Lou Thesz

WrestlingClassics.com ^ | April 28, 2002

[EveningStar]

I have just received word that professional wrestler Lou Thesz has died.

Mr. Thesz was born April 24, 1916. He could wrestle legit and is considered by many to be the greatest wrestler of all time.

He had recently undergone bypass surgery.

[agitator]

[AppyPappy]

He was on the History Channel last night in the History of Wrestling program.

[pankot]

He was the greatest!
Former St. Louisan and Thesz fan.

[firewalk]

bttt

[CounterCounterCulture]

Lou Thesz BUMP

[JCG]

Ironic, just saw him on the History Channel last night. In addition to having real wrestling skills he was an intelligent, articulate historian of the sport.

Lou Thesz of Glendale, Missouri, will be missed.

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

[bimbo]

I am very sorry to hear this ... A friend and I hitchiked from Pennsylvania to Chicago just to watch Lou Thesz wrestle Verne Gagne - I was 14 at the time.

[sinclair]

My Grandfather and Lou Thesz were personal friends. I can remember when I was between 6 and 9 years old Mr. Lou visiting on weekends. We would always have a bar-be-que and our whole family would gather. I believe he was World Champion at that time. It was exciting.

Don't know how or why my Grandfather knew him. Only that he would come around every once in a while.

[agitator]

While that HC piece on wrestling was interesting, they glossed over the 70's & early '80's. Not a single mention of Bruno Sammartino & only a quick shot of a picture of Capt. Lou Albano. The guys that kept wrestling alive in the '70's in the northeast were Capt. Lou & the Grand Wizard of Wrestling and they didn't even mention them...

[RichardW]

My goodness!! This brings back old memories. These were the days the whole family would sit around the 17" b&W TV on Saturday nights. I remember him well being from the St. Louis area.

[firewalk]

The guys that kept wrestling alive in the '70's in the northeast were Capt. Lou & the Grand Wizard of Wrestling and they didn't even mention them...

Bump to that! Also Classie Fred Blassie(sp?)

[AppyPappy]

It did skip the whole "immigrant group" push that occurred during that time. It ran the gauntlet from Italian (Bruno) to Polish (Putski) to Puerto Rico (Pedro Morrales)

[agitator]

They did interview Blassie "...pencil-neck geek!"

[firewalk]

Hahahaha! I loved how Lou called everyone cartoons!

[Iscool]

Wilbur Snyder was my favorite...

[RLK]

I remember Thez very well. He's still considered one of wrestling's greats along with Argentine Rocca, Bruno Sanmartino, and Gagne.

[EveningStar]

I just received word that we lost our greatest champion and one of our dearest friends, Lou Thesz at 7:35 this morning. He had been in the hospital for the last couple of weeks for heart surgery. His wife Charlie had kept us informed of his progress by e-mail and sent word of his passing this afternoon. Her words were upbeat and full of love.

In part of her message she said, "With a full heart and clear head, I can tell all of you Lou died content and with no regrets!"

She continued by saying, "Lou will be cremated here in Florida, I will take his ashes to St.Louis, we will have a simple memorial service (yet to be determined), and I will let his ashes go into the Merrimac River where his happy memories of life started. Later we will have a wake type party here in Winter Garden. Don't mourn - just love what he gave you. He loved and appreciated what you all gave him.

FULL ARTICLE

See also:

THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF LOU THESZ

BILL WATTS REMEMBERS LOU THESZ

[gcruse]

Yes, I can't think of Lou Thesz and those days without remembering Wild Red Berry, Gorgeous George, or the wrestlers we used to watch week after week in Amarillo, Dory Funk and Tommy Martindale (who we knew).

[EveningStar]

Rocca died about 25 years ago. Sammartino and Gagne are still very much alive.