DES MOINES, IA (06/01/2016)(readMedia)-- President Harry S. Truman was known for more than ending World War II and initiating the United Nations. With his closest friends, the President was an avid poker player and adopted many characteristics to fit the description. Truman was also noted for playing poker with foreign dignitaries, Cabinet members, Congressmen and military officers. A U.S. Navy carpenter built President Truman a one-of-a-kind poker table in the Key West, Florida shipyard cabinet shop for use on his Presidential yacht.
His table was unique as it was built in seven sections with seven ashtrays and seven sets of chip holders. The popular poker game of Truman's day was seven-card stud, where the maximum players in a single deck game are seven. Also unique is that the center playing surface lifts out and reveals a dice pit underneath.
Looking for a woodworking challenge, two central Iowan craftsmen created four handmade replicas of Truman's original poker table. With no blueprints or direction, the two men, Dave Knau and Jim Gocke, took on the challenge. Jim commented, "Dividing up a circular table into seven equal pieces is not only difficult, but it has to be perfect to fit together." The craftsmen donated one table to the U.S.S. Iowa and one to stand in for the original table while it is being restored. The third table has been donated to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation's Corndog Kickoff Benefit Auction and Fair Food Grazing Party to raise funds for Fairgrounds renovations.
To purchase this unique table, attend the 20th annual Corndog Kickoff. The Kickoff is set for Saturday, July 9, 2016 in the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The poker table fits in perfectly with this year's "Locally Grown" theme highlighting how the Iowa State Fair is a venue where Iowans come together to showcase their fresh grown produce, hand-raised livestock, latest invention or craft.
The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has generated more than $115 million for renovations and improvements to the Iowa State Fairgrounds. For more information on the Corndog Kickoff, please contact the Blue Ribbon Foundation at 1-800-450-3732 or email bluerf@blueribbonfoundation.
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(submitted by Marcus Kirstein)
