Welker Cochran

He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, but moved to Manson early.

The popularity of balkline faded in the late 1920s and early 1930s, causing Cochran to switch to three-cushion, in which he won his first world title in 1933.

In 1945, Cochran set a new world record (now surpassed) by achieving a game average of 3 (60 points in 20 innings) in a match he won against Willie Hoppe.

He retired from serious competition in 1946 due to arthritis, but did make a comeback attempt in 1954.

Cochran was inducted posthumously into the Billiard Congress of America's Hall of Fame in 1967.