This is the most important person to Doodles Billiards: Shawn Chapell. From the very first day, his unwavering loyalty and dedication made him the backbone of everything we’ve built. No one has been more committed to seeing Doodles succeed than Shawn. Through every high and low, he’s been right there—fully invested in every aspect of the business, always ready to go the extra mile.

What set Shawn apart even more was his humor—it was off the charts. He had this incredible ability to make anyone laugh, no matter the situation. His quick wit and jokes lightened even the toughest days, and he brought a sense of fun and ease to the whole atmosphere at Doodles.

Shawn’s loyalty went far beyond showing up; he brought heart, humor, and a deep sense of responsibility to the table. Whether it was handling tough situations, working late nights, or simply being a source of support, Shawn was always there. His presence made Doodles more than just a pool hall—it became a home for so many.

I miss him every day, and I’m sorry our journey ended so soon. Without a doubt, Doodles wouldn’t be what it is today without him. No one is more important to this place than Shawn, and his impact—especially his unmatched humor—will always be felt in every corner of Doodles.

When I first met Ms. Donna, I was living in a hotel, temporarily staying in Hinesville. One day, I came downstairs and overheard a spirited conversation—a woman was hustling the hotel owner for a job. She was relentless, but the owner repeatedly told her no. Intrigued by her determination, I approached her and asked if she thought she could help me with what I was working on. Without missing a beat, she looked me square in the eye and asked, "What YOU DRIVING?"

Someone so eager and bold, throwing themselves into helping me with my dream, seemed almost too good to be true. But that was Donna—fearless and full of life. In no time, we became fast friends, spending a lot of time together. We even traveled to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, and through those shared moments, I got to know her on a personal level. Donna had this knack for stating things plainly, and our annual trip to Red Lobster was one of those traditions I cherished.

I can already hear her voice now: "Them fools let Red Lobster go to pot." If you’re out there somewhere, Donna, let’s find a Red Lobster that’s still open and do it one more time.  Lastly when you are only 26 years old you don't have many deep thoughts.  But after meeting her I began to realize this journey was gonna be about people....

This dude right here—I can't even begin to tell you how important he is to Doodles. Let me give you the story.

Picture this: You’re 26 years old, and you’ve just opened a pool hall. The next step? You need an alcohol permit. That’s where he came in. To get the permit, you have to apply through the city government. We applied, went to the meeting, and then they turned us down. They said we were too young to be trusted with something like that. We were already open, selling food and pool time, but without alcohol sales, we were heading straight for failure. We didn’t know what we were going to do.

Then, the next day, the phone rings. “Mr. Anderson?” I answered, “Yes?” It was Marlboro Roberts, the city business license manager. He said, “I’d like you to come to the next city council meeting.” We had no idea what to expect but agreed to go.

When we arrived, they called us back up. As we stood in front of the council, this dude steps up first and says, “We’ve made a mistake by turning down these young men.” He then delivers the most eloquent and persuasive speech in our defense. By the end of it, they approved our permit. He saved the day.

Afterward, he told us that he just couldn’t stand by and let something like this happen. We were amazed that a complete stranger would stick his neck out for us like that. He was truly a godsend, and without him, our journey would have ended right there. We couldn’t be more grateful.

Later, Marlboro and I became good friends, bonding over our shared love of Jimmy Buffett music and just enjoying each other’s company. Some people’s smallest contributions are immeasurable, and Marlboro is without a doubt a man of integrity. He will always have our respect. So, Marlboro, here’s to “Living your life like a song.”

When we walked into Doodles on our very first day, we were greeted by a fresh-faced boy sitting in the early morning dark, enjoying what we jokingly called a “free” sandwich. After some conversation, we discovered that he was actually an employee of Doodles, though only 16 at the time. Despite his can-do attitude and willingness to help, we had to let him go because he was too young to work there legally.

However, life had more in store for us. Years later, this same young man returned, bringing that same can-do attitude, and did some of his best work managing both Doodles Hinesville and Doodles Rincon. His dedication became invaluable during some of our toughest times, including navigating the challenges of COVID and weathering literal storms. His hard work and spirit were essential to getting us through those tough days.

In the end, it feels like the bad ones stay forever, and the good ones always leave—but we'll never forget the impact he made while he was with us.

When Shawn and Clayton first arrived in Hinesville, Sam and his lady Jennifer, who would later become known as the Mayor and First Lady of Hinesville, treated them like royalty. Despite their status, they were really down to earth, treating Shawn and Clayton like old friends right from the start, making them feel instantly at home in the community.

These guys deserve their own page. We can't thank them enough for showing us Americans how to truly drink. Their quick wit and outrageous humor were unmatched. Though they've now returned to their homelands, their time here left a lasting impression. Here’s all we can say: There was a war. They came and fixed our equipment. They made us laugh. The war ended. They went home. These guys broke the mold.

Pat was the son of a General here at Fort Stewart.   And thats all you need to know.  Look at the photo and imagine the rest.  And maybe he helped get us outta something.  Made the list somehow right?