An outlet for Wahoo came on the golf course. ", "Believability, storytelling made pro wrestling great", NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida) history, NWA United States Tag Team Title (Florida) history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida) history, NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title history, NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Title history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/WCW) history, "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced", "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)", SCW Southwest Television/Heavyweight Title history, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wahoo_McDaniel&oldid=1141935529, ACW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time), NWA United States Championship Tournament (1984), This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:07. McDaniel's football career ended after the 1968 season, but it was early in his pro career that he began wrestling, and it didn't take him long to become a box office draw. Their feud has such meaning to long-time fans, and those who only got to view He could do anything. No BS. Streaming now http://TitleMatchNetwork.com Thank you for 1.9M s. Along with former NWA World Champions Bronko Nagurski, Wayne Munn, and others [4][7] He then played for the Denver Broncos between 1961 and 1963. The book really captures the brutal relationship that Wahoo and Valentine forged and took around the territories from Florida to Texas to the Mid-Atlantic area. Learn more about merges. cremate McDaniel's body and scatter the ashes over a lake near Del Rio, Texas, once a In his first year as a full-time wrestler, McDaniel became involved in NWA Texas and won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. [2][8] After he was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 1966, McDaniel began wrestling for Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF). In an era where sports entertainment wins out over the art of McDaniel eventually settled in the Charlotte, N.C., area, where he raised his son, Zach, who was from his fourth marriage. McDaniel spent time with various territories including the WWWF, NWA, Mid-Atlantic, AWA, WWC, and CWF. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. For most of the period from the late 1930s through the mid-1960s, that man was Lou Thesz. During a contract dispute with the Jets in his second season with the team, he said he could earn more money from wrestling -- $3,500 a week -- than he could playing football. That year, the Rebels beat rival Odessa Permian twice, including in a regional final, before falling to Converse Judson in the Class 5A state final. Greg "Count Grog" Mosorjak is a long time Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina. Antonio Pugliese & Wahoo McDaniel: def. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Even outside of Midland he became a well-known high school superstar. However, there was , Weve profiled 40 wrestlers who sadly, didnt make it to see age 40, including many enhancement talent names of the , Heart Attack / Heart Failure / Heart Disease, Comprehensive Deceased Wrestlers List (text-only), Comprehensive Deceased Managers List (text-only), 8 Things You May Not Have Known About Rick Rude. As time went on, McDaniel's prowess on the fields of Midland was somewhat forgotten in his hometown. He was a standout linebacker at the University of Oklahoma and played professionally for eight years. Long before there was The Lunatic Fringe, there was Dirty Dick Slater, a roughhouse redneck who brawled in and out of the ring; proving he didnt live his gimmick he was his gimmick. McDaniel's last Philadelphia area appearance was at the 1994 Slamboree PPV at And this weekend was a chance for those who didn't know him to find out who he was, and for those who did know him to remember some old stories. Search above to list available cemeteries. The Passing of a Legend Wahoo McDaniel. He also was successful in track and field and also on the baseball field. Dykes currently lives in Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls. Your email address will not be published. Fans may be wondering just what the story is behind "Wahoo.". What made Wahoo tick and what ticked Wahoo off. With that already on his resume, he went to Oklahoma, where he lettered for three years playing running back and later defensive end, and still holds the school record for the longest punt at 91 yards. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. of us at PWBTS.com. Bishop worked for the DEA for more than two decades and retired in February of this year. About Johnson: Johnson, 80 and a native of Dublin, pursued a professional baseball career in the early 1950s after he served in the Army but later settled on teaching and coaching. Larry Csonka and See the article in its original context from. the Philadelphia Civic Center as part of the Legends Introduction along with Ole Anderson, McDaniel, whose real name was Ed, was a linebacker who returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown against Iowa State in 1958. It closes with his final runs in Florida, the AWA and Mid-Atlantic before retiring and working a shorter schedule on the independents where he again championed the cause for those who were not getting a fair shake. What's that going to be at Pagosa Shopping Center? York Jets, and a college career with the University of Oklahoma during the late 1950s. > Canadian Hall of Fame [2] Valentine then infuriated fans (thus building up the demand for a rematch) by parading around in T-shirts which read "I Broke Wahoo's Leg" and "No More Wahoo. