The man we know as "Mexican Tommy," was born Thomas Ramon Workman, in Riverside, California, one of six children.At the age of nine, already working at shining shoes, Tommy watched his first shuffleboard game. When he saw the money changing hands, he decided that was the game for him.

He began working with his longshoreman father in 1949, and soon learned the ropes, but it wasn't until 1951 that his shuffleboard career began at the Homeport Bar in Wilmington, and at The Bird Cage.

In 1953, Tommy was married, and that was the start of something big-a BIG family. They had seven children, three boys and four girls, and through the years a total of thirty grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been added.

Through the mid-fifties and sixties, he traveled playing shuffleboard around and up and down the coast from California to Washington, Arizona, New Mexico and through the Midwest. He became such a good player that the lesser players absolutely refused to play against him, because they knew for sure they were going to lose their money.

During this time he became known a Mexican Tommy. Word got around to l ook out for that tall, thin, Mexican, since he always ended up with the money.

"I didn't have to go to work or send home for money during those years," Tommy said. "I played with all the great players, but Bob Miles was my idol. He was the best. He was a true gentleman of the game.

Bob always wore a suit, white shirt and tie, and a towel around his waist so he wouldn't get his trousers dirty. "We used to play at the Homeport Bar...>>>Booklet