San Francisco Wrestling Territory
Brief History:
The exalted Joe Malcewicz, a former wrestler, was a welcome addition to the National Wrestling Alliance, adding a fair-minded sensibility and focus to the growing organization. Malcewicz had been San Francisco's lead promoter and booking agent since the mid-1930s, and a wrestler since the latter part of the 1910s. His disposition and credentials were well known in grappling circles, and he was commended by wrestlers for his reasonable and timely payoffs. The Bay Area thrived under his leadership and he achieved maximum returns from the eager audience for his top shelf product. All of the sport's top names grappled in San Francisco to include Jim Londos, Ad Santel, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, Lou Thesz, and the hometown hero Leo Nomellini, who, in 1955, beat Thesz for a claim to the NWA World Title. Wrestling in Northern California set new standards under Malcewicz and continued to fourish under Roy Shire.
Background:
Obituaries:
Edwin W. Geary, member of the California State Athletic Commission from 1930 to 1939, passed away at the age of 43 of a heart attack on August 10, 1942. Geary was a lawyer from Oakland, and died in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Legendary boxing figure Tom J. Sharkey, died on April 17, 1953 in San Francisco, California. Sharkey, who was named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003, was also a professional wrestler for a time, competing in matches against Carl Pons, John Piening, Tom Jenkins, Jack McCormick, Duncan McMillen, and Dan McLeod.
Harry "Tiny" Jacobs died in San Francisco after a three month illness on September 18, 1958 at the age of 48.
Longtime wrestling champion and promoter, Ad Santel (Ad E. Santel) died on November 10, 1966 in Alameda County, California.
On September 24, 1992, former wrestler and promoter, Roy Shire (Roy P. Shropshire) died in Sebastopol, California at 70. Shire formerly promoted San Francisco from 1961-'81.
Former boxer, wrestler and public servant, Pete Tripodes (Peter Mark Tripp) died on January 6, 1996 in Marin County, California. Tripodes, born in 1911 in Greece, was a professional boxer in the welterweight class from 1928 to 1931 in Northern California, and then became a pro wrestler. Tripodes traveled throughout the United States and Canada as a grappler, and after his retirement in the early 1940s, he became a pubic servant, serving as an Oakland councilman, vice mayor, and a member of the port commission. Having legally changed his name to "Peter Tripp," he founded the Tripp Insurance Agency.
Star football player at USF and later wrestler, Thomas C. "Tom" Rice died on Saturday, August 24, 1996 in Santa Rose, California. He was 82.
Former claimant to the World Heavyweight Wrestling Title and star NFL football player, Leo Nomellini (Leo Joseph Nomellini) died on October 17, 2000 in Stanford, California at the age of 76.
San Francisco Wrestling Results:
San Francisco Wrestling Results - 1916
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