Moss was the original, a cold-as-steel, tough-as-nails old-school gambler who never flinched under pressure, whether it was from a big pot or a gun barrel at his temple. He carried a weapon himself at all times, using it on more than one occasion while following the Texan trail from one poker game to the next.

Born to former deputy sheriff John Sr. and wife Lena, Moss’s life was hard-going from the get-go. Out of work with only tough times ahead for his family, Moss Sr. packed up his wife, two daughters and two sons into the classic-style covered wagon and headed west in what would be a mostly fruitless search for employment.

A month into the trip, Lena’s appendix burst. Young John was only three months old when he lost his mother, the first in the line of life experiences that would toughen him into the cold, stoic man we remember now. The family settled in Dallas, the town where Moss would find his apprenticeship into the gambling world, working his way up in a local domino parlor where he learned the tricks of the trade.

By 1949, he was widely consider to be amongst the best of the game. That was the year when his reputation was solidified in his now-famous match against Nick “The Greek” Dandalos, one that lead to the Benny Binion inspiration that lead to the creation of the World Series of Poker.

The twenty-one years between the Dandalos match and the inaugural Series saw Moss’ success as a professional unrivaled. The gun barrels and tough, corrupt games were balanced by his own toughness, a willingness to brandish his own weapon and unrivalled skill.

In the early years of the Series, Moss’ success was unrivalled. He won eight events (those before 1975 did not award bracelets), a record of success that went unmatched until Brunson finally won his eighth in 1998. Both Brunson and Johnny Chan finally notched their ninth wins in 2003.

Moss was elected to the Binion’s Poker Hall of Fame in 1978 along with Dandalos, Corky McCorquodale, Red Winn, Sir Edmond Hoyle, Wild Bill Hickock and Sid Wyman as the institution’s inaugural class in 1979. It would be nine years later, at a record age of eighty-one, that he’d win his final bracelet. He’d still play for another seven years.

It was after a stroke that deprived him the use of his hands and with it his beloved game that Moss would pass. It was ultimately heart failure that would end his life on December 16th, 1995. With Moss passed the era of poker he’d come to represent; the rougher, harder times of the Texan road gambler. Now, we remember him to remember that time, a crucial chapter in poker’s and America’s history.