Northwestern Wrestling Territory
Brief History:
Background:
Bob Murray sold the Seattle "territory" to former NWA World Champion "Whipper" Billy Watson in 1955. A Department of Justice document stated that there was "considerable evidence incriminating" Murray, and speculated whether they could name Watson as a defendant in their antitrust case against the NWA, despite not having anything on him. Watson was, at the time, a rookie member of the organization.
National Wrestling Alliance Members:
"Whipper" Billy Watson became a member of the NWA during teh summer of 1955, after buying out Bob Murray in Seattle.
Northwestern Wrestlers:
Charley Hanson:
Originally from Omaha, where he was tutored by the famed Farmer Burns, Hanson resided in Seattle for most of his later career. He mentored Phil Olofsson and Leo Numa. Hanson, a well regarded shooter and "trustbuster," drowned trying to swim to a boat in Lake Washington on June 26, 1934. He reportedly had a match scheduled for June 27 in Seattle.
Milt Harnden:
Milton Frank Harnden was born in Madison, Wisconsin on February 14, 1888 and grew up in Whatcom County, Washington, where he developed his initial wrestling skills. He later built a training headquarters in Bellingham.
Frank Stojack:
Frank N. Stojack was born February 11, 1912 and he attended Lincoln High School, where he excelled in football. His great play continued at Washington State under O.E. "Babe" Hollingbery. In 1935-'36, he was a standout on the Brooklyn Dodgers squad of the National Football League, and Stojack also turned his wrestling skills into cash on the pro mat. Adopting the airplane spin as a finisher, he rose to the Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight and NWA World Light Heavyweight championships. He retired as the latter champion in 1958 to enter the political world, becoming a councilman in Tacoma, Washington. He was also a Pierce County Sheriff and Washington State Athletic Commissioner. In April 1959, he was named to the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. On April 30, 1987, Stojack passed away at the age of 75.
Miscellaneous Notes and Milestones:
Leaving his stable operations in Cleveland behind, former wrestler turned promoter Jack Ganson migrated to Seattle in May 1951 and joined the Century Booking Office.
Obituaries:
The famed "Little Demon" of the wrestling world, Joe Acton, died on June 26, 1917 in Portland, Oregon at the age of 65.
Herb Owen (Herbert Owen), promoter and father of Donald and Elton, his successors, passed away on February 6, 1942 in Lane County, Oregon.
Wrestler Joseph Lynam died in an airplane crash 20 miles each of Bend, Oregon on Saturday, September 25, 1948. He was flying from Boise to Redmond, Washington, and was booked to compete in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday evening. Lynam was 31 years old.
Famed wrestling champion and promoter, Ted Thye (Theodore Thye) died on Monday, March 21, 1966 in Portland at the age of 75.
Longtime wrestler and promoter, Hal Rumberg (Harold Eugene Rumburg) died on January 21, 1972 in Seattle. Rumberg, note the spelling difference for his real name, was often billed as a collegiate football star during his career on the mat in the 1930s and '40s, and was touted as a protege of Charles Hanson. He was a World War II veteran and later promoted the grappling sport in Seattle.
Former lightweight champion of the world, Milt Harnden (Milton Frank Harnden) died in March 1972 in Marblemount, Skagit County, Washington. Harnden won his championship honors in 1914.
Ernie Arthur (Ernest Elmer Keltz), a champion middleweight in the 1930s, died at the age of 64 on December 19, 1972 in Clackamas County, Oregon. Arthur, born in Utah, was the great, great grandson of Brigham Young. He was also a former rodeo rider.
A great amateur and professional wrestling champion, Robin Reed (Robin Lew Reed) died on December 20, 1978 in Lincoln City, Oregon.
On December 30, 1993, in Eugene, Oregon, Don Owen's younger brother Elton Owen died. Elton was a longtime member of the brother promotional team, having learned from their father Herb. He had retired from the business around 1982.
Don Owen (Donald H. Owen), the man who held the longest tenure as a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, passed away on August 1, 2002, at the age of 90 in Portland, Oregon.
89 year old Kurt Von Poppenheim died on May 8, 2003 in Portland. Born on March 28, 1914, he was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, and wrestled for a reported 27 years. Following his retirement, Kurt worked for the Portland Water Bureau as a maintenance employee. His longtime wife Flora passed away in 1995.
Longtime promoter Harry Elliott (John Harrison Elliott) died on June 25, 2006 at the age of 101 in Portland.
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