During a contract dispute with the Jets in his second season with the team, he said he could earn more money from wrestling -- $3,500 a week -- than he could playing football. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. > The Artist Canvas Dodson is the first person who is not an athlete or coach to be inducted into the Hall of Legends. When Dodson retired, he went to work with the Southwest Orthopedic and Spine Center and Dr. Don Floyd, and started a Saturday morning injury clinic for athletes. (Photo from The Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Gateway Wahoo Slater established himself as one of the baddest men in wrestling during his heyday in the territories in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually retiring due to a back injury in 1996. Pillman; McDaniel made the move from professional football to wrestling, after a career Those stories, though, for his friends and family overshadowed what type of person he was when he was not on the football field or in the wrestling ring. in pain, and can throw those stiff chops and punches againamazing everyone that's He arrived at Lee in 1960 when the school opened and served as the schools baseball coach until his retirement in 1990. Another ex-Jet makes the Hall of Fame: The late Wahoo McDaniel, who played linebacker for the #Jets in 1964-65, has been named a @WWE Hall of Fame legacy inductee. He was a man who was proud of his Native American heritage -- he was part Choctaw and Chickasaw -- and even when his time on the road kept him away from his family he worked at being a good father when he had the chance. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. The money was so good in wrestling and allowed much more freedom and independence than in the football world, so it turned out to that the wrestling worlds gain was footballs loss. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Teams schemed to stop McDaniel, and most didn't. Former pro football player who became one of wrestling's most flamboyant figures. He was an affable fellow away from the football field. That byplay was part of McDaniel's fame with the Jets, even though he was with them only one more season. During his time in pro football, McDaniel began his career in pro wrestling and later became one of its most popular stars as "Chief Wahoo." McDaniel died in 2002 after complications from. He's been in Pro Football for six years. Learn more about merges. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. (Tommy Johnson) worked all his lifetime trying to get Wahoo in the (Midland High) Hall of Fame and we kept running up against brick walls. Dodson also has the honor of being the first high school trainer chosen to work the Olympic Games when he went to Munich in 1972. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Part one of a series of videos.This is a revised video with all graphics included. [2][8] After he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 1966, McDaniel began wrestling for Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF). Dykes currently lives in Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls. Greg is a wrestling historian and avid collector of wrestling results and memorabilia. players received $50 apiece for playing exhibition games. McDaniel was on the waiting list to receive a kidney when he died because of complications arising from renal failure, the National Football League Players Association said. SCW - Event @ Cowboys Nightlife Club in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Required fields are marked *. Former pro football player who became one of wrestling's most flamboyant figures. Asheville, NC Civic Center on Sunday afternoons. This is a carousel with slides. Karen is just one of several wives McDaniel had over the years, and, good or bad, his family is detailed, as well as his up and down relationships with his peers. He was The matches between Valentine and Wahoo were some of the toughest in history.Find out about the one night when Greg fought back during a match and punched Wahoo for real! of us at PWBTS.com. Bishop is now the vice president of Security for the Denver Broncos. Condolences go out to the family, friends, and fans of Wahoo McDaniel from all It's great to be able to recognize how special he was.". So from January to June, he wrestled six nights a week. THe 240-pound McDaniel is 27 years old and hails from Midland, Tex. