Maurice A. Catarcio (March 21, 1929 – May 12, 2005) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for competing in the then

World Wide Wrestling Federation Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was an American sports promotion company. Run by Vincent J. McMahon from the 1950s until the 1980s, the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing promotion and later became the holding company ...

from 1957 to 1960, under the ring-name The Matador. After being diagnosed with

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

in 1991, he became an advocate for public health and fitness. He was also in ''

The Guinness Book of World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...

'' for his public displays of strength.

Biography

Early life

Catarcio was born on March 21, 1929, in

Ocean City, New Jersey Ocean City is a City (New Jersey), city in Cape May County, New Jersey, Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the principal city of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Cape May County, and is ...

to parents Dominick and Julia Marie. He had one sister. Beginning at age 11, he lifted weights and participated in bodybuilding. In 1947, he graduated from now closed

Cape May High School Cape May High School was a public high school in Cape May, in Cape May County in the U.S. state of New Jersey that operated from 1901 to 1960 as part of the Cape May City School District. The school was replaced by Lower Cape May Regional High Sch ...

and then served with the

United States 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 ...

for 55 months. On June 30, 1950, three days after the beginning of the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

, he was honorably discharged, but he was later recalled for another 22 months and received another honorable discharge. Catarcio worked as a professional wrestler in the

Capitol Wrestling Corporation Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was an American sports promotion company. Run by Vincent J. McMahon from the 1950s until the 1980s, the company was originally a professional wrestling and boxing promotion and later became the holding company ...

which later became the World Wrestling Federation from 1957 to 1960. He was known as "The Matador" and wore a bullfighting cape to the ring.

Feats of strength

Catarcio began putting on public displays of strength after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991. Because of these displays, he was given the nickname "Magnificent Maurice". He also became an advocate for fitness and health. At age 69, he pulled an boat filled with 125 passengers while swimming the backstroke for in a lake, which earned him a place in ''

'' in the category "feats of strength". Then, at age 72, he dragged a bus down a New York City street on the ''

Late Show with David Letterman ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production com ...

''. Other stunts included tearing 17 decks of cards in 59 seconds and lifting a refrigerator with three women on top of it.

Personal life

Besides being a professional wrestler, Catarcio had a number of occupations. He was certified in fitness training in

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...

, and certified in

cardiopulmonary resuscitation Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used during Cardiac arrest, cardiac or Respiratory arrest, respiratory arrest that involves chest compressions, often combined with artificial ventilation, to preserve brain function ...

. He was also a police officer, lifeguard, and a painting contractor, the latter for thirty years. He served as Commissioner of the Cape May County Bridge Commission from 1980 to 1987 and Chairman of the Bridge Commission from 1987 to 2001. Catarcio was also a member of St. Raymond's Church and the Governor's Council on Fitness. He was a president for the Kiwanis Club of Cape May, the Sons of Italy in Lower Township, and the

Lower Township Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the Philadelphia- Wilmington- Camden, PA-NJ- D ...

Republican Club. In addition, Catarcio was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Mayor's Advisory Committee, both in Cape May. For ten years, he was the Republican Leader in Lower Township and was a member of the

Electoral College An electoral college is a body whose task is to elect a candidate to a particular office. It is mostly used in the political context for a constitutional body that appoints the head of state or government, and sometimes the upper parliament ...

in 1976. Moreover, he was a Republican State Committeeman and involved with the

Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

. On May 12, 2005, at age 76, he died of cancer at his home in the Del Haven section of

Middle Township, New Jersey Middle Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Cape May County, New Jersey, Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City, New Jersey, Ocean City metropolitan sta ...

. At the time of his death, he was married to his wife Roxanne with whom he had one son, Maurice Jr.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Catarcio, Maurice 1929 births 2005 deaths American male professional wrestlers Cape May High School alumni People from Lower Township, New Jersey People from Middle Township, New Jersey People from Ocean City, New Jersey United States Navy personnel Deaths from prostate cancer in New Jersey Professional wrestlers from New Jersey