Nationality
Julius Oral Popwell was American, holding citizenship in the United States.
- Direct message
- Leave a review
- Bookmark
- Share
- Report
- prev
- next
Born (date and place of birth)
He was born on June 1, 1912, in Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
Residence (current location)
He lived near Birmingham, Alabama, operating lotteries and card games from his home in Shelby County, about 10 miles from Birmingham.
Education (institution, specialization)
There is no verified specific information on Julius Oral Popwell’s formal educational background available. Typically, early-to-mid 20th century poker players often had variable formal education, many learning skills informally or through life experience in gambling and related activities.
Children (number, ages)
There is no publicly available verified information about any children of Julius Oral Popwell.
Year started playing poker
The exact year when Popwell started playing poker professionally is not documented; however, he was an active and well-known road gambler by the mid-1940s.
Age when started playing
Based on his prominence in gambling by the mid-1940s and birth in 1912, it is estimated Julius Oral Popwell likely began serious poker involvement in his early 30s, although he was a skilled card player from a younger age.
Year turned professional
The specific year when he formally transitioned to professional poker status is not recorded; Popwell was a career road gambler and poker player primarily from the 1940s until his death in 1966.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
Detailed records of Popwell’s first significant tournament or major cash winnings are unavailable, as much of his career was in road and underground gambling rather than formal tournament circuits that tracked such data.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
There is no specific publicly documented individual known as Popwell’s poker mentor, but he was contemporaneous with and often played against legends such as Johnny Moss, suggesting informal learning from peers in the poker road gambling scene.
First important tournament
There are no records of Julius Oral Popwell’s early tournament participation; his career predates the modern tournament poker boom, primarily centered around cash and road games.
Main motivation for turning pro
Like many professional poker players of his era, Popwell’s primary motivation was a deep passion for gambling and poker, combined with the opportunity to earn livelihood and status through road gambling and card games.
Initial bankroll
There is no public information on Popwell’s initial bankroll or early financial backing; typically, professional gamblers of his day built bankrolls through winnings from informal and underground games.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Formal poker education was rare in Popwell’s time; most skills were developed through extensive play, observation, and practical experience in road games.
First sponsor/backing
There is no record of sponsorship deals for Julius Oral Popwell as sponsorship and endorsements were not a common feature of poker players’ careers in the early to mid-20th century.
Total live tournament winnings
Exact live tournament winnings totals for Julius Oral Popwell are not recorded, due to the era he played in and the predominance of underground cash games over tracked tournaments.
Number of tournament wins
No records exist of formal tournament wins as Popwell’s career was mainly in road and cash games before organized poker tournaments became widespread.
Number of final tables
There are no documented final table appearances for Julius Oral Popwell in official tournaments.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
Specific largest tournament winnings are not documented; Popwell was reputed to have won close to $1 million on a World Series baseball game bet, but no poker tournament prize records exist.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Julius Oral Popwell won no World Series of Poker bracelets; the WSOP was established after his era.
WSOP cashes (number)
There are no WSOP cash finishes for Popwell, as he played before the establishment of the WSOP.
WSOP final tables
There are no WSOP final table appearances for Popwell for the same reasons.
Best WSOP Main Event result
Popwell did not participate in the WSOP Main Event since it began after his death.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No participation or results in super high roller events are documented for Popwell.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No high roller tournament wins are attributed to him.
Online tournament winnings
No online poker winnings exist for Popwell, as online poker developed decades after his passing.
Major online titles
Popwell had no online titles.
Poker team
There is no association of Popwell with any poker team or sponsorship stable during his lifetime.
Main cash game limits
Popwell specialized in road gambling cash games, predominantly five-card stud, common in mid-20th century American poker scenes; typical stakes are not quantified.
Highest stakes played
Precise record of highest stakes played is unavailable, though as a high-level road gambler, he likely played high-stakes cash games for his era.
Notable high stakes sessions
Specific notable cash game sessions are undocumented in the historical record.
"Big Game" participation
There are no records of participation in known branded Big Game cash sessions; the concept was popularized much later.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Estimated lifetime cash game profits are not publicly known or documented for Popwell.
Country ranking
There is no formal country ranking available for Popwell, though he was regarded as one of the top road gamblers in the United States during his era.
All Time Money List position
All-Time Money rankings do not include Popwell due to lack of tournament data from his era.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Tournament ROI is not calculable for Popwell due to absence of tournament tracked results.
