e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com). Get the occasional email with the latest wrestling tributes and memorials, Search by ring name, real name, cause of death, organization, time period (2000s, etc) or specific year, WWE Hall of Famer Ravishing Rick Rude was an amazing individual in and out of the ring. McDaniel's daughter Nicky Rowe told the Associated Press that the family will 4. The matches between Valentine and Wahoo were some of the toughest in history.Find out about the one night when Greg fought back during a match and punched Wahoo for real! "Anybody who knows anything about football in West Texas, they knew about Wahoo," said former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, who is a native of Ballinger. McDaniel was brought up in Midland, Tex., became an all-state fullback in high school and played at the University of Oklahoma. Location unknown. McDaniel's sister, Margaret White, said Johnson, also an MHS grad, worked tirelessly to bring more recognition to her brother through the years to give people a chance to find out who he was and what he'd done. 'We went out drinking in Buffalo, me and Wahoo and John Bramlett,' Kiick He married his wife Gayle in 1963 and they have two daughters, and have four grandchildren. Edward McDaniel, best known by his nickname, Wahoo McDaniel, enjoyed a long career in both professional wrestling, as well as professional football. Bishop was part of the Broncos teams that participated in Super Bowls XXI, XXII and XXIV. "He was absolutely a legend in his own way.". Bush, to a football career that began here in Midland, and finally in his long career as a professional wrestler, the stories about McDaniel are many and legendary. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Posted by Greg "Count Grog" Mosorjak | Feb 21, 2022, There have been a lot of books written about pro wrestlers, some by the wrestlers themselves, some by writers without much knowledge of wrestling, and some by wrestling historians. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Oops, something didn't work. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam, > Archives [6][10] In 1974, McDaniel came to Mid-Atlantic to wrestle for Jim Crockett Promotions and help build up the territory as a singles territory in a feud with a rival from Texas, Johnny Valentine. Capitalizing on his stardom from the gridiron, he became one of the country's most popular and beloved wrestlers. watching yet one more time. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. man that I had always looked up to as a kid. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. He wrestled until 1989. Wahoo also stood up for young rookies getting abused by veterans and for all the boys in the locker room when it came to getting paid what they deserved, be it a shady promoter trying to pull one over all the wrestlers or just his presence on the card that helped increase everyones payday. Learn more about merges. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. There is a problem with your email/password. Weve updated the security on the site. Wahoo was a tough son of a gun and never trusted any promoter when it came to money. Some people were bigger television stars over a shorter period of time. Click here to submit your listings. McDaniel's football teammates remembered him this past week. Obituaries for April 26. There are lots of road drinking stories in the book, from drunken brawls in bars, near fatal car wrecks, and the women he met on . The book really captures the brutal relationship that Wahoo and Valentine forged and took around the territories from Florida to Texas to the Mid-Atlantic area. In 1977, Johnny Valentine's son Greg Valentine attacked McDaniel and broke his leg in an angle to establish Greg as Johnny's successor. guess who?. Soon, the public-address announcer proclaimed, ''Tackle by . I've never been anywhere I couldn't go back.''. Those were just some of the stories that continued the folklore that followed McDaniel during his life. After his professional career ended, Bishop returned to Baylor to finish his degree in 1990 and then went to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. Ed McDaniel Actor | World Wide Wrestling Ed "Chief Wahoo" McDaniel will always be recognized as one of the most influential Native American wrestlers of all time. Greg "Count Grog" Mosorjak is a long time Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina. What's that going to be at Pagosa Shopping Center? [2] Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 1.1 Cobra Corps in Mid-Atlantic 1.2 World Wrestling Federation 1.3 Return to NWA 2 Other media 3 Death 4 Championships and accomplishments For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Part of a great wrestling. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? He earned all-district and all-state honors and was on Lees first district championship team in 1974, which also included fellow Hall of Legends member Junior Miller. About Dykes: Dykes, 74 and a native of Ballinger, was already a successful coach when he came to Lee in 1980, with an extensive background in college and high school coaching. . Wahoo McDaniel, who capitalized on his American Indian heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler, died last Thursday at a hospital in Houston. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Edward McDaniel was cremated. McDaniel eventually settled in the Charlotte, N.C., area, where he raised his son, Zach, who was from his fourth marriage. are already in a ring up there in Heaven a place where neither Wahoo or Valentine are Slater established himself as one of the baddest men in wrestling during his heyday in the territories in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually retiring due to a back injury in 1996. favorite fishing spot for McDaniel and his father. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Learn more about managing a memorial . Day of death: 18.04.2002 (at the age of 63) Cause of death: Nierenversagen Gender: male Height: 5' 11" (180 cm) Weight: 251 lbs (114 kg) Background in sports: Football, Ringen, Baseball Career Data Alter egos: Wahoo McDaniel Roles: Singles Wrestler Tag Team Wrestler Booker Beginning of in-ring career: 1961 End of in-ring career: 1996 Florida native Richard Van Slater showed his toughness wrestling and playing football at the University of Tampa, playing alongside future grappling great Paul Mr. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. ", He grabbed headlines nearly every time he played, and one player in a book about the Abilene High teams said McDaniel would come through the line with a "war whoop.". But its ultimately his wrestling career that wrestling fans want to hear about and it is well covered in this book, including his long run in Jim Crocketts Mid-Atlantic Wrestling with all the in-depth stories from Greg Valentine breaking his leg, his feuds with Ric Flair, Sgt. To those who knew him, though, they say he touched more lives than he could count, and even a decade after his death, he is still talked about with reverence, and that he was an original, whose legend was incubated here in Midland. Wahoo McDaniel Dead at 63. photo: wwe.com. He was a man who was proud of his Native American heritage -- he was part Choctaw and Chickasaw -- and even when his time on the road kept him away from his family he worked at being a good father when he had the chance. After being traded to the NY Jets, he worked briefly for Vince McMahon's WWWF and made his Madison Square Garden debut in January of 1965, defeating Boris Malenko. In December 2003, Slater was accused of stabbing his girlfriend Theresa Halbert with a butchers knife. 79705. AEW Dynamite: Bryan Danielson is ready to fight for everything at Revolution, Hardwood reveals how MJF shunned Tully Blanchard, The final years and legacy of Seelie Samara, NWA POWERRR: Its a hard Knox life for Bully Ray, NXT: Dolin Shines as Hayes Makes his Case, MLW Underground: Hennigans cheapest, most rigged victory yet, Chris Jericho: I have zero interest in ever going back to WWE. Dykes currently lives in Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls. McDaniel is often compared to his contemporary, Chief Jay Strongbow, due to both portraying similar Native American gimmicks. About McDaniel: McDaniel led the Bulldogs to a combined record 15-5 in his seasons as a two-way star for Midland High in 1954 and 1955. He arrived at Lee in 1960 when the school opened and served as the schools baseball coach until his retirement in 1990. What does it mean to be inducted into the Hall of Legends: Its just so nice because Ive got so many great memories of growing up in Midland. Verify and try again. Karen is just one of several wives McDaniel had over the years, and, good or bad, his family is detailed, as well as his up and down relationships with his peers. [2][6][8], McDaniel's health started to deteriorate in the mid-1990s,[6] which led to his retirement in 1996, and he eventually lost both kidneys in 2000. Wahoo also was a star behind the scenes, booking shows with his keen sense of how angles worked and what would make money. Wahoo had a long career and shed a lot of blood and so much of that blood was lost against Johnny Valentine. That byplay was part of McDaniels fame with the Jets, even though he was with them only one more season. "He couldn't always make it back a lot but I knew he loved it.". By Dave Meltzer Feb 5, 2023. Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel (June 19, 1938 - April 18, 2002) was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler. Jul 1: Money in the Bank He was a standout linebacker at the University of . [11] McDaniel won the Mid-Atlantic title from Valentine on June 29, 1975, in Asheville, North Carolina. Dick Slater was also known for his brutality outside the ring. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/25/sports/wahoo-mcdaniel-63-a-wrestler-and-a-folk-hero-for-fans-of-the-early-jets.html. McDaniel played for Midland High in the mid-1950s as a bruising fullback and linebacker for Bulldog teams that were one of the few squads to challenge the famous Abilene High "streak" teams of that era. Well-liked. > Video . Wahoo takes on Colone Debeers. [2][7] After he started playing as a linebacker for the New York Jets in 1964, McDaniel started wearing a custom jersey which had the name "Wahoo" sewn on the back above jersey 54, and whenever he made a tackle as a Jet, the public address announcer would ask the crowd WHO made that tackle, in which the crowd would shout, "Wahoo! "[4][3] After two seasons with the Jets, McDaniel went to the Miami Dolphins in 1966,[2] and played with this team until his retirement after the 1968 season. Author: F4W Staff. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram, Wahoo McDaniel in 1959, Oklahoma starting left end, who kicked longest punt in nation in 1958, 91 yards against Iowa State. Resend Activation Email. Nonetheless, he didnt regret his wrestling career, often speaking fondly of his time in the ring. He spent the next nine months in the service. During a contract dispute with the Jets in his second season with the team, he said he could earn more money from wrestling $3,500 a week than he could playing football. This browser does not support getting your location. 2 The Origin Of "Wahoo". Johnson said two of his biggest accomplishments as baseball coach was helping to establish the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and helping start the annual Tournament of Champions. Wahoo coped with things by drinking heavily and often. Your email address will not be published. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. McDaniel was trained by Dory Funk, Sr. and he initially competed in Funk's Amarillo territory while playing for the Oilers and, later, the Broncos. Greg Valentine discusses his brutal matches vs Chief Wahoo McDaniel in the Mid-Atlantic. McDaniel was one of the most well known legitimate Native American wresters, as opposed to the many wrestlers of various ethnic ancestry that portrayed Native American characters. View Source . Wahoo McDaniel died on April 18, 2002 at the age of 63. really believed in wrestling. [4][7] He then played for the Denver Broncos between 1961 and 1963. I made a bunch of friendships with both Midland High and Lee kids. His son now lives in Panama City, Fla., and was present on Friday and Saturday for his father's induction in Midland. He played for a PONY league team coached by George H.W. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania Even if Wahoo was alive to tell his story himself, that was not his style. Try again later. On September 7, 1977, Valentine regained the title at the WRAL-TV studio tapings, breaking McDaniel's leg in the process. Dick Slater, the former professional wrestler and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Champion, died this week, WWE confirmed. Discover information about Wahoo McDaniel and view their match history at the Internet Wrestling Database. There have been local and even national legends. He wrestled until 1989. No BS. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Streaming now http://TitleMatchNetwork.com Thank you for 1.9M s. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6522480/wahoo-mcdaniel. ''Well-liked. During his time in pro football, McDaniel began his career in pro wrestling and later became one of its most popular stars as Chief Wahoo. McDaniel died in 2002 after complications from diabetes. The money was so good in wrestling and allowed much more freedom and independence than in the football world, so it turned out to that the wrestling worlds gain was footballs loss. Vintage Wahoo McDaniel. Every day was a learning experience with Ernie.. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 13.04.1996. However, Slaters wild ways continued long after he left the ring, with some surprised he made it to the age of 67. McDaniel was born on June 19, 1938, in Louisiana to Hugh "Big Wahoo" McDaniel and Catherine McDaniel. Apr 1: WWE WrestleMania New Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox. "We knew we had to stop him to win the game," said former Abilene High quarterback and defensive back David Bourland, who is 74 now and sells real estate in Abilene. Hobbs has earned a TNT Championship match that will take place on next week's Dynamite. You will hear from one wrestler after another how stiff a Wahoo chop could be and what a good friend Wahoo could be. We have set your language to It closes with his final runs in Florida, the AWA and Mid-Atlantic before retiring and working a shorter schedule on the independents where he again championed the cause for those who were not getting a fair shake. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [5] One of his baseball coaches, particularly for his Pony League team, was George H. W. Even though Wahoo died in 2002, he seems to be a participant in the book because Karen was right there. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function(){viAPItag.display("vi_937032466")}). more of this I can stand. McDaniel, known as Little Wahoo as a youngster, moved around with his family to the oil fields that beckoned his father, a welder. This text is hidden because it is only available in German language. McDaniel's feuds over a 20 plus year career included Blackjack Mulligan, Ric That year, the Rebels beat rival Odessa Permian twice, including in a regional final, before falling to Converse Judson in the Class 5A state final. His regular partners included not only pro golf legend Lee Trevino, but also baseball legend Mickey Mantle, daredevil Evel Knievel, and country singer Charley Pride. Slater had several brothers and sisters and one daughter. Flair, Terry and Dory Funk, the Ivan and Nikita Koloff, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Few of his feuds were as legendary as his programs with Johnny Valentine, that cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. During his time in pro football, McDaniel began his career in pro wrestling and later became one of its most popular stars as "Chief Wahoo." McDaniel died in 2002 after complications from. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. This book also shines the light on Wahoo, and how he helped many young wrestlers, from Ric Flair to Magnum T.A. I loved sitting in the locker room with 'the from the classic era of wrestling, and more recent names ranging from Ernie Ladd to Brian While co-author John Cosper does an excellent job filling in the historical significance of Wahoo McDaniels career, in both football and pro wrestling, its Karens insight into what Wahoo was thinking or doing and his reactions to things that make the book even better. Johnson taught biology during his tenure at Lee, along with coaching baseball. Part one of a series of videos.This is a revised video with all graphics included. Sorry! players received $50 apiece for playing exhibition games. the Cy-Fair Medical Clinic in Houston as a result of longtime complications from renal Throughout his career, Wahoo had notable feuds with Roddy Piper, Ric Flair, Sgt. Try again later. There were also the stories of McDaniel throwing a soda machine off the second story dormitory at Oklahoma, and Funk even related a story of McDaniel bringing a blank pistol to a wrestling match. Despite a wild life, Dick Slater lived to the age of 67, passing away on October 18, 2018. ). While playing football for the Oklahoma Sooners (in college), he kicked a 91-yard punt, the 6th longest punt in NCAA history. Please click this line if you do not care and want to view it anyway. According to the NY times, he had suffered from kidney failure. