Hal Fowler

Harold Arthur "Hal" Fowler (January 12, 1927 – November 7, 2000) was an American poker player known for winning the 1979 World Series of Poker Main Event. He is considered the first amateur poker player to become poker's World Champion.

Fowler was born in Rutland (city), Vermont and later lived for many years in Tulare, California. Before his WSOP victory, he worked as an advertising executive.

Poker
Although he was a relative unknown amateur player, Fowler won the 1979 World Series of Poker Main Event. At one point in the tournament, he was down to around 2,000 in chips (out of over 500,000 total tournament chips) at a final table that included Johnny Moss, Bobby Baldwin, and other professional players. Additionally, it is believed that Fowler could not cover the entrance fee and Benny Binion had to loan it to him. Fowler's 1979 win is sometimes called the greatest upset in the history of the WSOP.

Fowler defeated professional Bobby Hoff heads up to win the championship when his made a gut-shot straight and defeated Hoff's  on a board reading.

Fowler later faded from the poker scene because of complications from diabetes that hurt his eyesight and his legs.

Fowler's career tournament earnings exceeded $380,000.

He died at the age of 73 of hemorrhagic shock due to upper gastro-intestinal bleeding, after having been driven to the hospital by a friend on November 7, 2000. He had been living in a seniors housing complex and was experiencing symptoms of a duodenal ulcer and cirrhosis.