Pearson was born and raised in Tennessee in a family with nine siblings. He got his nickname "Puggy" from a childhood accident that left him with a disfigured nose at the age of twelve. He dropped out of school in the fifth grade, and at the age of 17, he joined the United States Navy, where he served three terms. He strengthened his skills at poker and gambling while in the Navy.
Professional poker
Prior to 1949, all poker games were cash games; a player could cash out his chips and leave at any time. Pearson originated the idea of a freezeout tournament and shared his idea with fellow gambler "Nick the Greek" Dandolos in the early 1950s. Dandalos later brought the idea to legendary casino owner Benny Binion. After further urging by Pearson, Amarillo Slim, and Doyle Brunson, all of whom felt that such a tournament would create great side game action, Binion founded the World Series of Poker in 1970. Pearson participated in the first World Series of Poker that year along with Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson, Sailor Roberts, Crandell Addington, and Carl Cannon. Pearson won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the 1971 Limit Seven-Card Stud preliminary event. In 1973, he won two preliminary events in the WSOP. In the same World Series, Pearson won the Main Event when his A♠ 7♠ defeated Johnny Moss's J♠. With the Main Event victory, he became the first player in WSOP history to win three events in a single year. This record has since been matched by five others. He won four bracelets, two of which were in seven-card stud and two of which were No limit hold'em. Pearson was known as a man who would always seek out the biggest game in town, whether it was in the poker room or on the golf course. He owned a RV, which he called the Roving Gambler, with this painted on the side: "I'll play any man from any land any game he can name for any amount I can count, provided I like it." Pearson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1987. He was also infamously abusive to casino employees, throwing cards at dealers, berating floor persons and not tipping service staff.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
Death
Pearson, who had a long history of heart problems, died on April 12, 2006.
