Dory Funk
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| Dory Funk | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Dory Funk The Outlaw Dory Funk, Sr. |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Born | May 4, 1919 Hammond, Indiana |
| Died | June 3, 1973 (aged 54) Amarillo, Texas |
Dory Funk (May 4, 1919 – June 3, 1973) was a professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestlers Terry Funk and Dory Funk, Jr..
[edit] Career
Funk was an Indiana high school state champion amateur wrestler for three years, as well as an Indiana State University Amateur Athletic Union champion for one year.
Funk started professionally wrestling after serving in the United States Navy during World War II, starting in the southwest United States. He wrestled primarily in the Texas territories and the Central States territories during his career. He was also famous for having 250 Texas death matches without a loss and is a record that has never been broken.
After retirement he became a promoter in Amarillo, Texas with Doc Sarpolis, in which he led a thriving wrestling scene which produced many superstars, including his sons Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, as well as Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Tito Santana, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu. Funk had a good business relationship with All Japan Pro Wrestling founder Shohei Baba, which led Funk's talent pool to useful international experience.
On July 15, 2006, Dory Funk Sr. was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa. The award was accepted by his younger son, Terry Funk. Other inductees included Larry Hennig, Bret Hart, Mike DiBiase, Nikita Koloff, Tom Jenkins, and Bob Roop.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- NWA Florida Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario (Last)
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- NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with Lou Thesz (1) and Pancho Pico (1)
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- NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (17 times) (Last)
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (7 times) - with Bob Geigel (1), Dick Hutton (1) and Ricky Romero (5)
- NWA Southwest Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Cowboy Carlos (2) and Bob Geigel (2)
- NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) (First)
- NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
