Edward Nye "Ed Don" George Jr. (June 3, 1905 – September 18, 1985) was an American
amateur
An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...
and
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 wrestling
promoter. A former
Olympic freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. It is one of two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, along with Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman. scholastic wrestling, High school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling in the U ...
, George competed in the
1928 Amsterdam Olympics and turned pro shortly after. He was two-time
AWA World Heavyweight Champion
The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling professional wrestling championship#World championships, world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association (AWA). A ...
.
Career
George was born in
North Java, New York. He wrestled for both
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private university, private Franciscan university in St. Bonaventure, New York. It has 2,760 undergraduate and graduate students. The Order of Friars Minor, Franciscans established the university in 1858.
In ath ...
and for the
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
. He also represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the
1928 Amsterdam Olympics, placing fourth in the
heavyweight class (87 kg). During the years 1926–29, Ed Don George attended the University of Michigan, with his concentration of study in engineering. Later on, in 1929, at St. Bonaventure University, he graduated with a college degree.
Quick and powerful, he took on the name "Ed Don George" and began his professional career shortly after returning from the Olympics. He captured the
AWA World Heavyweight Championship
The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association (AWA). All AWA trademarks, including the AWA World Heavyweight C ...
on December 10, 1930, from
Gus Sonnenberg
Gustave Adolph Sonnenberg (March 6, 1898 – September 9, 1944) was an American football player and professional wrestler of German descent and World Heavyweight Championship (Original), World Heavyweight Champion. As a wrestler, he was National ...
. Double-crossed by
Ed "Strangler" Lewis in Los Angeles on April 13, 1931, George dropped the title to the Strangler. George refused to wrestle Lewis in a
shoot contest, admitting he would lose to Lewis in a real match. However, promoter
Paul Bowser maneuvered it back to George, who held it for nearly four years, finally losing it to
Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony (9 September 1912 – 3 November 1950) was an Irish professional wrestler who enjoyed a brief but meteoric rise to massive popularity in the mid-1930s following a successful introduction to the Boston regional wrestling scene. His ...
on June 30, 1935. George remained one of the top box office draws of the 1930s, and on April 5, 1937, defeated Al Perreira in Paris to capture the European version of the world title.
In March 1942 he joined the
US Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
. There he taught hand-to-hand combat to naval air cadets. In December 1945 he left the navy with the rank of
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
.
During the late 1940s through the 1950s he promoted numerous wrestling matches in the United States. In the mid 1950s he found himself promoting wrestling at the casinos in
Havana, Cuba
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.[Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba, president ...](_bl ...<br></span></div> until <div class=)
came to power.
In 1949, George bought a parcel just east of North Java, New York where
Camp O'Ryan
Camp O'Ryan is a former New York National Guard training area, also known as the North Java Rifle Range and the Wethersfield Rifle Range, located east of North Java, in the Town of Wethersfield, in the County of Wyoming in New York State.
...
was situated. He then very soon afterwards leased this land for 25 years to the federal government, which built, in conjunction with New York State, a New York National Guard training site.
George died in
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on September 18, 1985, and his body was buried in the village of North Java, New York. He was inducted into the
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Mel ...
in 1996. In 2006 he was inducted posthumously into the
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) and Museum was an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Wichita Falls, Texas; following the postponement of its 19th induction ceremony, planned for May 2020, and an annou ...
.
Championships and accomplishments
*American Wrestling Association ''(Boston)''
**
AWA World Heavyweight Championship
The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association (AWA). All AWA trademarks, including the AWA World Heavyweight C ...
(2 times)
**
World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)
In professional wrestling, a championship or title is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in predetermined rival ...
*
California State Athletic Commission
The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) regulates amateur and professional boxing, amateur and professional kickboxing and professional mixed martial arts (MMA) throughout the State by licensing all participants and supervising the event ...
**California State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*
George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (TNTHOF) is a professional wrestling hall of fame
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) and Museum was an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in ...
**Class of 2002
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Mel ...
(
Class of 1996)
*
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) and Museum was an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Wichita Falls, Texas; following the postponement of its 19th induction ceremony, planned for May 2020, and an annou ...
**(
Class of 2006)
See also
*
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan#Athletics, University of Michigan sportsperson, athletes, Coach (sports), coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to t ...
References
External links
University of Michigan Athletics HistoryEd Don George in the ring wrestling
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Ed Don
1905 births
1985 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male professional wrestlers
American male sport wrestlers
Wrestlers at the 1928 Summer Olympics
Olympic wrestlers for the United States
People from Wyoming County, New York
Professional wrestlers from New York (state)
Professional wrestling promoters
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
St. Bonaventure University alumni
United States Navy officers
Michigan Wolverines wrestlers
20th-century American sportsmen