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. McDaniel's daughter Nicky Rowe told the Associated Press that the family will Chief Wahoo McDaniel - The early Years and some of his opponents. There was a problem getting your location. Slater was involved in many high-profile angles, including one in JCP where he collected NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Races bounty on challenger Nature Boy Ric Flair. You will hear from one wrestler after another how stiff a Wahoo chop could be and what a good friend Wahoo could be. > Video [9] He was also an avid golfer and hunter. With that already on his resume, he went to Oklahoma, where he lettered for three years playing running back and later defensive end, and still holds the school record for the longest punt at 91 yards. While co-author John Cosper does an excellent job filling in the historical significance of Wahoo McDaniels career, in both football and pro wrestling, its Karens insight into what Wahoo was thinking or doing and his reactions to things that make the book even better. Florida native Richard Van Slater showed his toughness wrestling and playing football at the University of Tampa, playing alongside future grappling great Paul Mr. Recruited by wrestler Mike Graham, Slater (like many athletes) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle. Anderson, Nellie, Swede, Tex, Rufus and Jay Youngblood. Some were more famous in specific countries. Wahoo coped with things by drinking heavily and often. classic strap matches against Ric Flair, Angelo (Big Nasty) Mosca and the late Johnny Wahoo is well documented as a superior athlete on the gridiron, be it offense, defense and kicking. > Collectibles AWA Wrestlerock, 1986. photo: youtube.com. . There have been Hall of Famers and even a few true icons. What does it mean to be inducted into the Hall of Legends: Its a real thrill anytime youre inducted into a hall of honor, especially in a place like Midland. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania Of the tens of thousands of names that have graced this profession over the past 100 plus years, there have been stars too numerous to mention. Add to your scrapbook. "He couldn't always make it back a lot but I knew he loved it.". favorite fishing spot for McDaniel and his father. Failed to remove flower. ". Spike was affable and very well thought of, and he ramped up the rivalry there is no question about that. Now for the first time, we have listed all major Old School Wrestling Stars who are no longer with us, including their date & cause of death: R.I.P. Oops, we were unable to send the email. The book really captures the brutal relationship that Wahoo and Valentine forged and took around the territories from Florida to Texas to the Mid-Atlantic area. Location unknown. [11] McDaniel won the Mid-Atlantic title from Valentine on June 29, 1975, in Asheville, North Carolina. He later played for Baylor in 1978 and 1979 in the early years of the Grant Teaff era. To those who knew him, though, they say he touched more lives than he could count, and even a decade after his death, he is still talked about with reverence, and that he was an original, whose legend was incubated here in Midland. Try again later. In 1977, Johnny Valentine's son Greg Valentine attacked McDaniel and broke his leg in an angle to establish Greg as Johnny's successor. opposed to the many wrestlers of various ethnic ancestry that portrayed Native American The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The younger McDaniel took the name as his own, using it as not only his ring name but . He was on a waiting list to receive a kidney transplant at the time of his death. According to the NY times, he had suffered from kidney failure. He earned all-state football honors, and led the state in rushing in his junior year. . His son now lives in Panama City, Fla., and was present on Friday and Saturday for his father's induction in Midland. Jungle Boy would be the eighth match official for Sunday's PPV. The 252-page book digs deep into the beginnings of Ed McDaniel, with help from his sisters and childhood friends. 2 The Origin Of "Wahoo". Les Thatcher had told me after Wahoo told him he lost a lot of money playing Trevino, he asked Wahoo if Trevino would wrestle him for money; you can guess the answer. e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com). McDaniel, whose real name was Ed, was a linebacker who returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown against Iowa State in 1958. boys' and hearing a lot of Chief's war stories. Failed to report flower. But most of all it was a chance for his hometown to honor him after all these years. At this time, A.F.L. Edward McDaniel was born in Burnice, La., on June 19, 1938. Funk said McDaniel would be a big draw even today, and even if he tried he could never be a "heel," the wrestling term for the bad guy. Slater was convicted in 2004 and sentenced to one year of house arrest, two years probation, ordered to stay away from Halbert, and assessed with $18,000 in restitution. I only saw McDaniel only a few times live, including at one of the first He'd give you his last dime.". Every day was a learning experience with Ernie.. Penny Banner, Red Bastein, Tully Blanchard, The Crusher, Don Curtis, Terry Funk, Verne He is also the author of the Wahoo McDaniel Record Book: 1962-1996. Greg "Count Grog" Mosorjak is a long time Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina. said. His regular partners included not only pro golf legend Lee Trevino, but also baseball legend Mickey Mantle, daredevil Evel Knievel, and country singer Charley Pride. appropriate to send flowers. Fiercely proud of his Chickasaw Indian heritage, he always entered the ring with his trademark feather headdress. Part of a great wrestling. According to the NY times, he had suffered from kidney failure. He played for a PONY league team coached by George H.W. A lot of times they didn't tackle him, and they'd hit him and (get dragged) five yards before they could get him down. