Jean Rougeau
Encyclopedia
Jean Rougeau was a professional wrestler better known as Johnny Rougeau. Rougeau started wrestling in 1951 as Johnny Rougeau after an amateur wrestling
career. In 1956, he was joined by his brother, Jacques Rougeau, Sr.
. He had feuds with Abdullah the Butcher
, The Sheik
, Ivan Koloff, Hans Schmidt
and Killer Kowalski. He founded All-Star Wrestling in 1967.
with the Laval National in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
, which included NY Islander Mike Bossy
. He later served as the league's president from 1981 to 1983. The Jean Rougeau Trophy
was named in his honor and is awarded to the team that records the most points in the regular season.
, nightclub
owner, and politician
. Most notably, he was the bodyguard and chauffeur
of Québec
Premier
René Lévesque
during the 1960 election.
In 1982, he was awarded the Bene Merenti de Patria
, a silver medal awarded by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
every year to a native of Quebec who has demonstrated service to the homeland.
He died of cancer
on May 25, 1983. His funeral was attended by about 7,000 people. He was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
in Montreal.
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
career. In 1956, he was joined by his brother, Jacques Rougeau, Sr.
Jacques Rougeau, Sr.
Jacques Rougeau, Sr. is a former professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestlers Jacques Rougeau, Armand Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau.-Career:Jacques Rougeau, Sr. started wrestling in 1956 with his brother, Johnny Rougeau...
. He had feuds with Abdullah the Butcher
Abdullah the Butcher
Lawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time...
, The Sheik
Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik...
, Ivan Koloff, Hans Schmidt
Hans Schmidt (wrestler)
Guy Larose , better known by his ring name of Hans Schmidt, is a retired Canadian professional wrestler famous in the 1950s and '60s.-Wrestling career:...
and Killer Kowalski. He founded All-Star Wrestling in 1967.
Professional wrestling career
Rougeau was also one of the premier promoters in Quebec. In the late 60s, Rougeau gave Ivan Koloff his ring name.Ice hockey
Rougeau also coached ice hockeyIce hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
with the Laval National in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
, which included NY Islander Mike Bossy
Mike Bossy
Michael Dean Bossy is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played for the New York Islanders for his entire career and was part of their four-year reign as Stanley Cup champions in the early 1980s...
. He later served as the league's president from 1981 to 1983. The Jean Rougeau Trophy
Jean Rougeau Trophy
The Jean Rougeau Trophy is awarded annually to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team that records the most points in the regular season. The trophy was named for former league president Jean Rougeau.-Winners:-External links:* List of trophy winners....
was named in his honor and is awarded to the team that records the most points in the regular season.
Personal life
He was also at times a bodyguardBodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
owner, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Most notably, he was the bodyguard and chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
of Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
during the 1960 election.
In 1982, he was awarded the Bene Merenti de Patria
Bene merenti de patria
Bene merenti de patria is a silver medal created in 1923. It is awarded by the Quebec patriotic Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society to a "compatriot having rendered exceptional services to the homeland".- Laureates :*1924: Marie Lacoste Gérin-Lajoie...
, a silver medal awarded by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society
The Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society is an institution in Quebec dedicated to the protection of Quebec francophone interests and to the promotion of Quebec Sovereignism. Its current President is Mario Beaulieu....
every year to a native of Quebec who has demonstrated service to the homeland.
He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on May 25, 1983. His funeral was attended by about 7,000 people. He was buried at the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery
Founded in 1854, Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges is a 343-acre cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The entrance and the grounds run along a part of chemin Côte-des-Neiges and up the slopes of Mount Royal...
in Montreal.
In wrestling
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Hollywood Blonds (Dale ValentineDale HeyDale Hey is a retired professional wrestler better known as Buddy Roberts.-Professional wrestling career:Dale Hey grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. He started wrestling in 1965 as Dale Valentine, the "brother" of Johnny Valentine...
and Jerry Brown)
- Hollywood Blonds (Dale Valentine
Championships
- All-Star Wrestling
- All-Star Wrestling Heavyweight Champion (2 times)
- International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
- IWA International Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
- Montreal Athletic Commission
- MAC World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)