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Sunday, July 30, 2017

A Part Of Ronnie Comes Home

Funny how life somehow keeps moving forward even when things happen that make us want time to stand still. I spent many months, even years wanting to hang onto every detail of my brother, Ronnie, after his death in 1981, and wondering what he would have become had he lived. The only gifts left to my heart and mind were the memories I've managed to hold on to, that is until just the other day when a notebook of song lyrics and chords that my brother lost the night our band, CW Steele, played at the 1978 Clinton County Fair was given to me. My longtime friend, Tim, was working in a youth job program that summer and found the notebook while cleaning up the fairgrounds the next morning. He intended to give it to my brother, but as time went on, as you would expect, life got busy and he just simply forgot about it. As fate would have it, he ran across it recently and gave it to me. He apologized for taking so long to return it, but who knows, if he had given it to Ronnie right then or soon after, he might have lost it again or even thrown it away. Getting it back all these years later means everything because my brother died in a car accident on May 7, 1981. Now, we have his handwriting, something we haven't seen since before he died 39 years ago."



Saturday, July 22, 2017

Dale Mann Was Larger Than Life

In the 1940's, Nick Gulas became involved in professional wrestling, working both as a manager and promoter in Florida. He teamed up with Roy Welch of Tennessee to form Gulas-Welch Wrestling Enterprises based in Memphis and Knoxville. In 1949, the group joined the National Wrestling Alliance, a national sanctioning body that divided the US into territories. The promotion became known as NWA Mid-America and expanded across several states. Jerry Jarrett was brought in as a booker to help handle the day-to-day work behind the scenes. This organization helped start the careers of such wrestling stars as Lawler, Yamamoto, Jackie Fargo, the Bounty Hunters and the Interns. Gulas-Welch and NWA also helped start the wrestling career of a man from Russell County, Kentucky. His name was Dale Mann.

One of the earliest matches Dale participated in occured on March 21, 1970 when he wrestled (and lost) to Lars Anderson (in wrestling, he was portrayed as Gene and Ole Anderson's brother) during an NWA "Championship Wrestling TV' match in St. Louis, Missouri.

On Aug. 15, 1970, Dick the Bruiser defeated Dale Mann during an NWA "Championship Wrestling TV' match in St. Louis, Missouri.

"On Sept. 19, 1970, Nicoli Volkoff, later of WWF fame, defeated Dale Mann in a World Wrestling Associate event at Hammond, Indiana."

In the early 1970s Nick Gulus' son, George, was promoted as one of the top wrestlers in the territory despite not having much talent. That eventually led to a split between Nick Gulas and Jarrett, who broke away to form Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis. Dale also broke away and began running Mid Continental Wrestling based out of Georgetown, KY, serving as kind of a hybrid between an outlaw and local promotion under the Mid America/CWA banner.

Dale Mann was born in Jamestown, KY on August 12, 1939 to Shannon and Rovena Neathery Mann. At approximately 6'3, he was first billed as "Big" Dale Mann. Later, he became known by his most popular nickname, Dale "TNT" Mann. He was loved and adored by every single wrestling fan who ever saw him wrestle. In a day of Bufford Pusser, he walked tall. He was our hero. He was our Billy Jack. One of the things I admired about Dale was the way the crowd rose to their feet and cheered wildly as he made his way to the ring in his customary brown suede jacket with long fringes. He meant as much to this area as Jerry "The King" Lawler meant to folks in Memphis.

Not only was Dale able to successfully promote himself, he also brought in many famous wrestling stars to this area, such as Tojo Yamamoto, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, his brother, "Leaping Lanny" Poffo, Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantel, Ron Starr, Tracy Smothers, Pistol Pez Whatley, the Von Brauner brothers and many others.

Mid-Continental later became Mountain Wrestling after Mann sold the promotion to Danny Fargo, whose claim to fame was as Eric Embry's partner in the Fabulous Blondes team. Fargo was MCW's number two baby-face for years behind Mann. 

