Dory Funk

Dory Funk
Ring name(s)	Dory Funk The Outlaw Dory Funk, Sr.
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Billed weight	230 lb (100 kg)
Born	May 4, 1919(1919-05-04) Hammond, Indiana
Died	June 3, 1973(1973-06-03) (aged 54) Amarillo, Texas

Dorrance Wilhelm "Dory" Funk^[1] (May 4, 1919 – June 3, 1973) was a professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk.

Career

Funk was an Indiana high school state champion amateur wrestler for three years, as well as an Indiana State University Amateur Athletic Union champion for one year.

Funk started professionally wrestling after serving in the United States Navy during World War II, starting in the southwest United States. He wrestled primarily in the Texas territories and the Central States territories during his career. He was also famous for having 250 Texas death matches without a loss and is a record that has never been broken.

After retirement he became a promoter in Amarillo, Texas with Doc Sarpolis, in which he led a thriving wrestling scene which produced many superstars, including his sons Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, as well as Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Tito Santana, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu. Funk had a good business relationship with All Japan Pro Wrestling founder Shohei Baba, which led Funk's talent pool to useful international experience.

On July 15, 2006, Dory Funk Sr. was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa. The award was accepted by his younger son, Terry Funk. Other inductees included Larry Hennig, Bret Hart, Mike DiBiase, Nikita Koloff, Tom Jenkins, and Bob Roop.

Dory Funk Sr. was heavily involved with the famous Cal Farley Boys Ranch in Amarillo..

June 3, 1973: Dory Funk Sr. died at the age of 54 (Dory Funk is buried at Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, Texas)

January 30, 2009: Dorothy Funk Culver,^[2] the mother of Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk, died at the age of 89..

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Florida Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario

• NWA All-Star Wrestling

• NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with Lou Thesz (1) and Pancho Pico (1)

• NWA Western States Sports

• NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Amarillo version) (2 times)
• NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (17 times)
• NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (7 times) - with Bob Geigel (1), Dick Hutton (1) and Ricky Romero (5)
• NWA Southwest Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Cowboy Carlos (2) and Bob Geigel (2)
• NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

References

1. ^ "Dory Funk Sr". Obsessed With Wrestling. http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/d/dory-funk-sr.php. Retrieved 2009-04-05. 
2. ^ "Dorothy Funk Culver". Amarillo Globe News. http://amarillo.com/stories/020209/obi_obits3.shtml. 

External links

	Biography portal
	Professional wrestling portal

• Handbook of Texas Online - Dory Funk, Sr.
• Interview on GENICKBRUCH.com
• "Dory Funk". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8127595. Retrieved August 30, 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Funk, Dory
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	May 4, 1919
Place of birth	Hammond, Indiana
Date of death	June 3, 1973
Place of death	Amarillo, Texas