Fred “Sarge” Ferris

Fred “Sarge” Ferris, A New England-born son of Lebanese immigrants, Sarge became a professional gambler to escape the poverty of his youth. He won the 1980 deuce-to-seven draw world title. He gained notoriety when, on April 22, 1983, the Internal Revenue Service seized $46,000 worth of chips from him during a high-stakes game at the Horseshoe. He died of a heart attack in March 1989, the year he was enshrined in the Poker Hall of Fame.