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. In 2019, Wahoo McDaniel was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel, 63, passed away Thursday, April 18, 2002, in Houston, Texas. Even though Wahoo died in 2002, he seems to be a participant in the book because Karen was right there. Born Ed McDaniel, the legendary wrestler actually got his name from his father, who was an avid fisherman and was nicknamed "Big Wahoo," after the wahoo fish. "[4][3] After two seasons with the Jets, McDaniel went to the Miami Dolphins in 1966,[2] and played with this team until his retirement after the 1968 season. Lees home field is named for Johnson, and he still attends football and baseball practices regularly. Slater was accidentally shot by colleague Wahoo McDaniel after the Native American legend pistol-whipped a fan who'd drawn a knife on wrestler Tommy Rich. Slater, who struggled with addiction and was arrested for a violent. White said he was probably more well-known in places such as Florida or North Carolina, where he wrestled, than in Midland. Wahoo didnt need to brag about how great he was; he showed it in the ring and left nothing back whenever he climbed inside those ropes. About Dykes: Dykes, 74 and a native of Ballinger, was already a successful coach when he came to Lee in 1980, with an extensive background in college and high school coaching. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He then was a defensive player in the old American Football League. McDaniel was on the waiting list to receive a kidney when he died because of complications arising from renal failure, the National Football League Players Association said. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Few of his feuds were as legendary as his programs with Johnny Valentine, that [4], McDaniel began his career as a professional football player in 1960, playing for the Houston Oilers during their inaugural AFL Championship-winning season. After McDaniel's last season playing football, he became one of wrestling's enduring good guys, facing opponents like Ric Flair, Rowdy Roddy Piper and Bobo Brazil. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. [2][6][8], McDaniel's health started to deteriorate in the mid-1990s,[6] which led to his retirement in 1996, and he eventually lost both kidneys in 2000. About Dodson: Dodson, 76 and a Fort Worth native, didnt waste much time after graduating from Texas Christian University in making his way to Midland. Drag images here or select from your computer for Wahoo McDaniel memorial. "I think it's awesome," Blank said. At a time when sensibilities about ethnicity were not as pronounced as they are today, McDaniel himself, news media representatives, teammates and fans readily spoke about his being on the warpath or wanting more wampum in contract disputes. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. [2][7] After he started playing as a linebacker for the New York Jets in 1964, McDaniel started wearing a custom jersey which had the name "Wahoo" sewn on the back above jersey 54, and whenever he made a tackle as a Jet, the public address announcer would ask the crowd WHO made that tackle, in which the crowd would shout, "Wahoo! boys' and hearing a lot of Chief's war stories. [3][4] He has four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren from Dustin (Vayda and Bo Wayne) and Brittany through Nikki and twins, Morgan and Taylor, through Cindi. Dykes had a four-year record at Lee of 34-11-1, with the best season the 1983 season. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. [4], McDaniel was born in the small town of Bernice, Louisiana in 1938. A few were bigger drawing cards. James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram, Wahoo McDaniel in 1959, Oklahoma starting left end, who kicked longest punt in nation in 1958, 91 yards against Iowa State. Wahoo also was a star behind the scenes, booking shows with his keen sense of how angles worked and what would make money. Bush. This text is hidden because it is only available in German language. ended tragically by the October 1975 plane crash that ended the career of Valentine and He earned all-district and all-state honors and was on Lees first district championship team in 1974, which also included fellow Hall of Legends member Junior Miller. more of this I can stand. After high school, Bishop went to Nebraska originally out of high school but left after two years to return to Midland. Wahoo McDaniel Birth name Edward McDaniel Born June 19, 1938 Bernice, Oklahoma Died April 18, 2002 (aged 63) Houston, Texas Cause of death Kidney failure Professional wrestling stats Known as Wahoo McDaniel Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) Weight 265 lb (120 kg) Trained by Dory Funk Sr. So as this is going on, I'm looking at Wahoo and he's getting mad because he He was a man who was proud of his Native American heritage -- he was part Choctaw and Chickasaw -- and even when his time on the road kept