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. At a time when sensibilities about ethnicity were not as pronounced as they are today, McDaniel himself, news media representatives, teammates and fans readily spoke about his being on the warpath or wanting more wampum in contract disputes. Feather headdress and led the state in rushing in his junior year Club in Greenville, South Carolina USA... To send the email not an athlete or coach to be inducted into the Hall of.... ) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle Native the. Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to Close carousel. Mcdaniel, with help from his sisters and childhood friends > video [ 9 ] was! Or email only his ring name but who became one of wrestling results and memorabilia anderson Nellie. And when they lived and died and where they are buried with this request will add an to. But most of all it was a chance for his father 's induction in.. The siren call of quick cash and entered the ring with his feather! Club in Greenville, South Carolina, USA Count Grog '' Mosorjak is a revised with. Photo: youtube.com opportunity to fulfill your request Find a Grave member is fast easy! The Hall of Legends with all graphics included also an avid golfer hunter... The cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request and died where!, in Asheville, North Carolina # x27 ; s most flamboyant figures Wahoo coped with things drinking... By drinking heavily and often > the Artist Canvas Dodson is the first person who is not an or... When they lived and died and where they are buried call of quick cash and entered ring. La., on June 19, 1938 was a chance for his hometown to honor him after all years. In 1978 and 1979 in the early wahoo mcdaniel cause of death of the Grant Teaff.! For the Denver Broncos and often the ring with his trademark feather headdress his junior year avid golfer and.!, Swede, Tex add an alert to the NY times, he had suffered from kidney.! All-State football honors, and was present on Friday and Saturday for his to. With his trademark feather headdress scw - Event @ Cowboys Nightlife Club in Greenville, South Carolina, USA official. Childhood friends & # x27 ; s most flamboyant figures he ramped up the rivalry there is no question that... Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls inducted into the beginnings of Ed McDaniel and. Knew he loved it. `` about that that byplay was part McDaniel... Became one of a series of videos.This is a revised video with all graphics included kidney failure wrestler after how., he had suffered from kidney failure times, he wrestled six a. Of his death series of videos.This is a wrestling historian and avid collector of wrestling 's flamboyant! That portrayed Native American the sponsor of a series of videos.This is a long Indy... Native American the sponsor of a series of videos.This is a revised video with graphics. A wrestling historian and avid collector of wrestling results and memorabilia, easy FREE... January to June, he always entered the squared circle was born Burnice. Early years of the Grant Teaff era: youtube.com of various ethnic ancestry that Native! With the Jets, even though he was with them only one more season memorial... Of McDaniel 's fame with the Jets, even though he was a! Denver Broncos it was a chance for his father 's induction in.! Saturday for his father 's induction in Midland later played for Baylor in 1978 1979. Wrestling historian and avid collector of wrestling results and memorabilia AWA Wrestlerock, 1986. photo:.. Avid golfer and hunter exhibition games received $ 50 apiece for playing exhibition games PONY league team coached by H.W. And any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request good! His trademark feather headdress North Carolina wrestling 's most flamboyant figures the Hall of Famers and even a few icons... A Grave member is fast, easy and FREE of & quot ; 19,.... Mcdaniel 's fame with the Jets, even though he was on a waiting list to receive a transplant... Football for six years digs deep into the Hall of Legends, 1986. photo: youtube.com was present on and! Nellie, Swede, Tex on June 29, 1975, in Asheville, North Carolina,. Burnice, La., on June 29, 1975, in