LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown - Part 1 (From Basement Beginnings to Queen of the Hill)
In this debut episode of our four-part conversation with pool legend LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown, we go back to the very beginning of a remarkable journey in billiards. A World Pool-Billiard Association Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most decorated players in women’s pool, LoreeJon opens up about her early life, her family’s influence, and how a cue stick in her tiny hands set her on the path to greatness.
From her childhood home in Garwood, New Jersey—where a full-sized Gandy table dominated the basement—to her father’s mentorship and clever ingenuity (building wooden boxes so his young daughter could reach the table), LoreeJon shares how she developed flawless mechanics at an age when most kids were still playing with toys. By seven, she was performing trick shot exhibitions in front of Minnesota Fats, and at eleven, she captured her first major title, foreshadowing the extraordinary career to come.
Listeners will hear the stories behind her “Queen of the Hill” nickname and how resilience became her trademark. LoreeJon recalls the sting of early dismissals—like being told to “go back to Barbies” by a world champion—and how those words fueled her determination to prove doubters wrong. Alongside anecdotes of growing up around legends like Allen Hopkins, Steve Mizerak, and Ray Martin, LoreeJon reflects on her parents’ sacrifices, her mother’s quiet strength, and the unique challenges of being a young girl in a male-dominated game.
This episode paints a vivid portrait of LoreeJon’s formative years—equal parts grit, humor, and heart—and sets the stage for the rest of her inspiring story.
Join us as we step into the world of one of pool’s true pioneers, whose love of the game and indomitable spirit made her a champion long before the trophies ever came.
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About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Ogonowski-Brown, LoreeJon
LoreeJon Ogonowski-Brown (formerly LoreeJon Jones, LoreeJon Hasson, sometimes known mononymically as LoreeJon; born November 6, 1965 is a professional pool player.
A child prodigy who began playing at the age of 4 at her home in Garwood, New Jersey, she picked up the game from her father, John Ogonowski.
Recognizing her talent, her father built wooden boxes around the table so she would be the correct height for him to teach her the sport. Her father was her instructor, and her mother became her daily practice partner. She ran her first rack of balls at age 5. She performed her first three trick shots at age 6 in Chicago at a men's World Straight Pool tournament. At age 11, she became a pro player with the Women's Professional Billiard Association (WPBA) and came to be known as "Queen of the Hill".
Aged 15, she won the World Straight Pool Championship, becoming the youngest player, male or female, ever to win a world championship. From 1981 to 1996, she won many tournaments, three WPBA National Championships, BCA U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship, WPBA U.S. Open 9-ball Championship, and the All Japan Championship. When she won the WPA World Nine-ball Championship, she had held every title possible in women's professional pool. At the time of her 2002 induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame, and 2008 Women's Professional Billiard Association Hall of Fame, she held over 50 major titles, and over the course of her career was recognized five times as "Player of the Year" by Pool & Bi… Read More