Belinda Calhoun

Belinda Calhoun is an American professional pool player. Known as “The Texas Belle,” she was a competitor on the Women's Professional Billiard Association tour in the 1980s and 1990s and later served in leadership roles within cue sports organizations. She has been inducted into both the WPBA Hall of Fame and the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.

Early life

Belinda Campos was born on March 5, 1953, in Austin, Texas. She first picked up a cue at age 18 in the summer of 1971 while accompanying a boyfriend to a local pool hall, quickly becoming fascinated by the game. She soon entered local tournaments and committed to a professional career in pool.

Professional career

Calhoun turned professional in 1977. The year 1985 was significant for her, winning:

Women's World 14.1 Championship
WPBA National 9‑Ball Championship
U.S. Open 9‑Ball Championship
Texas River City Open

She was named Player of the Year by Billiards Digest in 1985 and featured in Pool & Billiard Magazine's “All-Stars.”
Calhoun also won two BCA National 8‑Ball Championships and became known for her left-handed stroke.

Organizational leadership

Beyond competition, Calhoun contributed to cue sports governance:

Served on the WPBA Board of Directors for over 20 years, including Vice President and Hall of Fame committee chair
Served six years on the World Pool Association Board
Billiard Congress of America Board Director

She helped standardize pre-tournament meetings, dress codes, and regional tour structures for women's pool.

Honors and legacy

2006 - WPBA Hall of Fame
2016 - Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame
2024 - Texas Billiards Hall of Fame

Personal life

Calhoun resides in Fork, South Carolina and remains active in organizational work within cue sports. According to her LinkedIn profile, she studied physical education at the University of Texas at Austin from 1971 to 1973.