Hal Fowler

Harold A. Fowler ( born January 12, 1927 in Vermont; † November 7, 2000 in Tulare, California ) was an American poker player. He is considered the first non-professional players, the poker world champion.

Although relatively unknown, Fowler won the main event at the World Series of Poker 1979. Between, he had left more than 500,000 chips at the final table with Johnny Moss, Bobby Baldwin and other world-class players only 2,000. It is believed that Fowler could not pay the entry fee, but this had to borrow by Benny Binion. Fowler's victory in 1979 is considered by some as the biggest surprise of the history of the World Series of Poker.

Fowler had to leave the poker scene, as he suffered from diabetes, which affected both his eyesight, as well as his legs.

He died in 2000 in California.