Kent Frampton got smoked on the sporting clays course by his Montana Tavern Association colleague Ralph Ferraro. So he took his revenge on the 50 players who signed up to compete in the MTA's annual convention Texas Hold 'Em Tournament in Kalispell Sept. 10-11.
In all fairness, Kent's automatic shotgun was malfunctioning, but that fact didn't lessen the intensity of his card playing at the WestCoast Outlaw Hotel in Kalispell.
The tournament is fittingly named in honor of Kent's brother, the late Roger Frampton, who won the tournament in the past and was an avid player and devoted MTA member. Kent's wife, Mary, has also won the tournament in the past.
Sandy Jones, a "committee of one," organized and executed the event in lock step. The preliminary elimination round was played Monday night, Sept. 10, and the event was concluded the following evening.
Jones said the tournament "was a great deal of fun. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I heard nothing but positive comments."
Of the 50 who started Monday night, just 12 advanced to the Tuesday night round which concluded near midnight.
Frampton's championship earned him $2,500, and second place Tom Jones pocketed $1,500. Kalispell's own Jeff Windorski took home third place honors and $1,000. Havre's Russ DeVries received a nice "booby" trophy for being the first one eliminated.
Meanwhile, the MTA earned $7,000 to fund its continuing operation–a pretty good take for a good cause.
Town Pump provides the tables and Summit Gaming delivers and sets them up. Jones brings cards and chips and arranges for the dealers, including their pay and rooms, which is covered out of tournament proceeds.
Kent Frampton, of the Best Bet group, provides trophies for first, second and third places and also furnished the big traveling trophy awarded to the champ...right, which is now himself.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, September, 2007, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.