Ski Hi Lee
Encyclopedia
Robert E. Leedy was a heavyweight professional wrestler who began his career around the end of the Second World War and was active for some twenty years. He is best known as Ski Hi Lee. His name is sometimes written as Ski-Hi Lee, Sky Hi Lee, Sky-Hi Lee or Sky High Lee and there may be other variations in use. The pronunciation is 'Sky High' rather than 'Skee High'. Much about his life is obscure; although he was well known in his time, there is little written information about him readily to hand in the public domain today.
Certain sources refer to Lee as a citizen of the USA and from Texas
to be specific but that was only the Storyline
persona he used in wrestling. In actuality he was from Toronto
in Canada
but wrestled using a cowboy "gimmick" and was therefore billed as being from the Lone Star State.
, because his towering presence made him easy to fear. He has been described as a "country bumpkin version of Jaws from James Bond
". The name Ski Hi Lee is a play on the name of wrestler Sky Low Low, a midget wrestler who used a Native American
gimmick. Owing to his great size Lee was not a very technical wrestler, resorting more to brawling and cheating than to finesse. Lee was almost always promoted as a "special attraction" in the territories he worked, drawing people to see him not because he wrestled for Championships but because they hoped that the local hero, or Face
, would beat the giant cowboy (see for instance the reference in the song "Ag Pleez Deddy", vide infra).
Although he was usually billed as "a special attraction", Lee did hold a couple of championship titles. In 1951 he defeated Al Mills for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship, a feat he'd repeat in 1952 to become a two time holder of the Canadian Heavyweight title. Some of Lee's most memorable matches were against other big men such as Killer Kowalski
, whom he wrestled in many promotions all over the United States and Canada. In the 1960s Lee retired from wrestling, the physical strain on his body having become too much for him.
and a restaurant just outside of his native Toronto. After retiring from the ring, Leedy had a role in theatre in Paris
, apparently as a caveman. He was married to a country singer named Billie Allen and sometimes appeared on stage with her as a comic foil. He was described as "a heavy-drinking rabble-rouser", who demonstrated his toughness by allowing his back to be used on stage as a dartboard. He would also on occasion order a shot at the bar and then proceed to eat the glass in front of the patrons. This was all razzamatazz and showmanship; those of his contemporaries who have written about him describe him as a gentle giant who in reality never harmed a flea.
Leedy is well remembered amongst older South Africa
ns, because he is mentioned in a locally-famous satirical song from the sixties entitled "Ag Pleez Deddy
" ("Oh Please Daddy", also known as "The Ballad of the Southern Suburbs", by Jeremy Taylor
, 1961), in which reference is made to a scheduled bout between Lee and a well-known South African wrestler, Willie Liebenberg. Whether this bout really took place and if so, who won, is moot. Lee certainly appeared in the ring in South Africa on many occasions and he also fought in Australia
.
The date of his death is not known, nor is the specific cause. It has been suggested that he suffered from a form of gigantism known as acromegaly
and that this shortened his life. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he worked in a pub in Pimlico. Students at the nearby Westmister Hospital were regularly told to go to the pub when he was working as he was a textbook case of acromegaly in terms of height and characteristic facial appearance. Among other manifestations of acromegaly is a cardiomyopathy. It has also been proposed that his sheer size induced a strain on his heart, while others have opined that he drank himself to death.
Certain sources refer to Lee as a citizen of the USA and from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
to be specific but that was only the Storyline
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
persona he used in wrestling. In actuality he was from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
but wrestled using a cowboy "gimmick" and was therefore billed as being from the Lone Star State.
Professional wrestling career
Leedy began wrestling in the mid 1940s, always working as a bad guy, or HeelHeel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
, because his towering presence made him easy to fear. He has been described as a "country bumpkin version of Jaws from James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
". The name Ski Hi Lee is a play on the name of wrestler Sky Low Low, a midget wrestler who used a Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
gimmick. Owing to his great size Lee was not a very technical wrestler, resorting more to brawling and cheating than to finesse. Lee was almost always promoted as a "special attraction" in the territories he worked, drawing people to see him not because he wrestled for Championships but because they hoped that the local hero, or Face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
, would beat the giant cowboy (see for instance the reference in the song "Ag Pleez Deddy", vide infra).
Although he was usually billed as "a special attraction", Lee did hold a couple of championship titles. In 1951 he defeated Al Mills for the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship, a feat he'd repeat in 1952 to become a two time holder of the Canadian Heavyweight title. Some of Lee's most memorable matches were against other big men such as Killer Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
, whom he wrestled in many promotions all over the United States and Canada. In the 1960s Lee retired from wrestling, the physical strain on his body having become too much for him.
Personal life
While still working as a wrestler Leedy also owned and operated a Dude RanchDude Ranch
Dude Ranch is the second studio album by American punk band Blink-182. Recorded at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California with producer Mark Trombino, the album was first released on June 17, 1997 in the United States on independent label Cargo Music...
and a restaurant just outside of his native Toronto. After retiring from the ring, Leedy had a role in theatre in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, apparently as a caveman. He was married to a country singer named Billie Allen and sometimes appeared on stage with her as a comic foil. He was described as "a heavy-drinking rabble-rouser", who demonstrated his toughness by allowing his back to be used on stage as a dartboard. He would also on occasion order a shot at the bar and then proceed to eat the glass in front of the patrons. This was all razzamatazz and showmanship; those of his contemporaries who have written about him describe him as a gentle giant who in reality never harmed a flea.
Leedy is well remembered amongst older South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
ns, because he is mentioned in a locally-famous satirical song from the sixties entitled "Ag Pleez Deddy
Ag Pleez Deddy
Ag Pleez Deddy is a classic South African song from 1961 sung by Jeremy Taylor. The song was written by Taylor's best friend, Pip, who was killed in the Rhodesian Bush War. Sung with a strong accent, it is full of references to places, brands, and entertainment popular among working-class white...
" ("Oh Please Daddy", also known as "The Ballad of the Southern Suburbs", by Jeremy Taylor
Jeremy Taylor (singer)
Jeremy Taylor is an English folk singer and songwriter who has spent much of his life in South Africa, originally as a teacher of English in southern Johannesburg, but since 1994 has lived in Wales and in France. Part stand-up comedian, part singer, Taylor has used his talents to confront the...
, 1961), in which reference is made to a scheduled bout between Lee and a well-known South African wrestler, Willie Liebenberg. Whether this bout really took place and if so, who won, is moot. Lee certainly appeared in the ring in South Africa on many occasions and he also fought in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The date of his death is not known, nor is the specific cause. It has been suggested that he suffered from a form of gigantism known as acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
and that this shortened his life. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he worked in a pub in Pimlico. Students at the nearby Westmister Hospital were regularly told to go to the pub when he was working as he was a textbook case of acromegaly in terms of height and characteristic facial appearance. Among other manifestations of acromegaly is a cardiomyopathy. It has also been proposed that his sheer size induced a strain on his heart, while others have opined that he drank himself to death.
Championships and accomplishments
- Stampede WrestlingStampede WrestlingStampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
- NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)The Calgary version of the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship was established in 1946, and became the top championship in Stampede Wrestling when that promotion opened in 1948; it held that status until 1972, when the title was vacated and later abandoned after the last champion, Dave Ruhl, was...
(2 times) - Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame