St. Joseph Wrestling Territory
Brief History:
Background:
Wrestlers from St. Joseph:
Biographies and Articles:
Miscellaneous Notes and Milestones:
Several months after the death of Gust Karras, his company "Gust Karras Enterprises, Inc." was sold to "All Star Wrestling," run by Pat O'Connor and Bob Geigel on April 1, 1976. Marjorie Eckelberry, the "executive secretary" of Karras's company, sent a letter to Cedar Rapids Gazette sports editor Gus Schrader on March 28, 1976, notifying him of the transfer.
Obituaries:
Former World Heavyweight Champion Stanislaus Zbyszko died on September 22, 1967 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Zbyszko and his brother Wladek had owned a farm around the Savannah, Missouri area before living in a nursing home. He was 88 years old.
75 year old Wladek Zbyszko, a former champion grappler, died on June 10, 1968 in Savannah, Missouri.
On January 16, 1976, Gust Karras (Gust Karavites) passed away in St. Joseph. Karras was a championship caliber wrestler during his heyday and promoted grappling in St. Joseph for many years. His obit called him "one of the oldest wrestling promoters in the nation both in terms of age and logevity." Karras was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. His age was said to be between 73 and 75.
Longtime executive secretary for Karras Enterprises, Inc., Marjorie Eckelberry passed away in December 1978 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Longtime wrestler and protege of Gust Karras, Larry Hamilton died on July 20, 1996 in St. Joseph.
Ronald "Ronnie" Etchison died on March 4, 1994 in St. Joseph. Etchson was a top-notch wrestler for many decades, having toured the nation and annexed numerous regional championships. He was also a claimant to the World Heavyweight Title.
The widow of St. Joseph promoter Gust Karras, Goldie Karras died in St. Joseph on May 24, 1994.
Bones Lionberger (Oral E. Lionberger), a well-known regional wrestler in the 1930s, died on Friday, March 10, 2000 in Chillicothe, Missouri. Lionberger was a businessman in Trenton, Missouri for 60 years. He was 94 when he passed away.
Missouri Wrestling Titles:
Missouri State Heavyweight Title
St. Joseph Wrestling Results:
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