[CounterCounterCulture]

Ernie Ladd, hall of fame football player and wrestler, has died From News Star (article cannot be posted)

from WWE...

Hall of Famer Ladd passes away

WWE Hall of Famer Ernie Ladd passed away last night, according to TheNewsStar.com. Ladd, 68, had been battling cancer since 2004.

Professionally known as the “Big Cat,” Ladd was one of the premiere professional wrestlers of the 1960s and 1970s. Long-time fans in the Northeast particularly remember the havoc he wreaked in WWE throughout the ‘70s as one of the biggest names the territory had ever seen. Managed by the Grand Wizard, Ladd was a persistent challenger to WWE Champions Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund.

Prior to a successful career in sports-entertainment, Ladd earned fame as a dominant football player at both the college and pro level. He was a star lineman for Louisiana’s Grambling State University in the late ‘50s, and was recruited in 1961 by the AFL’s San Diego Chargers. He was a member of the Chargers’ 1963 AFL Championship team, and appeared in four straight AFL All-Star Games from 1962-1965. In addition to the Chargers, he also played for the Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs.

[Richard Kimball]

I remember him when he played for the Oilers. Seemed like a nice guy, as long as you weren't lined up across from him in a different uniform.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Rest in peace.

[CounterCounterCulture]

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[PGalt]

Condolences to Ernie Ladd's family and friends.

[GreenHornet]

I remember seeing Ernie Ladd at the old Philadelphia Arena in West Philly in the early 1970s. He was part of a 30 man "Battle Royal", pitting 15 "heels" against 15 "faces". As the match was about to start, Ernie Ladd gathered all of the "bad guys" into a huddle, and gave them their instructions - which "good guy" they would take out first, which one they would eliminate second, who would match up against who, etc. When he finsihed, the bell rang, and he turned around to lead the charge. However, his fellow "bad guys" grabbed Ernie from behind and tossed him out first!

Rest in Peace, Big Cat.

[Sue Perkick]

RIP Big Cat

[knarf]

After wrestling, Ladd had no problem finding something else to do, because he had long been an active crusader for the Republican party. A friend of the Bush family since the ‘60s, Ladd campaigned for both George Bush and George W. Bush. At the beginning of the year, George W. made Ladd a special deputy to his Presidential Inaugural Committee. In addition to his political activity, Ladd was part of a Christian ministry that provided services to prison inmates.

[Tainan]

Rest with The Lord Mr. Ladd.

Thank you.

[texicali]

how very very sad..he was a good guy....

[EveningStar]

Damn! :(

[Roberts]

Rest in peace, big fella.