By Jessica Rogers
Joan Ballard " Jessica Rogers" started
wrestling in 1958, at the age of 17, right out of high school. I majored
in physical education and planned a career in that until I saw June
Byers wrestle. At the time I was a member of the Dottie Moures Softball
team, where I doubled as a Pitcher and 3rd baseman for the team. And we
won the world softball championship at the finals in Orange, California.
I trained under Man Mountain Dean Jr. and
promoters Ted Theirsandt and Virgil Hamlin gave me great encouragement.
I had my first match in Oregon City as Joan Ballard. I then was sent to
the famous Marigold Gardens in Chicago, a Mecca for pro wrestling, did
very well there they kept me for 5 years in the territory. Boy, did I
serve my apprenticeship during that time.
Then the call came from Jack Pfeffer in
new York and he sent me to St Louis first and there Jessica Rogers way
born, he got the name from a top exotic dancer in New York City. For the
next 7 years I worked where ever they sent me but the big match and
chance of a lifetime I was booked against June Byers in 1970 in St Louis
with the great Joe Louis as referee. A night I will always remember.
I decided to move to St Joseph, Missouri
and had a agreement with Gus Karas, worked for him on and off between
trips to Hawaii working for Lord Blears and Ed Francis. I love the
islands during the winter months.
The Roller Derby Bombers were great
friends and fans of mine, they would all meet me at the airport, load up
my bags and off to the arena we would go, The loved it when I showed up
with the Bombers, what a great bunch they were. I also lived in Tulsa
Oklahoma for a while working for Leroy Mcgirk.
I made some good money and went into the
night club business, had a lot of celebrities coming to the club, The
Barnum and Bailey circus group were regulars as was Gunter Gable
Williams the famous lion tamer and his friend Emmet the clown.
In 1978 was booked into California by Roy
Shires and stayed a year or so plus a 4 week trip to work in Australia.
Had my last match in Tulsa, went home for my fathers funeral, and became
involved in the family auto business, retired in 1999, and now am a
retired senior citizen living back home in Portland, Oregon.
This will be my first wrestling outing
in many years and I am looking so forward to seeing all of my friends
from the great years in this wrestling business.
Congratulations to Jessica Rogers as the 2006
Ladies Wrestler award recipient.
