Amarillo Slim

Thomas Austin Preston Jr. was born on December 31, 1928, in Johnson, Arkansas. When he was an infant, his family moved to Turkey, Texas, but after his parents divorced, his mother returned to Johnson while his father relocated to Amarillo. Preston later remarked, 'It's a good thing he did, because Amarillo Slim sounds a heck of a lot better than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin.' At age 17, he joined the U.S. Navy, and after returning to Texas, he began hustling pool and playing poker.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Preston became a road gambler, traveling with Doyle Brunson and Brian 'Sailor' Roberts. The trio, known as the 'Texas Rounders,' played underground games across the South and Midwest. They are credited with introducing Texas hold'em to Las Vegas casinos and all three participated in the first World Series of Poker in 1970.

Preston is best known for winning the 1972 WSOP Main Event, defeating Walter 'Puggy' Pearson heads-up. The event had a $10,000 buy-in (worth about $64,000 in 2021) and paid $80,000. He went on to win three more bracelets in different decades:

In 2000, Preston finished second to Phil Ivey in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event for $97,500 – the second-largest cash of his career. His lifetime WSOP tournament earnings exceeded $587,000.

From 1979 to 1991, Preston hosted the Super Bowl of Poker, considered the second most prestigious poker tournament after the WSOP Main Event. The event attracted top players and awarded significant prizes; winners included Stu Ungar (three times), Gabe Kaplan, and T.J. Cloutier. The 1984 and 1988 winners each took home $275,000.

After his 1972 WSOP win, Preston became a pop culture icon. He appeared on The Tonight Show (ten times), Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, and game shows like I've Got a Secret (where his secret was losing $190,000 in one poker night). He also had a small role in the 1974 film California Split.

Preston authored several books:

• Play Poker to Win (1973, with Bill G. Cox; revised 2005)
• Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People (2003, autobiography)
• All In: An E-guide To No Limit Texas Hold'em (2007)

His distinctive appearance – six-foot-two, never over 175 pounds, wearing a white Stetson and dusty cowboy boots – made him instantly recognizable.

Preston was divorced, had three children, and lived on a 600-acre ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Beyond poker, he excelled at billiards, dominoes (beating Willie Nelson and Larry King), and proposition bets. His 2003 autobiography detailed poker sessions with Larry Flynt, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

In 1992, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. In 2003, Preston was indicted in Randall County, Texas, on charges of indecency with a 12-year-old girl, but details of the case are not fully documented in search results. He passed away on April 29, 2012, at age 83, surrounded by family.

Preston is remembered as a pioneering figure who brought poker into the mainstream with his wit and showmanship, and as one of the original Texas road gamblers who shaped the modern game.