In 1948, there were several very important high-level meetings between promoters of
professional wrestling.  One in particular, in July at Waterloo, Iowa, saw the formation of
the expanded National Wrestling Alliance.  Unlike the other pages which deal with the
annual convention only, this page will feature information about all of these crucial
meetings beginning with the most important one of all.

Meeting Location:  Waterloo, Iowa
Meeting Date:  July 1948

Officers:

None

In Attendance:

Paul "Pinkie" George
Orville Brown
Sam Muchnick
Max Clayton
Wally Karbo

Membership Roster:

Paul "Pinkie" George, Des Moines
Orville Brown, Kansas City**
Sam Muchnick, St. Louis
Max Clayton, Omaha
Tony Stecher, Minneapolis
Fred Kohler, Chicago*

Notes:

This was the meeting that founded the expanded version of the National Wrestling
Alliance.  The "National Wrestling Alliance" had previously been used as the name of
Pinkie George's local Iowa organization.  It was decided that the it would also represent
their unified collation of booking agents and promoters in a scheme that would allow them
to share talent freely, recognition the same champions, and help protect their territories.  
Wally Karbo represented Tony Stecher at the meeting.  In publicity articles, it was said
that Fred Kohler of Chicago was going to attend, but he did not.  Reportedly, George
represented Kohler's interests at this meeting and Brown represented promoter George
Simpson.

*Kohler initially refused to take an active part in the new NWA.  But according to a letter
from George to Muchnick on September 15, 1952, George considered Kohler one of the
originators.

**In that same letter, George listed George Simpson as part of the original NWA,
obviously as the "front" for Brown.

Pinkie George has been credited numerous times in letters as being the founder of the
expanded NWA.

Meeting Location:  Chicago, Illinois
Meeting Dates:  October 1948

Officers:

None

In Attendance:

Paul "Pinkie" George
Sam Muchnick
Tony Stecher
Orville Brown
Al Haft
Harry Light

Changes to Membership Roster:


Notes:

It was generally believed that the new NWA wouldn't survive for very long.


Meeting Location:  Minneapolis, Minnesota
Meeting Dates:  November 1948

Officers:

President:  Paul "Pinkie" George (elected)
Vice President:  Al Haft (elected)
Secretary:  Sam Muchnick (elected)
Treasurer:  Sam Muchnick (elected)

In Attendance:

Paul "Pinkie"George
Sam Muchnick
Orville Brown
Max Clayton
Bert Rubi
Frankie Talaber

Changes to Membership Roster:


Notes:

Talaber represented Al Haft and Rubi represented Harry Light at the meeting.




The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, on April 27, 1949, reported that a meeting of the NWA
had taken place in Chicago on Sunday and officers had been reelected.  Pinkie George
was president, Al Haft vice president and Sam Muchnick secretary-treasurer.  The reason
why officers were decided at this April 1949 Chicago meeting is still not clear.



NWA Membership Roster (as of 9/30/49)

Pinkie George, Des Moines
Al Haft, Columbus
Sam Muchnick, St. Louis
Tony Stecher, Minneapolis
Harry Light, Detroit
Orville Brown, Kansas City
Fred Kohler, Chicago
Sam Avey, Tulsa
Morris Sigel, Houston








Research by Tim Hornbaker
January 16, 2011
National Wrestling Alliance Meetings - 1948