Ken Aylesworth teaches CNY veterans the tricks of his trade.
/ Brandon Roth
He spent 20 years as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force, serving our nation during the Vietnam War. Now, a master of the billiards, Ken "Sarge" Aylesworth, is one of the top trick shot pool artists in the world. Wednesday, he brought his act to Central New York.
Aylesworth picked up pool in 1968, learning the game from the legendary Dave DePasquale, in California. Aylesworth says DePasquale, who was at that time one of the best pool players in the world, taught him out to play by showing him the trick shots.
Now Aylesworth relives those lessons, by taking his game on the road.
Wednesday morning, he performed for Veterans at the Syracuse VA Hospital.
He says showing others the tricks is just as much of a treat for him, as it is for them.
"I think the veterans deserve a little more than what they're getting. This is a little bit of entertainment, a chance to put a couple of smiles on their faces," he says. "I like to see the smiles on their faces, it's very rewarding."
Wednesday evening, Aylesworth performed for the community at Premium Billiards in Fairmount. It's another one of 23 stops around his tour of the Empire State.
A Central New York native, he was born in Syracuse, and grew up in a farm in Phoenix, New York.
Aylesworth served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1987.