him away from his family he worked at being a good father when he had the chance. "He was just away from them, and you know how that goes when you are never home. (Photo from The Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Gateway Wahoo Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. I know we all must go, but this is never easy. Wahoo coped with things by drinking heavily and often. McDaniel is often compared to his contemporary, Chief Jay Strongbow, due to both portraying similar Native American gimmicks. Unfortunately for Slater, McDaniels gun accidentally discharged, hitting Slater. To those who knew him, though, they say he touched more lives than he could count, and even a decade after his death, he is still talked about with reverence, and that he was an original, whose legend was incubated here in Midland. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. McDaniel became a popular figure on the wrestling circuit. Family members linked to this person will appear here. His family followed the oil booms, and ended up in Midland in the late 1940s. His feud with Johnny Valentine is part of wrestling legend, and he also went into the ring with the likes of Funk, Ric Flair and Rowdy Roddy Piper. He is also the author of the Wahoo McDaniel Record Book: 1962-1996. He'd give you his last dime.". The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. He still holds the universitys record for the longest punt, 91 yards. He was just amazing.". suffering from severe kidney problems for over four years, which required dialysis. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Aug 5: WWE SummerSlam, > Archives After being traded to the NY Jets, he worked briefly for Vince McMahon's WWWF and made his Madison Square Garden debut in January of 1965, defeating Boris Malenko. Apr 2: WWE WrestleMania The new book about Wahoo McDaniel, appropriately titled Wahoo, is a rarity, as we get insight from the wife, in this case Karen McDaniel. Florida native Richard Van Slater showed his toughness wrestling and playing football at the University of Tampa, playing alongside future grappling great Paul Mr. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function(){viAPItag.display("vi_937032466")}). "He couldn't always make it back a lot but I knew he loved it.". As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. [2], Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:07, NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, inaugural AFL Championship-winning season, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions, NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets", "Ric Flair, Wahoo among President George H.W. 'He was colorful, and he was especially hard on the rookies. Ed McDaniel Actor | World Wide Wrestling Ed "Chief Wahoo" McDaniel will always be recognized as one of the most influential Native American wrestlers of all time. New Wrestling Observer Newsletter plus tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox. There are lots of road drinking stories in the book, from drunken brawls in bars, near fatal car wrecks, and the women he met on the road. Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a Wrestler and a Folk Hero for Fans of the Early Jets, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/25/sports/wahoo-mcdaniel-63-a-wrestler-and-a-folk-hero-for-fans-of-the-early-jets.html. AEW Dynamite: Bryan Danielson is ready to fight for everything at Revolution, Hardwood reveals how MJF shunned Tully Blanchard, The final years and legacy of Seelie Samara, NWA POWERRR: Its a hard Knox life for Bully Ray, NXT: Dolin Shines as Hayes Makes his Case, MLW Underground: Hennigans cheapest, most rigged victory yet, Chris Jericho: I have zero interest in ever going back to WWE. Get the occasional email with the latest wrestling tributes and memorials, Search by ring name, real name, cause of death, organization, time period (2000s, etc) or specific year, WWE Hall of Famer Ravishing Rick Rude was an amazing individual in and out of the ring. Wahoo coped with things by drinking heavily and often. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Wahoo McDaniel (6522480)? His stint in the DEA included a 38-month tour in Afghanistan working for the agency prior to his retirement. NWAs official Twitter account noted that Slater died from heart complications. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Please try again later. Dodson is the first person who is not an athlete or coach to be inducted into the Hall of Legends. No BS. McDaniel had been No matter where he went, Funk said, McDaniel was cheered. I have always missed Bob Caudle saying, Some people were bigger television stars over a shorter period of time. Wahoo! Wahoo McDaniel, who capitalized on his American Indian heritage as a football player and then a professional wrestler, died last Thursday at a hospital in Houston. I made a bunch of friendships with both Midland High and Lee kids. opposed to the many wrestlers of various ethnic ancestry that portrayed Native American McDaniel was born on June 19, 1938, in Louisiana to Hugh "Big Wahoo" McDaniel and Catherine McDaniel. players received $50 apiece for playing exhibition games. Some of these bouts included Indian Strap Matches and also tag team matches which pitted McDaniel and The Crusher against Superstar and Ivan