Professional Wrestler. During his high school years, he was Indiana State High School Wrestling Champion for three years, and Indiana Athletic Union Champion for one year. After graduating from high school, he entered Indiana University. During his senior year, he was elected to the Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. After serving in the Navy during WWII, he turned professional and was paid $10 for each of his victories. In 1949 he moved to Amarillo, Texas. He soon built a reputation as a "two fisted buster" who would bust an opponent in the head with a chair without a second thought. Even though he was a brawler in the ring, outside of it he was a great family man and humanitarian. In 1950 he began his legendary stint at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. He left the Ranch in 1953 and moved his family to a ranch near Buffalo National Wildlife Refuge. Between wrestling tours he still continued to support Boys Ranch. He once gave a terminally ill girl a large sum of money and treated her family to a trip to Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park. On June 3, 1973, while demonstrating a "face lock" to a friend at the Ranch, he suffered a heart attack. He passed away a short time later at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo.
Professional Wrestler. During his high school years, he was Indiana State High School Wrestling Champion for three years, and Indiana Athletic Union Champion for one year. After graduating from high school, he entered Indiana University. During his senior year, he was elected to the Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame. After serving in the Navy during WWII, he turned professional and was paid $10 for each of his victories. In 1949 he moved to Amarillo, Texas. He soon built a reputation as a "two fisted buster" who would bust an opponent in the head with a chair without a second thought. Even though he was a brawler in the ring, outside of it he was a great family man and humanitarian. In 1950 he began his legendary stint at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch. He left the Ranch in 1953 and moved his family to a ranch near Buffalo National Wildlife Refuge. Between wrestling tours he still continued to support Boys Ranch. He once gave a terminally ill girl a large sum of money and treated her family to a trip to Six Flags Over Texas Amusement Park. On June 3, 1973, while demonstrating a "face lock" to a friend at the Ranch, he suffered a heart attack. He passed away a short time later at St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo.
Bio by: Hilda Duell
Inscription
DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE
AND CRY. I AM NOT THERE.
I DID NOT DIE.
Family Members
Siblings
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