Tex Hager Territory - Idaho/Montana
Brief History:
Background:
Jack Ganson took over the promotional business in Helena, Montana that was started by Tom Alley in July 1945, reported in the July 18, 1945 newspaper. Ganson planned to start up in late summer and early fall. He was known as a successful boxing and wrestling promoter, and it was expected that he'd maintain the high quality of shows that Alley always offered.
Announced in the April 7, 1946 edition of the Helena Independent-Record, the Jaycees named Jerry Meeker of Tulsa as the new promoter and matchmaker of wrestling at the Civic Center Auditorium. Meeker would start on Monday, April 15, 1946. A short time later, Meeker gave up his duties as promoter in Helena, reported in the Sunday, May 12, 1946 edition of the Independent-Record, and handed over the business to his father Clifford H. Meeker, who was called a "well-known sports figure." The reason for the turnover was because Jerry wanted to return to the ring full time.
The Billings Gazette in Billings, Montana, on Sunday, September 26, 1948, reported that Cliff Meeker of Great Falls bought the Billings wrestling franchise from William Shirah. Cliff planned to move to Billings soon.
A notice was released to the Walla Walla (Wash.) Union Bulletin on April 21, 1951 that Tex Hager's Tri-State Sports was taking over the city's wrestling promotion from Jack Kennedy of Pendleton. The town's matchmaker would be Dale Haddock and matches would highlight some of the best junior and light heavyweight wrestlers available.
NWA Official Wrestling
March 1952
From The Fox Hole
By Wayne Griffin, ABC-TV Commentator
"We have heard many reasons why some wrestling shows are sometimes postponed, but the best comes from Lewiston, Idaho, where a mat show was recentally called because somebody stole the ring! It seems the owner of the ring went to the rear of the arena where it was stored only to find it gone."
Major Wrestlers from this Circuit:
Obituaries:
On September 11, 1949, at Warm Lake, Idaho, former National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion Ray Steele died unexpectedly at the age of 49. Steele was one of the more likable people in the wrestling business and his death shocked many. He was born Peter Sauer.
Carl Wittman, former claimant to the Colorado State Light Heavyweight championship, died on Sunday, October 18, 1959 in Billings, Montana. Wittman was 69. According to his obituary, he retired from the ring 25 years earlier, and had made a name for himself wrestling throughout the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest areas. He was born in Russia, and his parents came to the U.S. when he was 8, eventually settling in Fort Collins, Colorado. He relocated to Garden City, Kansas, then Huntley, before landing in the Yellowstone County region of Montana. After his wrestling career ended, he worked as a tavern and ranch owner. He was survived by 7 children.
A former wrestler and promoter of matches in Idaho Falls during the early part of the 1950s, Cliff Thiede (Clifford Saxon Thiede) died on June 28, 1988 in Vancouver, Washington.
The promoter of matches in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Tex Hager (N.W. Hager) died on May 25, 1989.
Wrestling Titles from the Tex Hager Circuit:
Intermountain Tag Team Title
Intermountain Junior Heavyweight Title
Wrestling Results from the Tex Hager Circuit:
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