RIP Jack Ury

Jack Ury, the oldest man ever to play in the WSOP, passed away on 1st February, 2011 at the age of 97. His slowroll in the 2009 WSOP Main Event remains one of the most memorable moments of televised poker history.

Jack Ury

Jack Julian Ury was born on 22nd March, 1913 in Terre Haute, Indiana. For the better part of his life, he had worked for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1978. He was also a US Navy veteran of WWII. He married his wife Elizabeth on 12th January, 1942. 4 daughters, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 3 step great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren survive him.

Jack Ury played in the WSOP Main Event first back in 2007. From then on he returned every year, each time breaking his own record of being the oldest man ever to play. On all four occasions, he made it to Day 2, although failed to make it in the money. His perseverance kept motivating many and every time he sat down to play, his fellow players welcomed him and treated him with respect.

His most notable feature in the WSOP was televised by ESPN in 2009, when he played a hand with Stephen Friedlander. I’m not going to spoil this for you; if you haven’t seen it before, you can watch the memorable moment here.

His burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Park, Terre Haute, Indiana with military graveside honors.