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. My dad was a homebuilder, and whatever house we didnt sell thats the home we moved into. Your email address will not be published. A talented worker, he proved equally talented at brawling as well as technical wrestling. The good, the bad and the ugly are all documented here and, after doing years of research on Wahoo myself, that is really all needed to piece together the violent and complicated life of this wrestling legend. There will be a memorial service Saturday, April 27 for Wahoo McDaniel 2:00 pm According to one account, Slater was working with Sting in Bill Watts Mid-South Wrestling when he punched out a young Sting, dunking Stings head into a toilet for Stings alleged alliance with Dark Journey. Kingston's announcement aired on Twitter after Wednesday's Dynamite. classic strap matches against Ric Flair, Angelo (Big Nasty) Mosca and the late Johnny Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Also on a dare and $100 he ran from Norman to Chickasha in Oklahoma in the heat of summer. Pillman; McDaniel made the move from professional football to wrestling, after a career [4], McDaniel was born in the small town of Bernice, Louisiana in 1938. While many people think of wrestling as an entertaining stage show, there is one thing about the sport that isn't funny: the alarmingly high death rate. . McDaniel was a major star in prominent National Wrestling Alliance affiliated promotions such as Championship . McDaniel has three children, two daughters and a son, and his sister Margaret Smith, still lives in Midland. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. He never set down real roots anywhere.". He was 63. If you want a good read about a wrestling legend and an American football hero, I highly recommend Wahoo by Karen McDaniel and John Cosper. 28.05.1996. An easygoing guy, no angel., But I know right from wrong, he said. Chief with a fishing pole in his hand and talking with "the boys", Murdoch, Gene And he was proud to be from Midland. That was kind of neat., Bishop on playing for former Lee coach Jim Acree: Being a starter, coach Acree was such a motivation for me and I was really blessed to have him as a coach during those formative years in high school.. [6][4] Though he was a problematic teenager, he was accepted to the University of Oklahoma by Bud Wilkinson. Wahoo McDaniel, who capitalized on his American Indian heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler, died last Thursday at a hospital in Houston. As time went on, McDaniel's prowess on the fields of Midland was somewhat forgotten in his hometown. He had head coaching stops at Coahoma, Belton, Big Spring and Alice before becoming a college assistant, including a stint at Texas under () and finally coming to Lee. Please try again later. I only saw McDaniel only a few times live, including at one of the first Anyone can read what you share. Center, pinning Dick Murdoch. "He was a wild, crazy Indian," said his daughter, Nicky Rowe. Thanks for your help! Date Of Death: Apr 18th 2002: Cause of Death: diabetes: Place of Death: Houston, Texas, United States : See the article in its original context from. CT at the Pipkin Funeral Home, located at 2508 North Big Spring Street, Midland, Texas His father worked in oil and he moved to several towns before settling down in Midland, Texas, while McDaniel was in middle school. > Movies & TV McDaniel graduated from MHS in 1956 and went to the University of Oklahoma, where he played both offense and defense during his three years, finishing up as a defensive player. McDaniel was on the waiting list to receive a kidney when he died because of complications arising from renal failure, the National Football League Players Association said. [2], Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:07, NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, inaugural AFL Championship-winning season, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions, NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets", "Ric Flair, Wahoo among President George H.W. 3. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. (Photo from The Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Gateway Wahoo Bob Bruggers, nearly ended the career of Ric Flair, the life of the pilot and less serious At this time, A.F.L. Youngblood, and Chris (Tatanka) Chavis to portray their characters as something beyond the [2] Valentine then infuriated fans (thus building up the demand for a rematch) by parading around in T-shirts which read "I Broke Wahoo's Leg" and "No More Wahoo. "You were going to make money in the ring with Wahoo.". But most of all it was a chance for his hometown to honor him after all these years. Johnson passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. > The Artist Canvas You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Spike was affable and very well thought of, and he ramped up the rivalry there is no question about that. Dirty Dicks life included some bizarre wrestling-related incidents. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The online apartment guide reported in its National Rent Report that the Petroplex cities rank Local music, an outdoor workout class and the Cousins Maine Lobster traveling food truck: here's Blong: The Permian Basin should solve the issue of produced water and show the nation and the "Its not just a place to go hear music but an experience.. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. His family followed the oil booms, and ended up in Midland in the late 1940s. He earned all-state football honors, and led the state in rushing in his junior year. In 2019, Wahoo McDaniel was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.