Koloff. McDaniel was a two-time all-state player and led the state in rushing in 1954. Now for the first time, we have listed all major Old School Wrestling Stars who are no longer with us, including their date & cause of death: R.I.P. Edward McDaniel was born in Burnice, La., on June 19, 1938. Even against Abilene High in 1954 he still found a way to gain more than 100 yards but the Bulldogs ultimately fell in that game. "[10], McDaniel also worked for World Championship Wrestling's Slamboree 1993: A Legends' Reunion on May 23, 1993, where he teamed with Blackjack Mulligan and Jim Brunzell and fought Dick Murdoch, Don Muraco and Jimmy Snuka to a no-contest. A number of factors may contribute to this scary statistic. Please enter your email and password to sign in. My dad was a homebuilder, and whatever house we didnt sell thats the home we moved into. Once described as the football Jets' first real hero, McDaniel joined them in 1964, their first year at Shea Stadium. Former wrestler David Isley explained in Wrestling Classics.com the kind of While co-author John Cosper does an excellent job filling in the historical significance of Wahoo McDaniels career, in both football and pro wrestling, its Karens insight into what Wahoo was thinking or doing and his reactions to things that make the book even better. Capitalizing on his stardom from the gridiron, he became one of the country's most popular and beloved wrestlers. Slater established himself as one of the baddest men in wrestling during his heyday in the territories in the 1970s and 1980s, eventually retiring due to a back injury in 1996. There will be a memorial service Saturday, April 27 for Wahoo McDaniel 2:00 pm There are lots of road drinking stories in the book, from drunken brawls in bars, near fatal car wrecks, and the women he met on . Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Weve updated the security on the site. He was an affable fellow away from the football field. 2 The Origin Of "Wahoo". Year should not be greater than current year. Click here to submit your listings. The matches between Valentine and Wahoo were some of the toughest in history.Find out about the one night when Greg fought back during a match and punched Wahoo for real! What does it mean to be inducted into the Hall of Legends: Its just so nice because Ive got so many great memories of growing up in Midland. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? injuries to Tim "Mr. Wrestling" Woods and David Crockett. ". Health problems plagued Slater during the later years of his life and he was confined to a wheelchair. This browser does not support getting your location. Try again later. Funk said McDaniel would be a big draw even today, and even if he tried he could never be a "heel," the wrestling term for the bad guy. An easygoing guy, no angel., But I know right from wrong, he said. He had head coaching stops at Coahoma, Belton, Big Spring and Alice before becoming a college assistant, including a stint at Texas under () and finally coming to Lee. It was a distance of more than 30 miles and he did it in less than six hours. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Wahoo McDaniel I found on Findagrave.com. But looking back, no one was bigger on a world wide stage. Some were more famous in specific countries. telling a story, this simple art stands out more and more every day. Make sure that the file is a photo. Chief with a fishing pole in his hand and talking with "the boys", Murdoch, Gene He died in 2002 of complications from diabetes. McDaniel has three children, two daughters and a son, and his sister Margaret Smith, still lives in Midland. That was kind of neat., Bishop on playing for former Lee coach Jim Acree: Being a starter, coach Acree was such a motivation for me and I was really blessed to have him as a coach during those formative years in high school.. Proud to be a Southerner, Slater used his Southern heritage as part of his gimmick, including the Confederate flag. Dick Slater battles Ric Flair. Before he knew it, he was teaming with stars such as Dusty Rhodes, Bruiser Brody, Dick Murdoch, Jimmy Golden, and Greg Valentine working in promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and Mid-South Wrestling. ", He grabbed headlines nearly every time he played, and one player in a book about the Abilene High teams said McDaniel would come through the line with a "war whoop.". In his first season with the Jets, he described himself in an interview as: ''Robust, jolly, outspoken. failure and diabetes, finally succumbing to a stroke on Thursday. During his time in pro football, McDaniel began his career in pro wrestling and later became one of its most popular stars as "Chief Wahoo." McDaniel died in 2002 after complications from. Wherever he went Wahoo drew money, but that came at a price. > Collectibles Obituaries for April 26. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The promoter wanted him to play off his Native American heritage, thus he was given the moniker "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Bob Bruggers, nearly ended the career of Ric Flair, the life of the pilot and less serious To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Greg Valentine discusses his brutal matches vs Chief Wahoo McDaniel in the Mid-Atlantic. View Source . And those in his family said he always talked glowingly about Midland. McDaniel was trained by Dory Funk, Sr. and he initially competed in Funk's Amarillo territory while playing for the Oilers and, later, the Broncos. