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The 4th Annual Gulf Coast Reunion, scheduled to begin on Friday morning, started (unofficially) in the motel parking lot at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Everyone gathered both inside and outside the hospitality room until 1:00 a.m. (Actually, Bob Boyer left his door open, so everyone decided to make his room the (un)official hospitality room ... and Bob made a great host.)
The "official" reunion began at 9:00 a.m. the next morning as everyone arrived at Mobile International Speedway for "coffee and visiting", but the "coffee" turned out to be a great spread of beverages, doughnuts, pastries, etc. All activities took place in a building that had been renovated and decorated by Lee Fields for this annual get- together. The entire day was spent just visiting with one another ... renewing old friendships, putting an end to old grudges, and making new friends.
The Friday evening program began with the "Pretty Legs Contest". The judges were Ella Waldek, The Fabulous Moolah, Ida Mae Martinez, and Sara Lee. The diverse assortment of calves and thighs made it a tough decision for the judges, but they finally chose Jerry Kozak as the eventual winner.
Terry Lathan, who read a side-splitting list of "10 Things Not To Do" at last year's reunion, entertained us with his impression of The Great Karnak. The remainder of the evening was turned over to anyone who wanted to share a story or talent.
At 9:30 p.m., it was back to the motel for more of the (un)official reunion in Bob Boyer's (un)official hospitality room. At 9:00 on Saturday morning, people began arriving at the (official) reunion site. After everyone walked around for an hour and renewed old friendships, Rip Tyler welcomed everyone and introduced Cornell Bryant, the son of Chief Little Eagle. Cornell opened the reunion with prayer, after which Bob Kelly introduced the Board of Directors and moderated a short business meeting.
Rip Tyler returned to introduce a few of our first-time guests, which included: Ted "Nightmare" Allen, Jerry Barber, Leon "Tarzan" Baxter, Frankie "The Great Mephisto" Cain, Randy "Moondog Rex" Colley, Buddy Colt, Chico Cortez, George Curtis, "Pancho Villa", Red Donovan, Bill Dromo, Tommy Fooshee, Billy Garrett, Jimmy "Bunkhouse Buck" Golden, Al Greene, Buddy Hack, Sylvia Hackney, Dennis Hall, Bill Howard, Christine Jarrett, Roger Kirby, Jerry Kozak, Nick Kozak, Karl Lauer, Ida Mae Martinez, Bubba Monroe, Rocket Monroe, Carl Roach, Len Rossi, Dean and Ruth Silverstone, Bobby Simmons, Richard Simmons (not the famous one), Tugboat Taylor, Ella Waldek, Roy Lee Welch, and Boris Zhukov.
Bill Bowman read a memorial list of all who had died since our last reunion and Rip Tyler rang the final bell for each. In recognition for their accomplishments and continued efforts to maintain professionalism in pro wrestling, Terry Lathan and Bob Kelly awarded the Pioneer Awards to Buddy Fuller (accepted by Lester Welch) and Lillian Ellison.
After a group picture was taken, everyone lined up at the buffet for a great lunch. Skip Wetjen, Betty Wetjen, Ricky Fields, and several helpers laid out a spread of food that included fried catfish, fried chicken, meatloaf, and plenty of good southern-style vegetables. The main event was a vast assortment of desserts that finished everyone off and made us completely miserable. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in preparing the food.
After we waddled back to our tables, the annual awards were presented. Terry Lathan and Bobby Fields awarded the Speedy Hatfield Award to Eddie Sullivan. In memory of his father, Dick Steinborn presented the Milo Steinborn Carpenter's Award to Norman Frederick Charles III, George "Bunk" Harris, and Tiger Conway Sr. Dick Dunn proudly accepted the much- coveted Over the Hill Award. Rocket Monroe was the obvious choice to take the Potato Award, while Billy Wicks received the Crowbar Award.
Representing other reunions were Red Bastien (Texas Shoot Out), Dean and Ruth Silverstone (Seattle Wrestling Reunion), and Lillian Ellison (Ladies International Wrestling Association).
Dick Steinborn received a special award, the Mechanics Award, for his wrestling accomplishments and for (well, let's just say "stealing the hearts") of a record number of young ladies during his career. Bill Bowman announced the actual number of ladies as 964, but Diamond Lil barged onto the stage and corrected him ... it was 965.
Karl Lauer presented Cauliflower Alley Club awards to Corsica Joe, Treach Phillips, and Sputnik Monroe. |
