Posted on 10/24/2005 1:12:17 PM PDT by Rakkasan1
Reggie "The Crusher" Lisowski, a professional wrestler considered a man of the people because of his blue-collar Milwaukee roots, died Saturday night. He was 79.
Lisowski never fully recovered from surgeries to remove a tumor at the base of his brain stem, his son David Lisowski told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday.
"He worked out on his last day. That's how he wanted to go," said David Lisowski of Delafield, Wis. "He did concentration curls and triceps work. He just had to work out every day. ... In his mind, he never thought he was old."
Two surgeries had affected Lisowski's ability to swallow and left him partially paralyzed, his son said.
Promoter Frank DeFalco said Lisowski was a constant in the world of wrestling in a career that went from the 1950s to the 1970s.
"The Crusher was a mainstay in professional wrestling for so long," DeFalco said. "He sold out the Milwaukee Auditorium and Arena on a number of occasions."
Lisowski learned to wrestle while in the Army in Germany during World War II and returned from the war and played semi-professional football, his son said.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
His partner was Dick "the Bruiser". I have forgotten who he called the Dolly sisters. Everyone else were "turkey necks".
My childhood WTCN 11 wrestling on Saturday night. My favorite was Doug Gilbert "Mr. High", holding the title with Mr Low. late 60's early 70's
I think one of the Dolly Sisters was Larry something-or- other. Used to go to WTCN's studio out on West Lake street back in the 60's to watch the matches live. Trying to remember the ring announcer's name. I think he was about five foot six, 140 pounds but was always in the wrestler's faces when he would interview them before the matches.
They wrestled wearing mohair blazers back then?
OMG! I remember Rick Rude - I didn't know he died!
It was Larry "Pretty Boy" Henning, but I can't remember his partner's name.
The mortality rate for wrestlers is astounding, a ton have died under the age of 40.
Unlike other sports, not many care if wrestlers drop dead by the boat load.
The Dolly Sisters, as the Crusher called them, were Larry "Pretty Boy" Henning and "Handsome" Harley Race.
he tagged with quite a few at different stages in life.
the Baron towards the end.
As I recall, he was Dick the Bruiser's long time tag team partner. I remember them always going against the Valiant brothers. (Luscious Jimmy and Handsome Johnny)
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