Gene Stanlee
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Gene Stanlee (January 1, 1917 - September 23, 2005) was an American professional wrestler best known by the nickname "Mr America" but born Eugene Stanley Zygowicz in Chicago, Illinois to poor Polish parents Victoria and Paul Zygowicz. Gene was among the younger of his 14 siblings -- eight brothers and six sisters.
At the age of five, Gene fell down a set of stairs, leaving himself partially paralyzed. Though given his last rites at his bedside, Gene fought back to regain his health, inspired in part by seeing a strongman at a church. When he turned eight years old, he was able to start wrestling and competing against other boys. To develop his physique, Gene would collect iron from the railyard and would even go on to fashion his own homemade gym. Soon, young Gene would compet in bodybuilding competitions. By his own count, he claimed to have 165 bodybuilding trophies and 50 gold medals.
During World War II, Gene served on a U.S. Navy floating repair ship as a machinist for over three years along side his brother Steve who was also in the Navy to pair would eventually wrestle as a tag team together. Upon his discharge, he was sought out by wrestling promoters, who wanted to capitalize on the publicity garnered by the "pinup boy of the Navy."
According to historian Fred Hornby, who published a Gene Stanlee Record Book in the early 1980s, Stanlee's first match was April 26, 1946 in Milwaukee against Leo Kirilenko. His early matches were all around the Chicago-Milwaukee area.
His career as Gene "Mr. America" Stanlee picked up in 1951. After defeating Pat O'Hara on September 24 of that year Gene became NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion and it was around this time he formed a tag team with his real life brother Steve Stanlee. Bob Merrill also worked as a third brother, Bob Stanlee, but was not really related.
On November 18, 1952 Lou Thesz faced off, and defeated Gene Stanlee in 15:14 to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Gene sold out Madison Square Garden over 50 times in his career.
In an interview for the Icons of Wrestling program that aired on Canada's Biography Channel, and later Britain's TWC, Stanlee explained his concept of showmanship. "When I walked into the ring, I would add a little showmanship to my style before I wrestled. I noticed that as I was achieving more and more showmanship, I started getting ideas. I seen that the sport was not bringing in women. So I starting glamorizing, thinking up beautiful costumes."
In an era when a ring jacket was a novelty, Stanlee shone, and his 52 different ring jackets (which he would never wear twice in a year) sparkled. He had monogrammed towels -- "Wrestling's TV King" -- made up to wear once he took off the ring jacket. The elaborate entrance would serve to infuriate opponents, whether good or bad guy. The glitz would be rewarded with over 200 magazine covers during his career.
With over 50 fan clubs in his name, Stanlee credited women for making him the star that he became. "I feel that a lot that I owe is to women because they do so much for me."
After retiring from the squared circle, Stanlee, who was a health nut and longtime vegetarian, began to sell a line of supplements and would later become an advisor/physical trainer for many of Hollywood's great actors/actress' such as, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Cheryl Tiggs just to name a few.
Gene who had not made a public appearance in over 20 years until he was honored at the Cauliflower Ally Club 2002 reunion in Las Vegas.
Gene described himself as the "world's foremost authority on age reversal through blood purification" something that worked well for himself as he would go on to still be very active up until the day he died.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion
- Ohio Heavyweight Champion
