Nebraska, the "Cornhusker State," produced a handful of the most talented professional wrestlers in history, and Omaha was wrestling's midwestern headquarters for most of the 20th Century's first 25 years. Joe Stecher of Dodge rose out of the farming communities to display an unnatural ability on the mat and a knowledge of grips and holds that outmatched any of his peers. He worked his way through small towns, barnstorming, to the stages of Omaha, Los Angeles, and New York City. Stecher's winning the heavyweight championship of the world was expected by his faithful fans back home, and an achievement he successful managed on several occasions. Among Stecher's fellow Nebraskan wrestling heros included John Pesek of Ravenna, Ray Steele and Paul Jones of Lincoln and Owen Daily of Axtell.
Max Clayton, Nebraska's lead promoter and booker, was the National Wrestling Alliance's first representative from it's inception, organized a strong system of managing talent and the production of shows that continued under the auspices of Joe Dusek through the early part of the 1980s.
Background:
Eastern Nebraska had two influential sports writers named Charles Sumner “Cy” Sherman of Lincoln and Samuel Gerard Vietz “Sandy” Griswold of Omaha. Sherman worked at the Lincoln Star for 31 years and was credited with naming the University of Nebraska athletic squads the “Cornhuskers.” In his columns, he often commented on wrestling and on the many local celebrities who were commonly making news in the mat world. In April 1917, he refereed the match in which Caddock won the World Title from Stecher at the Auditorium in Omaha. Sherman died on May 22, 1951 in Lincoln at the age of 80.
Griswold, born in 1849 near Marion, Ohio, began as a newspaper writer around the time of the Civil War, and slowly worked his way from New York City to Omaha, where he started at the Omaha Bee in 1886. In 1898, he became the sports editor for the Omaha World Herald. Like Sherman and Ed Smith, “Sandy” also refereed wrestling matches and had a strong effect on the sport through his written word. Griswold died on April 20, 1929. Both Sherman and Griswold had the power to influence the Nebraska wrestling audience when it came to promoting wrestling matches anywhere in the region, and promoters always wanted them to help sell tickets.
National Wrestling Alliance Members:
Max Clayton attended both NWA meetings in 1948 (Waterloo and Minneapolis), but a fight with Pinkie George, and his relationship with the Duseks - who were aligned with Lou Thesz against Sam Muchnick in St. Louis, kept him off the official roster. However, Clayton was always referenced as being one of the Alliance's founders.
Wrestlers from Nebraska:
The Stecher Family
Wayne Munn
John Pesek
Miscellaneous Notes and Milestones:
On July 31, 1949, Ralph Hayes's lease of the City Auditorium in Council Bluffs, Iowa expired, and the new owner, Joseph Katelman, decided to lease the building to the local Moose lodge. Hayes planned to continue wrestling shows during the summer months at the Playland Park facility, but didn't immediately know where he'd stage shows from there. Hayes had promoted at the Auditorium since November 1945, bringing all kinds of talent to the venue.
Obituaries:
A renown sportsman in the Omaha area for several decades, Jack Lewis died on December 7, 1936, a short time after a major operation. Lewis was known as a manager of professional boxers and wrestlers, and as a promoter of all types of contests. The Associated Press report indicated that Lewis, for "many years," was the manager of African American boxer Ed "Bearcat" Wright.
One-time claimant to the light heavyweight title and former promoter of professional wrestling, Pete Loch died on December 20, 1940 in Omaha. He reportedly retired in 1923 and was the propreitor of a restaurant. According to the Nebraska State Journal, he trained Marin Plestina, Jim Londos and Charlie Peters, and had been sick since November 1939 with a heart ailment.
On Wednesday, March 26, 1941, at Omaha, Anton Hason, father of the Dusek quartet of professional grapplers, died at the age of 84.
The mother of the Dusek family of wrestlers, Maria Hason, died on April 12, 1944 at a hospital in Omaha. She was 73 years old. Her sons included Rudy, Ernie, Emil, and Joe Dusek.
Owning victories of the likes of Jack Reynolds and Gus Kallio, Adam Krieger (Adam A. Krieger) once claimed the World Welterweight Championship. He trained with Clarence Eklund and had a career in pro wrestling lasting more than 30 years. Krieger, who was born in Norka, Russia, died on Sunday, May 27, 1956 at the age of 61.
A claimant to the World Lightweight championship in the 1910s, Owen Daily (Stanley Daily) died on June 11, 1956 in Minden, Nebraska.
Max Clayton, longtime Omaha promoter and member of the National Wrestling Alliance, died early on Monday, July 1, 1957 at the age of 61 of a heart attack.
At points, George Gion claimed the championship of Canada stemming from a victory over Clarence Eklund, and the Nebraska State title. Gion, who was born in Nebraska and lived in Aurora, also claimed a win over Adolph Ernst (Ad Santel). He died on May 12, 1961 in Santa Clara, California.
Amateur and professional great, Mike DiBiase (Michael DiBiase) died during a match in Lubbock, Texas on July 2, 1969. DiBiase, 45, was born in Nebraska and reared in Omaha, where he attended Omaha Tech High.
Originally from Wisner, Nebraska, Pat McGill (Patrick J. McGill) was a star wrestler in the 1920s and '30s. He was a mainstay on the Ed "Strangler" Lewis circuit in the mid-1920s, and received a number of title shots for the heavyweight crown. He died in Omaha in December 1969. His son Steve was also a pro wrestler.
Frank Schmarder, a World War I veteran and wrestler during the 1910s from Louisville, Cass County, Nebraska, died in January 1970. Schmarder claimed a win over George Gion in 1914.
Master of the "scissors" leg hold and multiple-time World Heavyweight Champion, Joe Stecher (Joseph Stecher) died on March 26, 1974 in St. Cloud, Minnesota at the age of 80.
Vernon Breedlove (Harrison Vernon Breedlove), a featherweight wrestling champion in the 1910s and '20s, died in Camdenton, Missouri in August 1986 at the age of 97. Breedlove wrestled out of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Washington, Nebraska.
Son of "Tigerman" John and Myrl Pesek, Jack Pesek was a talented football player and wrestler. He died at the age of 66 in Lincoln on July 2, 1990.
Joe Scarpello (Joseph James Scarpello), who made headlines in the amateur and pro ranks, died on November 9, 1999 in Omaha at 76 years of age.
Promoters:
Lee Barron Omaha, NE Summer 1957
Max M. Clayton Omaha, NE 1920s-’57
Joe Dusek Omaha, NE 1957-’80s
Ralph Hayes Council Bluffs, IA 1945-49
Adam Krieger Lincoln, NE
Jack Lewis Omaha, NE 1920s-’30s
Gene Melady Omaha, NE 1910s-’20s
Nebraska Wrestling Results:
Lincoln Wrestling Results - 1959 - research by Don Luce
Lincoln Wrestling Results - 1960 - research by Don Luce
Lincoln Wrestling Results - 1961 - research by Don Luce
