Lawrence Robert Tillman (1909–1997) was an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

and promoter. He competed throughout the United States and Canada, primarily within the

National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...

territories, winning the

NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Created in 1943, the title is competed for by junior heavyweight wrestlers. History The first NWA World J ...

in 1946, and promoted professional wrestling in

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

, Canada.

Professional wrestling career

Tillman was one of the first prominent wrestlers within the National Wrestling Alliance, competing from at least 1934 until 1950. During his in-ring career, he had memorable feuds with wrestlers including

Freddie Blassie Frederick Kenneth Blassie (February 8, 1918 – June 2, 2003) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate","Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Ellio ...

, Sonny Myers,

Stu Hart Stewart Edward Hart (May 3, 1915 – October 16, 2003) was a Canadian sport wrestling, amateur and professional wrestling, professional wrestler, wrestling Booker (professional wrestling), booker, professional wrestling promotion, promoter, and ...

, Ken Fenelon, Dan O'Connor and Marshall Esteppe, from whom he captured the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship on January 1, 1946 in Des Moines, Iowa. During his career, Tillman also promoted wrestling bouts and events. At the fourth National Wrestling Alliance convention in September 1951, Tillman was granted NWA membership as a promoter for a territory spanning the U.S. Pacific Northwest to Western Canada. Canadian wrestler Stu Hart was one of the mainstays of Tillman's territory and would eventually work as a booker. In 1948, Stu had created Klondike Wrestling in Calgary and in 1951 Tillman sold his territory to Hart for $50,000 allowing him to take over NWA membership for Calgary. Hart would later rename the territory Big Time Wrestling, Wildcat Wrestling and eventually

Stampede Wrestling Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the prom ...

Championships and accomplishments

(1 time)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tillman, Larry 1909 births 1997 deaths 20th-century male professional wrestlers American male professional wrestlers Sportspeople from Springdale, Arkansas Professional wrestlers from Arkansas Professional wrestling promoters NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champions