Champion Earl Strickland in the Ohio State Open, which Strickland had won two previous years. Cilitti finished third in the professional event ahead of several former world champions.

2021 GCABA class:Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association to induct four in Hall of Fame

Steve Dickson

Dickson started playing pool as a young man in the Akron area but didn't become serious about the game until the 1990s, playing in and winning larger tournaments around the region. Dickson also traveled the region with several road players from the area, including GCABA Hall of Famer John Maki.

2020 GCABA class:Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association to welcome four to hall of fame

Mike Johann

Johann came up through the ranks of the Massillon Tavern Pool League like so many of the area's top players. Johann became a fixture in that league for almost two decades, winning three league MVP awards while being on four championship teams. He also had success in the VNEA Silver and Gold divisions, individually winning singles MVP and year-end tournaments.

Bill Miller

Miller operated the Hideaway Lounge in downtown Massillon from 1985-2018. He originally had to be convinced to add a pool table to the lounge, which would go on to house some of the area's best teams and players. Miller sponsored teams that would dominate the Massillon Tavern Pool League during the 1990s. He also was involved with league organizational meetings and finances.

Tommy Porter

Porter is one of the area's most recognizable and liked players. He also is a product of the Massillon Tavern Pool League, which he has played in for more than 30 years. Porter was a member of the 1997 Massillon Tavern Pool League Championship from the Reedurban Tavern and a third-place team in the OCMA VNEA State 8-Ball Championships.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Greater Canton Amateur Billiard Association hall of fame induction