Paul Jones was respected as a wrestler and as a promoter, and for more than 30 years, he was at the helm of the Atlanta wrestling office, sponsoring some of the best wrestling in the country.  He was born “Andrew Lutzi” on June 23, 1901 to Jacob Andrew and Elizabeth Lutzi. There is a discrepency in just where he was born, as the 1920 U.S. Federal Census stated that both Andrew and his older brother Jacob Jr. were born in Russia like their parents, and that the Lutzi Family immigrated to the United States in 1903.  In 1930, when the Federal Census was being taken, Jacob Jr. and his wife of eight years Katherine, his daughter Eleanor, and brother Andy lived in Houston, and in the bracket for birthplace for both Jacob and Andy, it listed Nebraska.  Before moving to Houston, the Lutzi’s were all employed by a rail road company, and it wasn’t until 1922 that young Andy made his professional wrestling debut.

Trained by Clarence Eklund, Lutzi traveled as a light heavyweight grappler, adopting the name John Paul Jones, which was ultimately shorted to “Paul Jones.” In July 1933, he was traveling to New Orleans from Nashville with friend George Kotsonaros when they were involved in a car accident that killed George, who was driving.  Jones suffered only minor cuts.  Embroiled in the many promotional wars of the early 1930s, Paul found himself alligned with the Londos crew, and battled the World Champion on several occasions.  In 1939, he toured Hawaii, and took that region’s heavyweight title.  With residence in Houston, he became closely bonded to the local promoter Morris Sigel, and when he was in the area and not wrestling, he was refereeing matches.  By 1941, he was working as a fire inspector for the city, and considered a run for sheriff.  He served in World War II, and returned to the United States to resume his athletic career.  Jones traveled through Atlanta in 1943, and by January 1944, he had taken over as lead promoter for both wrestling and boxing.

A strong heavyweight mainstay for Jones beginning in 1945 was Donald J. McIntyre, the son of hardworking Kansas City parents.  Born on December 20, 1911 to Walter and Charlotte, Don played football at Washburn University and did some amateur grappling before making his pro debut as early as 1934.  He worked his way through the Central States and Florida, and finally relocated in the Atlanta area once his stock began to sour in the territory.  Between 1949 and ’60, he won the Southern Heavyweight Title more than ten times, and feuded heavily with Al Massey, Babe Zaharias, Art Nelson, and Fred Blassie.  He wrestled many all time greats including Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Gorgeous George, and Antonino Rocca.  Jones sold his loyal friend a piece of the company in the early 1950s, and McIntyre remained involved in the Georgia territory until he sold his interest to Buddy Fuller in 1964.

Fred Ward (1914-1992), who had run opposition to Jones in Atlanta in the late 1940s, ended his attempt to move his enemy out, and partnered with him.  The thing that may have sold Ward to ending his feud was Jones’s membership in the National Wrestling Alliance, which gave him the rights to the best wrestling talent available.  Jones was content with building Atlanta, and expansion plans were not in the works, which allowed Ward to promote in numerous cities in Georgia, which included his main towns Columbus and Macon, and were not limited to Dalton, Stone Mountain, Gainesvile, Porterdale, Marietta, and Thomaston.  His relationship with Jones also saw him buy into the Atlanta business, a move that further protected his interests.

Jones served as the president of the Southern Wrestling Association, a wing of the National Wrestling Alliance.

Georgia Promoters:

Jim Barnett

Obituaries:

32 year old professional grappler Frank Speer died on June 10, 1938 of bronchial pneumonia in Atlanta.  A week earlier, he had become sick during a bout with Dorv Roche, and upon completion, was taken to a local hospital for treatment.  He was a former Georgia Tech football player.

Ike Eakins (Joseph D. Eakins), one of the toughest wrestlers in the business, died on October 20, 1967 in DeKalb County, Georgia.  He was 51.

A product of Chicago and son of a policeman, Ray Gunkel (Raymond F. Gunkel) was a superstar amateur and professional wrestler.  He was later involved in the Atlanta wrestling promotion.  Gunkel died on August 1, 1972 in Chatham County, Georgia.  He was 48.

Chris Averoff (Christos George Melissovas), a wrestler who once told the FBI that he was blacklisted after a personal grudge with Atlanta promoter Ray Gunkel, died on March 1, 1974 at the age of 54 in Fulton County, Georgia.  Averoff said that after the issues with Gunkel started up, he was unable to get work, and claimed that Gunkel wrote a letter to all members of the National Wrestling Alliance, telling them not to use him.  Averoff later brought suit against Gunkel in 1961.

Former wrestler known as "Argentina" Vittorio Apollo (Vincente Denigris) died at the age of 46 on August 2, 1984 in Cobb County, Georgia.

A former amateur and professional champion, Barney Cosneck (Bernard Joseph Cosneck) died in Lowndes County, Georgia on July 11, 1990.  He was 78.

Don McIntyre (Donald J. McIntyre), wrestler and promoter, died on November 23, 1990.

Georgia promoter and a former wrestler, Fred Ward of Columbus died on May 8, 1992 at the age of 78.

One of the most successful wrestling promoters in history, Jim Barnett (James Edward Barnett) died on September 17, 2004 in Marietta, Georgia.  He was 80.