Ed Don George

Ed Don George (June 3, 1905 - September 18, 1985) was an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.

Career

Edward N. George (his birth and legal name) was born in North Java, New York. He wrestled for both St. Bonaventure University and for the University of Michigan. [University of Michigan Hall of Honor 1981 inductee Ed Don George- Wrestling] He also represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, placing 4th in his class (+87 kg.). [ [http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/spwremf0.html Wrestling - Freestyle - heavyweight ] ] During the years 1926-1929, Ed Don George attended the University of Michigan, with his concentration of study in engineering. [University of Michigan alumni office communication] Later on, in 1929, at St. Bonaventure University, he graduated with a college degree. [The St. Bonaventure University Athletics Hall of Fame list (1975 inductee)]

In the 1930s Ed took up the wrestling name "Ed Don George" and wrestled in numerous matches throughout the United States. In March of 1942 he joined the US Navy [letter from the National Archives and Records Administration] . There he taught hand-to-hand combat to naval air cadets. In December of 1945 he left the navy with the rank of Naval Commander. [letter from the National Archives and Records Administration]

During the late 1940s through the 1950s he promoted numerous wrestling matches in the United States. In the mid 1950s he found himself promoting wrestling at the casinos in Havana, Cuba until Fidel Castro came to power.

In 1949, Ed Don George bought a convert|375|acre|km2|sing=on parcel just east of North Java, New York where Camp O'Ryan was situated. [Records of the Wyoming County Clerk's Office, New York State, Liber 262, page 204, recorded on 2nd day of June 1949] He then very soon afterwards leased this land for 25 years to the Federal government, which built, in conjunction with New York State, a New York National Guard training site. ["National Guard Has Rifle Range in Wethersfield", Wyoming County Times, Warsaw, NY 1949 ]

Ed Don George died in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on September 18, 1985 and his body buried in the village of North Java, New York. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2006 he was inducted posthumously into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Championships and accomplishments

World Heavyweight Championship

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards:*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

ee also

*University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

References

External links

* [http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/misc/hohalpha.htm University of Michigan Athletics History]
* [http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/University_Michigan_Michiganensian_Yearbook/1928/Page_364.html University of Michigan 1928 Yearbook]
* [http://flickr.com/photos/9720826@N06/2253704092/ Ed Don George in the ring wrestling]
* [http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-13159482790260_2018_42207768 Ed Don George again in the ring]