Average tournament win
Average winnings per event are not recorded for his career.
ITM percentage
In-the-money percentages are not available as tournament records do not exist.
Final table percentage from cashes
Final table percentages cannot be calculated due to no recorded tournament participation.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Year-by-year performance statistics do not exist for Popwell’s era.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Popwell’s primary poker discipline was five-card stud, which was his preferred and expert game.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
He played primarily live cash games and road gambler events rather than structured tournament formats.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Typical table sizes for Popwell’s games were standard full-ring or varied in informal road games, often ranging 5-7 players in five-card stud.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Known formats for Popwell included five-card stud, pitch, gin rummy, and cooncan, with five-card stud as his poker specialty.
Specialization limits
Specific stakes during Popwell’s career are unrecorded but likely involved high-stakes as a respected road gambler.
Online rooms where plays
No online poker room activity due to the pre-internet era of his death.
Favorite casinos/locations
Popwell favored playing near Birmingham, Alabama, and often traveled across the country for road games rather than specific casinos.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Playing style was characterized as expert and skilled, especially in five-card stud; noted for being a fervent and respected road gambler.
Known for bluffs/traps
While specific bluffing tendencies are unrecorded, as a successful road gambler, it's likely Popwell used strategic bluffing and trapping consistent with expert players of his time.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
His approach combined practical experience and observational skill rather than formal mathematical strategy, as modern theories were not prevalent then.
Style adaptability
Popwell was recognized for adapting to various opponents and game conditions in road gambling circuits.
Playing strengths
His strengths included expert five-card stud play, deep knowledge of card games, and fervent road gambler experience.
GTO strategy usage
Game Theory Optimal strategies were not developed or applied during Popwell’s time.
Poker software usage
Poker software tools did not exist in his era.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
There are no recorded television appearances by Julius Oral Popwell, as televised poker was not common in his lifetime.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
No participation in High Stakes Poker TV series.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
No appearances on Poker After Dark.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
No documentary films have been produced about Popwell specifically.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
There are no recorded interviews with Popwell; coverage was mostly posthumous and retrospective.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
No podcast appearances took place.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No podcast or video channel ownership existed.
Facebook (account link)
No social media presence.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No channel or content associated.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No streaming channel.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No presence on TikTok.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No professional LinkedIn profile.
Posting frequency in social media
No social media, so no posting frequency.
Type of content in social media
No online content sharing.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
No known sponsors or endorsement deals.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
No sponsorship history available.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
No poker site ambassadorship roles.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Active in operating gambling games and lotteries from his home, effectively running an underground gambling business.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No documented poker industry investments.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No known coaching services provided.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
No poker educational materials created by Popwell.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No affiliate program partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No personal merchandise.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
No poker books authored by Popwell.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No training series participation.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No masterclass offerings.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No professional coaching history.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No known notable coaching students.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No educational YouTube content.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
No articles authored by Popwell; coverage limited to historical retrospectives about him.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No magazine columns.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No known speaking engagements or conference participation.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Popwell was involved in legal issues including a 1954 sentencing to jail and a fine for operating illegal lotteries, card games, and income tax evasion.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
There are no recorded cheating accusations against Popwell.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
No publicly known casino conflicts other than legal raids on his gambling operations.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
He was sentenced on April 3, 1954, to 366 days in jail and fined $250 for running illegal gambling operations and income tax evasion.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
There are no documented public disputes with other players.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No tournament rule violations recorded.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
In 1954, Popwell was convicted and fined for income tax evasion related to his gambling operations.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Some criticism from law enforcement during his life due to illegal gambling activities, but he was respected by his peers.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
There is no documented public response from Popwell to criticism or legal issues.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1996 posthumously, recognized as a major figure in early 20th-century poker.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1996.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely respected by fellow gamblers and poker legends such as Johnny Moss for his skill and reputation.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No additional poker publication awards reported.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Known as one of the foremost road gamblers and five-card stud experts of the mid-20th century; reputed once to have won close to $1 million on a sports wager.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
No specific poker records attributed to Popwell.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Contributed to poker history as an iconic road gambler and respected five-card stud player in the early professional poker era recognized by Hall of Fame induction.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No records of charity tournament participation.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered as a legendary road gambler and master of five-card stud, influencing the early professional poker scene and earning Poker Hall of Fame status.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influenced the culture and reputation of road gambling in mid-20th century America; remembered for honorable conduct and high-level skill among contemporaries.
No known tournament commentary work.