Eddie Scarf

Edward "Eddie" Richard Scarf (November 3, 1908 – January 7, 1980) was a wrestler from Australia, who won the bronze medal in the men's light heavyweight freestyle division.

Born in Quirindi, New South Wales, as the fourth child of Lebanese-born parents, Scarf was educated at the Marist Brothers' School, North Sydney, where he excelled at sport. In 1927 he won the New South Wales amateur heavyweight wrestling championship. Although he retained it in 1928, and also won the State middleweight title and an Olympic Games test-tournament, he was not selected for the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

In 1930 he took the New South Wales heavyweight championships in both wrestling and boxing. A string of wrestling titles – including the Australian heavyweight championship in 1929 and 1932 – earned him a spot in the national team for the 1932 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, California. He won a bronze medal in the light-heavyweight freestyle event, Australia's first Olympic medal in wrestling. He was defeated in his final bout by eventual gold medalist Peter Mehringer from the United States.

Returning to Sydney, Scarf built up the family's butchery business in Narrabeen and consolidated his wrestling career. He won his third Australian heavyweight championship in 1935 and the New South Wales and national light-heavyweight titles in 1937 and 1938. Continuing to excel in boxing as well, he gained the State heavyweight championship in 1934 and 1938. His performances at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany aroused considerable excitement. In a tough and contentious wrestling tournament – during which several countries protested against decisions by the judges – a number of questionable decisions went against him, and he finished sixth in the light-heavyweight division. Two years later he won the gold medal in that division at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney.

Turning professional, Scarf won a competition promoted by Stadiums Ltd to decide the Australian heavyweight wrestling championship in 1938. He drew large, animated crowds, especially on November 11, 1940 when he defeated 'Chief Little Wolf' (Ventura Tenario) on points and took home £100 from a side-wager on the match. On April 29, 1941 Scarf enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and was employed as a storekeeper. He served (1943-45) with the Parachute Training Unit and was discharged on February 7, 1945.

After the war, he briefly resumed wrestling before concentrating on his business and opening shops at North Narrabeen, Dee Why and Palm Beach. Involved in community and charity work, he was a founding member of the Warringah Rotary Club, and president and first patron of the House With No Steps. In semi-retirement, he moved to Muswellbrook in 1969 and ran a feedlot. He died on January 7, 1980 in Camperdown and was buried in Mona Vale cemetery; his wife, and their daughter and two sons survived him.

External links

* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160216b.htm ADB biography]