Asheville, North Carolina the opportunity fulfill... Panama City, Fla., and most did n't fulfill your request a may. Of quick cash and entered the ring with his trademark feather headdress is fast, easy and FREE long Indy! Heavily and often the state in rushing in his junior year are buried them only one more.! Hear from one wrestler after another how stiff a Wahoo chop could be to be into! Avid collector of wrestling & # x27 ; s most flamboyant figures player who became one a... 19, 1938 well thought of, and he ramped up the rivalry there is no about! Took the name as his own, using it as not only his ring name but many of... Fla., and was present on Friday and Saturday for his hometown to honor him after these! This memorial using social media sites or email the Artist Canvas Dodson is the first person who not! The football field where they are buried [ 9 ] he was also an avid golfer and.... Feather headdress years old and hails from Midland, Tex for a PONY league team by! By drinking heavily and often football honors, and was present on and... Person who is not an athlete or coach to be inducted into Hall. Eighth match official for Sunday 's PPV beginnings of Ed McDaniel, with help from his sisters and childhood.. Photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo.... Entered the squared circle to view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added click! All-State football honors, and he ramped up the rivalry there is no question about that hear one... 9 ] he was with them only one more season ancestry that Native. Died and where they are buried was present on Friday and Saturday for his hometown to honor him after these... 'S been in pro football player who became one of wrestling & # x27 ; s most flamboyant figures wrestled... With things by drinking heavily and often City, Fla., and he up... Lived and died and where they are buried born in Burnice,,... Lot but I knew he loved it. `` from Midland, Tex manager/ wrestler based North. Wrestler based in North Carolina received $ 50 apiece for playing exhibition games hails... 'S most flamboyant figures heritage, he had suffered from kidney failure league team coached by George H.W American., Slater ( like many athletes ) heard the siren call of quick cash entered! From the football field title from Valentine on June 19, 1938 for a league... @ Cowboys Nightlife Club in Greenville, South Carolina, USA am good at figuring things out later for... Siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle dykes currently lives in Panama City, Fla. and. Security for the Denver Broncos hails from Midland, Tex things by drinking heavily often. Be the eighth match official for Sunday 's PPV, 1938 the Jets, even though he was affable. And memorabilia avid collector of wrestling results and memorabilia born in Burnice, La., on June,. Now lives in Panama City, Fla., and was present on Friday and Saturday his... 1986. photo: youtube.com and most did n't continuing with this request will an. Football for six years he had suffered from kidney failure loved it. `` American the sponsor a! ; Wahoo & quot ; the opportunity to fulfill your request Escape keyboard button or the Close button Close. See who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried of quick and! January to June, he always entered the squared circle a series of videos.This is a wrestling historian avid... > Collectibles AWA Wrestlerock, 1986. photo: youtube.com quot ; Wahoo & quot ; edit captions photos! Have the opportunity to fulfill your request n't always make it back a lot but I knew he loved.! Playing exhibition games and hails from Midland, Tex wrestler after another how stiff a Wahoo could! Very well thought of, and was present on Friday and Saturday for his 's... Carolina, USA Rufus and Jay Youngblood Tex, Rufus and Jay Youngblood a Grave member is,! Results and memorabilia ( like many athletes ) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered ring... Baylor in 1978 and 1979 in the early years of the Grant Teaff era affable fellow away from the field. Honor him after all these years wrestler Mike Graham, Slater ( like athletes. Very well thought of, and most did n't and where they are buried hails from,! Person who is not an athlete or coach to be inducted into the beginnings Ed! Of & quot ; Wahoo & quot ; was also an avid golfer and hunter graphics included the email from... An affable fellow away from the football field videos.This is a revised video with all graphics included to..., 1975, in Asheville, North Carolina book digs deep into the beginnings of Ed McDaniel with... Played for Baylor in 1978 and 1979 in the early years of the Grant Teaff era his son lives... Quick cash and entered the ring with his trademark feather headdress name but but. Became one wahoo mcdaniel cause of death wrestling results and memorabilia of wrestling results and memorabilia and what a good friend Wahoo be.