Doug is employed at Mercier Tool as a tool and die machinist. Being an umpire for local baseball games is his hobby. Doug told of how he would "umpire local high school and Class A ball games." "I once umpired for the Amateur Baseball Congress World Conference," hopes to work his "way up to the college level" and "would like to umpire in the Mid American Conference." Though umpping is what Doug does during warmer weather, pool is the sport he plays all year long. In reference to one sport feeding off the other, he said, "Billiards has helped me a great deal at this. It has taught me to watch the game intently and to handle the pressure that goes along with umpiring a game."

Like a lot of players, Doug began playing pool around the age of thirteen. "We had a pool table at home and I would just bang the balls around. I wasn’t very good. When I first started out, I played with Don Amadii. He was the best player in the area at that time. He taught me a lot of things. I would also go down to the Tracks Tavern [Massillon, OH] and play Steve Sutherland in one-dollar 9-Ball games. He was a great 9-Ball player. Now I really don’t watch anyone. I don’t really practice a great deal. I just play. If I’m not gambling, I’m not playing!"

Doug’s favorite game is 8-Ball. "I still work hard on my pattern play. That is what you need to do if you want to be a good 8-Ball player. Good patterns mean more run outs and more wins! Tim Clark and I have spent a lot of time working on that aspect of our game." In his opinion, Doug says his game is "simple." "I try to keep control of the cue ball. Just a bump here or there to get a ball loose. I don’t like to let the cue run much. I am not a flashy player but I can stroke it when I need to." His advice for novice players is to "Stay down and stroke the ball. Work on your patterns and learn to play under pressure. That’s important. Do not let the pressure beat you!"

Doug’s history of play is impressive. When he was seventeen years old, he won his first tournament at Rugs Tavern in Canton, Oh. Of that he said, " I think I won $50.00." His first year in the Canton League he played for KC’s and the second year for Freeway Tavern where he won the " MVP in the "B" League." Since then Doug has played for every league in the area and has " played for a lot of different teams and bars." His first team championship was in the Massillon Tavern League playing for the Union Station. Other team members were Don Amadii, Jim Krenzer, Tim Price and Rick Daniels. This same year his team also won the Canton-Louisville league.

A closer look at Doug’s winning history revealed many titles. Individually in league play, and in addition to the aforementioned "B" League MVP, Doug has stroked his way to MVP three more times: in 1992 and 1998 on the Canton-Louisville League as well as in 1998 on the Academy Billiard League.

In addition to his individual honors, Doug has played with league teams that have been equally if not more successful and these include the following: Canton-Louisville League champions in 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1997;VNEA League champions in 1992,1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998; and Massillon Tavern League champions four times.

In the Sandusky and Youngstown team events that are very well-known in this area, and coordinated by Dan and Cecil Kromer, Doug’s teams have placed first two times, placed second one time, placed third two times and placed fourth and fifth one time each. Winning and placing high in the ranks at these National Team Open Men’s events implies extraordinary abilities and stamina. His teams are very good and possess these qualities.

Doug, who plays with a Joss cue, said that in the future he will continue to play pool with his friends. "They are all good players and fun to be with. My best friend is Tim Clark. If Tim don’t play, I don’t play! I also like to play with George Kieselat. He is a great player and a good friend. Other guys I like to have on teams are Tim Price, Chris Szuter and Charles ‘Gunk’ Clendenin."