Ida Mae Martinez
Encyclopedia
Ida Mae Martinez Selenkow (September 9, 1931 – January 19, 2010) was an American professional wrestler in the 1950s, known as Ida Mae Martinez. After her retirement in 1960, she appeared in the 2004 documentary Lipstick & Dynamite about the early years of female wrestling in North America. In addition to wrestling, Martinez was a yodeler, releasing the CD The Yodeling Lady Ms. Ida also in 2004. Martinez also obtained a Master's Degree
in Nursing and was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to work with AIDS
patients.
and Gloria Barattini, Martinez sought out promoter Billy Wolfe
. Wolfe invited her to train in Columbus, Ohio
. She debuted professionally in August 1951 in Ohio. She won the Championship of Mexico in 1952. She held the title until 1953.
She retired in 1960 after remarrying. In the 1980s, she became a board member for the Cauliflower Alley Club
. Martinez also was featured in the 2004 documentary about women's wrestling, Lipstick & Dynamite. In 2006, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
awarded her the Senator Hugh Farley Award for her contribution in and outside of the ring.
and raised in North Stonington
, where she lived with relatives after her mother abandoned her. She never knew her father.
Her guardians were reportedly abusive and she left home sometime between the ages of 13 and 15 to live with her cousin. She attended Norwich Free Academy
, but eventually dropped out of high school. In addition to school, she worked as a yodeler and singer at country and minstrel
shows. She married at age 17 and claimed that her husband was abusive. Her wrestling career began in 1948, when a customer, who was a wrestler, asked her if she wanted to wrestle. She said yes.
She retired from the ring in 1960 to marry a Baltimore businessman, Herbert Selenkow. They later had two daughters, but later divorced. She received her GED
in 1971, an Associate's Degree
in nursing in 1975, and a Bachelor's Degree
in nursing in 1980. Ten years later she received her Master's Degree
from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society Sigma Theta Tau
. She was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to care for AIDS
patients. She also published writings about her work with AIDS
patients.
She later converted to Judaism
. In 2004, she released a yodeling CD, The Yodeling Lady Ms. Ida. She appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show
as a yodeler in April 1999. She was also a member of the Western Music Association
.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Nursing and was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to work with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients.
Professional wrestling career
After watching a female professional wrestling match between Johnny Mae YoungMae Young
Johnnie Mae Young is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler and currently a WWE Ambassador.Young was an influential pioneer in women's wrestling, helping to increase its popularity during World War II and training many generations of wrestlers...
and Gloria Barattini, Martinez sought out promoter Billy Wolfe
Billy Wolfe
William Harrison “Billy” Wolfe was a professional wrestling promoter who was active from the 1930s to the 1950s. Wolfe was the husband and manager of Mildred Burke and ran a traveling troupe of women wrestlers alongside her.-Early life:...
. Wolfe invited her to train in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. She debuted professionally in August 1951 in Ohio. She won the Championship of Mexico in 1952. She held the title until 1953.
She retired in 1960 after remarrying. In the 1980s, she became a board member for the Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
. Martinez also was featured in the 2004 documentary about women's wrestling, Lipstick & Dynamite. In 2006, 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...
awarded her the Senator Hugh Farley Award for her contribution in and outside of the ring.
Personal life
Ida Marilyn St. Laurent was born in New London, ConnecticutNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
and raised in North Stonington
North Stonington, Connecticut
North Stonington is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,991 at the 2000 census. North Stonington was split off from Stonington in 1724.-Geography:...
, where she lived with relatives after her mother abandoned her. She never knew her father.
Her guardians were reportedly abusive and she left home sometime between the ages of 13 and 15 to live with her cousin. She attended Norwich Free Academy
Norwich Free Academy
The Norwich Free Academy founded in 1854 and in operation since 1856, is a high school located in the city of Norwich, Connecticut. The Academy serves as the primary high school for Norwich and the surrounding towns of Canterbury, Bozrah, Voluntown, Sprague, Lisbon, Franklin, Preston andseveral...
, but eventually dropped out of high school. In addition to school, she worked as a yodeler and singer at country and minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
shows. She married at age 17 and claimed that her husband was abusive. Her wrestling career began in 1948, when a customer, who was a wrestler, asked her if she wanted to wrestle. She said yes.
She retired from the ring in 1960 to marry a Baltimore businessman, Herbert Selenkow. They later had two daughters, but later divorced. She received her GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
in 1971, an Associate's Degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in nursing in 1975, and a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in nursing in 1980. Ten years later she received her Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society Sigma Theta Tau
Sigma Theta Tau
The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International exists to improve the health of people by increasing the scientific base of nursing research...
. She was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to care for AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients. She also published writings about her work with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients.
She later converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. In 2004, she released a yodeling CD, The Yodeling Lady Ms. Ida. She appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
The Rosie O'Donnell Show is an Emmy Award-winning American daytime television talk show hosted and produced by actress and comedian Rosie O'Donnell. It aired for six seasons from 1996 to 2002...
as a yodeler in April 1999. She was also a member of the Western Music Association
Western Music Association
The Western Music Association was incorporated in 1989 to promote and preserve western music in its traditional, historical, and contemporary forms....
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Senator Hugh Farley Award (2006)
- Other titles
- Championship of Mexico
- Ladies' International Wrestling Association Award (1989)
- Gulf Coast Wrestling Reunion Pioneer Award
- Seattle Hall of Fame Award (1999)