Crandell Addington

1938 - 2024

Crandell Addington
June 2, 1938 - April 14, 2024
Crandell Addington, Oilman, Entrepreneur and "No-Limit Hold'Em Legend", dies at 85
Early Years of No-Limit Texas Hold'Em
Speaking at Harvard University about high stakes poker gambling in Texas in the 1960s and 1970s, he noted "...We did have weapons. It was not really to use on each other. What we really wanted to be able to do was, if we won, we wanted to be able to get back to the car with the money. And so, not only did we have to beat a lot of really good players, but we had to dodge the hijackers and often times the sheriff of the county."
In the late 1960's, Crandell moved from San Antonio to Reno with a friend who had the idea of buying a casino to put-on high stakes poker games. Although the Casino deal didn't pan out, Crandell helped organize the Texas Gamblers Convention, inviting "a whole bunch of the best players and bookmakers and high rollers in the country." This quasi-tournament in Reno would the following year transform into the World Series of Poker held in Las Vegas.
Crandell's poker accomplishments include winning the Texas Gamblers Convention in 1969, coming in second at the World Series of Poker in 1974 and 1979, and making it to the World Series of Poker final table seven times in the 1970s, a record that still stands today. Doyle Brunson, a friend for over 50 years, considered Crandell a "No-Limit Hold'Em Legend." Crandell was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2005 and is credited with one of the most famous lines in poker history: "Limit poker is a science, but no-limit is an art. In limit, you're shooting at a target. In no-limit, the target comes alive and shoots back at you."
Transition to Independent Oil Man and Biotech Founder
Crandell retired from poker by the mid-1980s but credited his skills and the strategies learned in poker as a foundation for creating entrepreneurial business ventures in both the oil business and in biotechnology. In the 1980s, he transitioned from high stakes poker to high stakes Texas wildcatting in the oil industry. He built a successful oil business in Texas, Addington Enterprises, for over 30 years. In 2003 he co-founded Phoenix Biotechnology and was CEO and Chairman until resigning for health reasons.
"The only bad luck is bad health," he would often quote one of his mentors, Las Vegas legend and owner of Binion's Horseshoe Casino, Benny Binion. This belief was appropriate for a high stakes poker player and entrepreneur. Crandell also believed you could go broke and lose everything, but "an education can never be taken away from you." With an education and your health, whatever the short-term difficulties, he said you could always regroup and land on your feet.
Remarkable Intelligence and Generosity
From an early age, Crandell's intelligence was evident. He advanced two grades and graduated high school in only 2 years. Crandell attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and graduated cum laude in 1961 with degrees in Economics and Accounting. Throughout his life, he applied his sharp mind to learning the practical applications of law, geology, and medical science. Knowledge he skillfully used in battling corporate giants such as Raytheon, in exploring for oil and gas fields in Texas, and in developing plant-based medicines for treating human and animal diseases.
As intelligent as he was, he was equally generous. Crandell financially supported many family members and family friends in their educations. He loyally supported the J. Charles Merrill Peace and Justice Endowed Scholarship, named for one of his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers, which supports upperclassmen students who have demonstrated interest in activities or occupations that promote peace and justice locally, nationally, or globally.
Love for Animals
Crandell was fond of quoting Will Rogers' ode to dogs... "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went." His home in San Antonio was never without animals. He had many loyal companions and believed he would reunite with them at the mythical Rainbow Bridge. Crandell requested his ashes be spread over his animal friends, in particular his black lab, Miss Joey.
Crandell is survived by his son Brett, granddaughter Elia, daughter in-law Antoinette, wife Judy, sister Karen, as well as de facto family members Gloria Escobar, Luis Escobar, Carlos Torres and Sarah Duncan.
A celebration of his life will be held at 12 pm, Friday April 26th, at Paisanos restaurant in Lincoln Heights, 555 E Basse Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following organizations Crandell supported:
Southwestern University: For gifts in his memory to the J. Charles Merrill Peace and Justice Endowed Scholarship, please visit (southwestern.edu/makeagift) and select J. Charles Merrill Peace and Justice Endowed Scholarship
For donations to Animal Welfare, Wildlife, and Environmental organizations, please consider any of the following:

Rolling Dog Farm
Defenders of Wildlife
World Wildlife Fund
African Wildlife
Foundation
Center for Biological
Diversity
Natural Resource
Defense Council
Oceana
Sierra Club
GreenPeace