Over the years, many wrestlers who have gone on to fame and notoriety credited Dale Mann as their greatest influence. His most famous alumni who achieved worldwide fame was Jim Morris, better known in the wrestling world as "Hillbilly Jim." Morris was born in Louisville but grew up in Bowling Green. Dale heard about him through his son, Mike Mann, and brought him into the wrestling business. Fortunately for Morris, when Dale asked him if he would be interested in the wrestling business, he knew it was his big chance and went with it.

None of the wrestlers who began their careers with Dale Mann achieved worldwide fame on the level that Hillbilly Jim did. Along with Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, etc., Hillbilly Jim changed the world of wrestling as much as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and the Beatles changed rock and roll. They took wrestling from high school gymnasiums to the worlds largest coliseums. For Morris, the highlight of his career was participating in Wrestle Mania III at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, which was attended by 94,000 people. Hillbilly Jim was always announced as being from Mud Lick, Ky, which is actually located in Monroe County. Today, he lives in Bowling Green and hosts a great radio show on Sirius XM Radio.

Another wrestler who was brought in to the WWF that came from Dale Mann's wrestling stable was "Luscious Lanny Kean," who became Cousin Junior, a member of Hillbilly Jim's family, in the WWF. He later achieved more fame as Moondog Cujo and later, Bloody Ox Brody. Billy Travis also worked for Mann. He was Jeff Jarrett's original tagteam partner and eventual top heel to Jerry "The King" Lawler.

"On Feb. 8, 1978, Dale Mann defeated Randy "Macho Man" Savage by disqualification at Fairgrounds Sports Arena in Nashville."

TV SHOW SCRIPT

World Wrestling Association and the NFWA Presents "All-Star Championship Wrestling" Saturday January 21, 1984 WTTV-4, Indianapolis, Indiana

(show opens to the song, "Barracuda.")

(Announcers, David McLane and George Cannon, are at the desk)

1st Match

Dale Mann defeats Tommy Heggie (roll up and pin).

Official Time: 3:52

(Dale Mann comes over to the desk)

David: "Dale we have not talked to you in awhile. You have been racking up wins lately."

Dale Mann: "Well David, yes i have been on roll here lately. I have been splitting time here in the WWA and have been busy defending my Mid-Continental belt in Kentucky."

David: "Dale, do you plan on defending that belt here in the WWA like Savage has done with the ICW belt that he lost?"

Dale Mann: "Well i am not sure what the commission in Kentucky would say about that. I do know i would like a crack at that ICW belt though."

(Angelo Poffo and Randy Savage come out to the desk)

Angelo Poffo: "Dale Mann, you need to go back to Kentucky. You will never get a crack at the ICW belt."

Dale Mann: "Angelo, unless Randy wins back that belt you have no say so about who gets a shot at that belt." (Dale Mann leaves)

Randy Savage: "Oh yeah, Joe Leduc you better be ready later today because that ICW belt will be back where it belongs around my waist."

Angelo Poffo: "And Ron Garvin we have not forgot about you." (Poffo and Savage leave) David: "Fans lets go to a commercial."


Most local wrestling fans remember when Dale worked with Angelo Poffo and his sons, Randy "Macho Man" Savage and "Leaping Lanny" Poffo in their outlaw International Continental Wrestling promotion. He brought several cards to this area, including one very big night when Randy Savage and Tojo Yamamoto came to Albany and wrestled at the brand new Clinton County High School gymnasium. What a night that was as a standing room only crowd of 3,500 people came to watch the famous wrestlers.

One thing Dale did, which we all loved, was make a wrestling star out of Clinton County's already legendary basketball star, Kenneth Conner. In the wrestling ring he was known as Chuck Connors. Together, they packed all of the gymnasiums in our area.

"On April 30, 1979, Chuck Connors, Dale Mann, Don Starr, Joe Cagle, Leaping Lanny, The Miser, Randy Savage and Rip Rogers participated in an ICW 8-Man Battle Royal at the National Guard Armory in Elizabethtown."

