Belinda Campos Calhoun Belinda Calhoun is two years from celebrating her thirtieth year on the pro tour. The 1977 U.S. Open champion started her journey in 1973 after picking up a national billiards newsletter. "It prompted me to pursue a career in pool. I realized that this is what I want to do."
She was the leading money winner in 1983, followed by a player-of-the-year award in '85. Since then, Belinda has put in six years as a member of the World Pool and Billiard Association, which was during the time when the International Olympic Committee officially recognized pool. She is also a 14-year member of the WPBA board and former BCA board member. She has also captured seven Texas State Opens, which might be the thing she's most proud of. "It's the oldest tournament in the country." Her successes have also garnered her with numerous endorsement deals and sponsorships from Limbsaver X-1 Cue Stabilizer, the Guylassey Sledgehammer, Integrity Group Financial, and Colliding Spheres - "The Absolute in Training Excellence." "The Texas Belle" soon took her success to the classroom, teaching an introduction to pool class at Texas State University. After eight years of teaching, she has plenty of stories to tell, especially about seniors who have tried to get into the course for four years. The first lesson that she teaches them is that it is futile to challenge her on the tables because you have a slim to none chance of winning. But she does take the class very seriously, just as she has her career. The Texas native still lives in Austin with her husband, Jay, and their two children, who, coincidentally, have no interest in pool. That may just be why she is so adamant about spreading her knowledge of the game to the students in the classroom. Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news in the sport of billiards and pool.
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