It all started back in 1964 when I was in
Florida, helping coach wrestling with John Heath at a Catholic high
school in Sarasota. I went up to Tampa to a youth camp that was run by
Eddy Graham to put on a wrestling demonstration. While there, I was
asked to go and see a pro wrestling event at the Sportatorium. I was set
up for a tryout because I was told I had potential of being a
professional wrestler.

Cowboy Luttrell and Eddy Graham sent me to Tennessee. I arrived in
Nashville and was met there by promoter Nick Gulas. I remained there for
a year. I wrestled guys like Johnny Long, Whitey Caldwell, Don and Al
Green, and my biggest critic and mentor, Les Thatcher. At this time, I
was advised to go seek other experiences. So, I went west to the Gold
Coast of California.
I hooked up with Roy Shire, and he put me on the next card. I
wrestled Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, Peter Maivia and Mr. Fuji. I gained
a lot of knowledge and experience. I was asked by Ray and Roy to go to
L.A. to wrestle for Gene LeBell. This was the start of my wrestling
career. I wrestled in Southern California from 1965 thru 1967. Then, I
went to New York.
While in the Northeast, I met up with Gorilla Monsoon and Joe
Scarpa, whom I met earlier while learning in Florida. They helped me get
an interview with Vince McMahon Sr. I wrestled in the New England area
for the WWWF. I had the opportunity to wrestle people like Victor
Riviera, Don Muraco, Johnny Rodz and Jimmy Valiant. I finished up in
1981 and was looking for a new territory to go.
I called Jerry Prater in Tampa, Florida, and he informed me that
Cowboy Luttrell had passed away, and Eddy Graham was in charge now. I
called and asked if I could come in to wrestle. He told what he needed,
and I was satisfied with that. So, I proceeded on down to Florida, where
I wrestled for about another year.
I was told I could perform in any territory. At this time, I went
to Georgia Championship Wrestling. I met some of the greats there, like
Bob Armstrong, Darrell Cochran, Bill Dromo, Sandy and George Scott,
Billy Spears, Steve Williams, Buddy Colt and Jerry Stubbs. I stayed in
Georgia almost a year and moved again.
This time, I went north to the Mid-Atlantic area. To my surprise,
I met up with George and Sandy Scott. They put a good word in for me
with Jim Crockett Sr. At that time, John Ringling was doing the book.
They told me that, if the Scotts recommended me, that was enough. Jim
Crockett kept me in the Carolinas, and I remained here to this day.
While here, Jim sent me to wrestle in other places like Dallas,
for Fritz Von Erich. While I was there, I had the opportunity to wrestle
for Joe Blanchard and also Paul Boesch. The thing that I liked about Mr.
Boesch is, he gave his word and kept his word, just like Jim Crockett,
Sr. I liked the way these men promoted their territories and their men.
Never putting their men down, always building them up. While in Houston,
Texas, I got to meet one of the best action photographers and publicity
shots, and that was Alice Marie.
She always worked hard and always had tenacity for her work. While
in Texas, the late great Wahoo McDaniel helped get me booked in Puerto
Rico. Went in and out of Puerto Rico for nine months and enjoyed the
tremendous talent they had on their cards. I would like to mention that,
while in Puerto Rico, I wrestled as one of the Masked Medics, and, while
in the Carolinas, I wrestled as the Blue Demon, Destroyer and the
Scorpion.
I returned to the Carolinas, stayed for six or seven months, and I
was sent to Oklahoma for Wally Karbo. Was there a short time and
received a call from Verne Gagne, so I went to Minnesota and wrestled
for about another year. I was around some of the greats like Bobby "The
Brain" Heenan, Greg Gagne, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Black Jack Lanza
and Jerry Blackwell.
In 1987, I finished wrestling full time and began a career in
private enterprise.
To summarize, I wrestled for 24 years, traveling to many foreign
countries like Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I was glad to
have had the opportunity to demonstrate my talent throughout the world.
It is good to say I wrestled when men were revered and honored for who
they were. I could go on to name other wrestlers that I respected, like
Klondike Bill, Bruce Swayze, Ricky Osborne, Billy Howard, Maurice
Williams, and the man that I truly think of as a brother, Mike Pappas.
In closing, I would like to say all these men will always have my
respect and loyalty that helped put me on the map of wrestling.