Dale's son, Mike Mann, became the very popular wrestling star, "Michael Ray, the Southern Sensation." Dale also made wrestlers out of Lonnie and Wayne Watson of Celina, who wrestled as Lon and Vaughn Watson. He also helped bring Clinton County's Wendell Burchett into the wrestling business as a referee, a wrestler and later, manager of the legendary Kurt and Karl Von Brauner brothers (Jimmy Brawner and probably Willy Rutgowsky), who were known as the evil Germans. Wendell would sneak up behind their opponents and wop them over the head with the army helmet he wore. On Aug. 8, 1973, the wrestling card at South Charleston Recreation Center in Charleston, West Virginia featured Dale Mann versus Wendell Burchett.

Some wrestking fans may remember Dale as "Billy Jack Mann" when he worked with "Dick the Bruiser's" Indiana promotion. That was a take on the Billy Jack movie character that was very popular in the late 70's.

"On April 8, 1972, Billy Jack Mann participated in a Battle Royal in Detroit, Michigan, where Ricky Cortez defeated Mann, Angelo Poffo, Billy Red Cloud, Bobby Heenan, Gil Guerrero, Jim Alexi, Ken Dillinger, Paul Christy, Prince Pullins, Ron Dupree and Tom Lynch."

Dale Mann died Tuesday, July 17th, at the age of 77. He had suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and had recently become bedridden. He had also suffered from diabetes and other illnesses in recent years.

RIP Dale Mann. Thanks for the memories and for being our hero in the wrestling ring.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

A Celtic Prayer from Iona

O loving Christ
who died upon the tree
Each day and each night
I remember your love
In my lying down
and in my rising up
In life and in death
You are my health and my peace
Each day and each night
I remember your forgiveness
Bestowed on me so gently
And generously
Each day and each night
may I be fuller in love to you

- J. Philip Newell

Praying in God's Will

Dear Lord, please fill me with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you and please you in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and give joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified me to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For you have rescued me from the dominion of darkness and brought me into the kingdom of the Son you love, in whom I have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Colossians 9:1-14

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Hope To The World, Future For All Time

On July 3, 1986, during opening ceremonies of the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York, President Ronald Reagan said...."Call it mysticism if you will, I have always believed there was some divine providence that placed this great land here between the two great oceans, to be found by a special kind of people from every corner of the world, who had a special love for freedom and a special courage that enabled them to leave their own land, leave their friends and their countrymen, and come to this new and strange land to build a New World of peace and freedom and hope. Lincoln spoke about hope as he left the hometown he would never see again to take up the duties of the Presidency and bring America through a terrible Civil War. At each stop on his long train ride to Washington, the news grew worse: The Nation was dividing; his own life was in peril. On he pushed, undaunted. In Philadelphia he spoke in Independence Hall, where 85 years earlier the Declaration of Independence had been signed. He noted that much more had been achieved there than just independence from Great Britain. It was, he said, hope to the world, future for all time."

President Reagan said, "We  dare to hope that our children will always find here the land of liberty in a land that is free. We dare to hope that we'll understand our work can never be truly done until every man, woman, and child shares in our gift, in our hope, and stands with us in the light of liberty -- the light that has cast its glow upon us for two centuries, keeping faith with a dream of long ago and guiding millions still to a future of peace and freedom."

God Bless America!



Sunday, July 2, 2017

Where is the King of America?


Author Thomas Paine was the first person to publicly advocate that America should seek to be an independent nation, free from tyranny. His ‘how to’ pamphlet, known as Common Sense, sold 100,000 copies, a best-seller among the two-million people in the American British colonies. It challenged the authority of the royal monarchy and inspired the people of America into a revolution.

“The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth,” he said.

While the people in the American British colonies were fed up with King George, Paine wrote: “But where, say some, is the king of America? I’ll tell you Friend, he reigns above..."

My 78 RPM Disks (1905-1924)

1. Albert Campbell - Dreaming (3701). Steve Porter - Flanagan At The Vocal Teacher's (3705). Standard Talking Machine Company 1907. 2. ...