Linda Johnson celebrates the 30th anniversary of her pioneering efforts of being one of the very few women that participated in the World Series of Poker. We were on hand at the start of Event #22, the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Ladies Event, which Johnson gave the keynote speech to just before play was to begin and delivered the official “Shuffle Up and Deal” to the over one thousand ladies who registered for the event. WSOP commissioner Jack Effel introduced Johnson and talked about some of her many amazing accomplishments before she took the WSOP podium at the Brasilia room where the ladies event was taking place. During her emotional speech, Johnson discussed what it was like being one of the first women to play poker for a living in Vegas and how she became a poker pro. She also talks about the World Series of Poker’s humble beginnings, including exactly where in Binion’s Casino it use to take place, which got some laughs out of the thousands in attendance.
Linda Johnson is one of the most recognized ambassadors for the game of poker and in 1997, won a WSOP bracelet by taking down the $1500 Seven-Card Razz event. She provides a guest column here at Poker News Daily and is known as ‘The First Lady of Poker’. She played a pivotal role in creating the Tournament Directors Association (TDA), which sets common rules for tournament organizations such as the World Poker Tour, and serves on its Board of Directors.
Johnson also helped found PokerGives.org along with Jan Fisher, Lisa Tenner, and Mike Sexton. The charity raises funds through the poker world to be donated to mainstream charities like the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the Special Olympics, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Step by Step. She received the Brian Saltus Award for her class, dignity, and courage at the poker table. In 2008, she was a charter inductee into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame.
