Ed Don George
Encyclopedia
Edward Nicholas "Ed Don" George (June 3, 1905 - September 18, 1985) was an American
professional wrestler and wrestling promoter
.
. He wrestled for both St. Bonaventure University
and for the University of Michigan
. He also represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics
, placing 4th in his class (+87 kg.). During the years 1926-1929, Ed Don George attended the University of Michigan, with his concentration of study in engineering. Later on, in 1929, at St. Bonaventure University, he graduated with a college degree.
Quick and powerful, he took on the name "Ed Don George" and began his professional career shortly after returning from the Olympics. He captured the NWA world heavyweight title on December 10, 1930, from Gus Sonnenberg
. Double-crossed by Ed “Stranger” Lewis in Los Angeles on April 13, 1931, George dropped the title to the Strangler, but promoter Paul Bowser maneuvered it back to George, who held it for nearly four years, finally losing it to Danno O'Mahony
on June 30, 1935. George remained one of the top box office draws of the 1930s, and on April 5, 1937, defeated Al Perreira in Paris to capture the European version of the world title.
In March 1942 he joined the US Navy
. There he taught hand-to-hand combat to naval air cadets. In December 1945 he left the navy with the rank of Commander
.
During the late 1940s through the 1950s he promoted numerous wrestling matches in the United States. In the mid 1950s he found himself promoting wrestling at the casinos in Havana, Cuba
until Fidel Castro
came to power.
In 1949, Ed Don George bought a 375 acres (1.5 km²) parcel just east of North Java, New York where Camp O'Ryan
was situated. He then very soon afterwards leased this land for 25 years to the Federal government, which built, in conjunction with New York State, a New York National Guard training site.
Ed Don George died in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on September 18, 1985 and his body buried in the village of North Java, New York. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
in 1996. In 2006 he was inducted posthumously into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
.
World Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler and wrestling promoter
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
.
Career
George was born in North Java, New YorkJava, New York
Java is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 2,222 at the 2000 census. In the 2007 estimate, this had declined to 2,153.Contrary to practice elsewhere, the name is pronounced "Jay-vuh"....
. He wrestled for both St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
and for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He also represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, placing 4th in his class (+87 kg.). During the years 1926-1929, Ed Don George attended the University of Michigan, with his concentration of study in engineering. Later on, in 1929, at St. Bonaventure University, he graduated with a college degree.
Quick and powerful, he took on the name "Ed Don George" and began his professional career shortly after returning from the Olympics. He captured the NWA world heavyweight title on December 10, 1930, from Gus Sonnenberg
Gus Sonnenberg
Gustave Adolph Sonnenberg was an American football player and professional wrestler. As a wrestler, he was National Wrestling Association world heavyweight champion...
. Double-crossed by Ed “Stranger” Lewis in Los Angeles on April 13, 1931, George dropped the title to the Strangler, but promoter Paul Bowser maneuvered it back to George, who held it for nearly four years, finally losing it to Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony
Danno O'Mahony was an Irish professional wrestler. His surname was usually spelled "O'Mahoney" during his wrestling career...
on June 30, 1935. George remained one of the top box office draws of the 1930s, and on April 5, 1937, defeated Al Perreira in Paris to capture the European version of the world title.
In March 1942 he joined the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. There he taught hand-to-hand combat to naval air cadets. In December 1945 he left the navy with the rank of Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
.
During the late 1940s through the 1950s he promoted numerous wrestling matches in the United States. In the mid 1950s he found himself promoting wrestling at the casinos in Havana, Cuba
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
until Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
came to power.
In 1949, Ed Don George bought a 375 acres (1.5 km²) parcel just east of North Java, New York where Camp O'Ryan
Camp O'Ryan
Camp O'Ryan, a former New York United States National Guard training area, also known as the North Java Rifle Range and the Wethersfield Rifle Range, located east of North Java, in the Town of Wethersfield, in the County of Wyoming in New York State....
was situated. He then very soon afterwards leased this land for 25 years to the Federal government, which built, in conjunction with New York State, a New York National Guard training site.
Ed Don George died in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on September 18, 1985 and his body buried in the village of North Java, New York. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
in 1996. In 2006 he was inducted posthumously into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum is an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Amsterdam, New York. It was previously located in Schenectady, New York...
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Other titles
World Heavyweight Championship (original version) (1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- (Class of 2006)
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorThe University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...