Terry Dee Funk was born in Hammond, Indiana on June 30, 1944, named after the comic strip character from Terry and the Pirates (one of his father's favorites).  In 1948 the Funk family relocated to Amarillo, Texas where Dory Funk, Sr. took the position of superintendent of Kal Farley's Boys Ranch.  One of Funk’s first innovations at the ranch was to start a wrestling program.  Both the Funk boys -- Dory, Jr. and Terry -- were required to participate.  So Terry first stepped foot on a wrestling mat at the tender age of 4.

Terry lettered in football in high school.  He continued to wrestle for a private wrestling club his father organized (his high school didn't have a wrestling team).  After graduation from high school, the younger Funk played one semester of football at Cisco Junior College then transferred to West Texas State.

Terry first stepped into the pro wrestling ring during his senior year of college.  "My first advertised match was in Amarillo against Sputnik Monroe," recalls the former NWA World Heavyweight champ.  "I did a few spots in small towns as a ref and had a match against Jack Kain.  That first match with Sputnik was a 10 minute broadway."

"I worked a few shows here in Amarillo and continued school until I got the chance to go to Florida.  I quit just two months before I was going to graduate."  Terry chuckles.  "I got to learn a lot in Florida.  I got to work with great guys like Bill Dromo and Hiro Matsuta. Both Ronnie Garvin and Les Thatcher were down there then -- the three of us were all just getting started.  I got the opportunity to get in the ring with a couple of the real greats, Wahoo McDaniel and Jose Lothario.  Both of them kind of took me under their wing.  Eddie Graham was real good to me and working for him was a real education." 

"I first met Terry back in the Tampa territory in 1967. He's a tremendous performer and just an all-around great guy, and one of the craziest human beings I have ever met in my life." chuckles Les Thatcher.  "He has given so much to the business I think it’s only right that he is being honored.   At the age he is at and still taking big bumps and doing moonsaults, maybe they should give him an insanity award to go along with the Iron Mike Mazurki award. Terry I love you, brother, and am happy to see you get this recognition from the CAC." 

In 1967 Terry headed back to Amarillo where he worked his way to the top of the card both as a single and as a tag team with older brother Dory, Jr.  Terry's first taste of national prominence came when his brother won the NWA World Heavyweight title from Gene Kiniski.  "I would travel to the different territories as Jr.'s policeman.  I went to Florida, Charlotte, Kansas City, Louisiana all over.  I would come in and try and take out the top contender before Jr. was due to come in and defend his belt.  It worked out real well for me.  I got well known all over the country."

The early 1970s started a love affair between Terry Funk and the Japanese wrestling fans that’s still going on today. Terry and brother Dory first wrestled, then booked for Shohei “Giant” Baba. "I don't even remember how many years I booked for Baba but it was great,” Terry recalls.  “The fans of Japan are great.  They made it possible for me to have a great life and take care of my family."

In December of 1975 the fans of Miami were treated to history being made.  Not only was it a historic night because the NWA World Heavyweight championship changing hands but also because it was the first (and only) time a pair of brothers had held the world title.  Terry held the NWA title for just under two years, defending it all over the world until he dropped it to Harley Race in Toronto.

The late 1970s brought a new phase into Terry's life.  Word went out that Sylvester Stallone was looking for a pro wrestler for his next movie.  Terry cut a classic Funk promo on the Rocky star and sent the tape to Stallone.  Stallone traveled to Houston, TX to see Terry work in person.  "I owe Nick Bockwinkel a thank you for getting my movie career started," Terry said. "Nick and I were working for Paul Boesch, and I was fighting for Nick’s AWA belt that night.  We brought the house down -- nearly caused a riot.  When Stallone saw how I worked the crowd and how they reacted to me, he knew I was what he wanted."

"And on the subject of Nick (Bockwinkel) I want to say for as good a talker has he is he could never beat me at Scrabble. When we were in Japan he would bring his Scrabble game on the bus and I beat him so many times he just stopped bringing it."  Terry laughs and continues, "Nick I want to beat you again in Vegas."

Getting back to Terry's movie career, Stallone hired him based on that match with Bockwinkel for the film Paradise Alley.  They later worked together again in Over the Top.  Terry also had a featured role in Road House with Patrick Swayze. Numerous movie and TV parts came to Terry over the years.  Two starring TV series roles he had were on Wildside in 1985 and Tequila & Bonetti in 1990.

Even though he was becoming a successful TV and movie actor, the love for the squared circle never left Terry.   He only took short sabbaticals from the ring as filming schedules required it. He continues to climb into the ring regularly even today.

And what does Terry Funk do when he is not in the ring? Well that Double Cross Ranch we have heard mentioned in so many classic Funk promos really does exist.  300 acres of ranch is a full time job for Terry and wife of 39 years, Vickie.  Yes it’s mending fences and tending to the cattle for the former world champ.

Like many of his contemporaries, Terry's life and adventures in and out of the ring have been put on paper along with the assistance of Scott Williams.  Terry's autobiography will be available to his fans around the world very soon.

Terry said, "I have had a wonderful life and wrestling gave it to me.  I have made a great living and can live where I want to and do what ever I want to.  It’s like when you were a kid, playing Cowboys and Indians.  Well, I am still playing Cowboys and Indians... and loving every minute of it... and getting paid for it.  What more could you ask for?"

Terry continued, "I'm tellin' you the truth, it's a very wonderful thing for me to receive this award. Part of the reason it’s such a great thing is the award itself, but also because of who it’s named after.   Mike Mazurki was a great guy and he had a great love for this business. When they pick the winner of this award I don't think they are looking at the most fantastic wrestler or the guy who can dropkick the highest or anything like that.  I think they are looking for someone who is like Mike, who loves the business and loves the people in the business and is loved by the people in the business, just like Mike was.  I think that’s what this award is about and I do really love my business.  The highest compliment I could have is that the guys at the Cauliflower Alley Club somehow came up with my name.  I am possibly not deserving of it... but I am damn sure not going to give it up.  I would die for it ‘cause I believe in the award and I love the guys who are giving the award -- guys that are stand up guys, straight-forward guys who know what the business is about and love the business, who want to pick someone who is like Mike.  Well, that is a hell of an honor.  Yes, it’s a hell of an honor.  I truly think this is the highlight of my life.  It’s the highlight to my life because this business is my life.”