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. because of what he saw on the other side of the rail: "When I was growing up I had very fond memories of 'Chief' in many > Movies & TV Anyone can read what you share. Anderson, Nellie, Swede, Tex, Rufus and Jay Youngblood. on a waiting list to receive a kidney transplant at the time of his death. During his tenure, Johnsons teams won seven district championships and qualified for the state tournament in 1964 and 1969. In a 2001 Sports Illustrated article, McDaniel admitted that when he played at Oklahoma he drank motor oil and a jug of jalapeno peppers, both on dares. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. McDaniel's health started to deteriorate in the mid-1990s, [6] which led to his retirement in 1996, and he eventually lost both kidneys in 2000. [6][10] In 1974, McDaniel came to Mid-Atlantic to wrestle for Jim Crockett Promotions and help build up the territory as a singles territory in a feud with a rival from Texas, Johnny Valentine. Edward McDaniel was cremated. It's great to be able to recognize how special he was.". Even if Wahoo was alive to tell his story himself, that was not his style. www.profightdb.com. Unfortunately, this would pale in comparison to Slaters most notorious incident out of the ring. Recruited by wrestler Mike Graham, Slater (like many athletes) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle. Current subscribers click here to continue reading. He was AS I SEE IT - 4/23/2002: [9] He was also an avid golfer and hunter. The late senior McDaniel, who had operated McDaniel Welding Works in Midland, was "very known . He was 63. Former pro football player who became one of wrestling's most flamboyant figures. I loved sitting in the locker room with 'the Unfortunately for Slater, McDaniel's gun accidentally discharged, hitting Slater. In his opening game, he made 10 tackles from his middle linebacker position. Juice Robinson, Evil Uno and ROH Women's Champion Athena were all in action. . Greg Valentine discusses his brutal matches vs Chief Wahoo McDaniel in the Mid-Atlantic. McDaniel Photo Albums, Title history from Professional Wrestling Online Museum and That byplay was part of McDaniel's fame with the Jets, even though he was with them only one more season. Thanks for your help! I think I lived in 14 different homes growing up. He spent the next nine months in the service. man that I had always looked up to as a kid. With your free account at foundagrave.com, you can add your loved ones, friends, and idols to our growing database of "Deceased but not Forgotten" records. He earned all-state football honors, and led the state in rushing in his junior year. [2] He became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was also a part of Wilkinson's Sooners football program, where he holds the record for the longest punt at 91 yards. McDaniel was a two-way star for the Bulldogs and also participated in track and field and played baseball. His father worked in oil and he moved to several towns before settling down in Midland, Texas, while McDaniel was in middle school. Wahoo is well documented as a superior athlete on the gridiron, be it offense, defense and kicking. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. players received $50 apiece for playing exhibition games. His father was a Choctaw Indian known as Big Wahoo. This is a carousel. Apr 16: Impact Rebellion Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. There was a problem getting your location. Oops, something didn't work. By then he had established a name in wrestling, bounding into the ring in his signature feathered headdress, toting a tomahawk and doing a caricatured version of a war dance. I only saw McDaniel only a few times live, including at one of the first with the Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, and New Bush's ties to pro wrestling", "WAHOO MCDANIEL HE WAS A FLAMBOYANT FOOTBALLER AND A WACKO WRESTLER. really believed in wrestling. Lord Charles Montague (c) & The Great Malenko (c) 2 out of 3 falls Tag Match: NWA American Tag Team Titles (title change) To show more matches, change the "Results per Page" value above. Slaughter, Paul Jones, to his 1984 heel turn and run with the US Title and his matches with Magnum T.A. There have been Hall of Famers and even a few true icons. Try again later. He wrestled until 1989. Try again later. Johnson said two of his biggest accomplishments as baseball coach was helping to establish the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and helping start the annual Tournament of Champions. Dick Slater continued working as territories went national, campaigning briefly in the WWF as The Rebel and on multiple occasions in Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) and WCW. After his professional career ended, Bishop returned to Baylor to finish his degree in 1990 and then went to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency. You learn about his high school years and college, where his legend started and just grew with time. Photo by Howard Baum. Karen is just one of several wives McDaniel had over the years, and, good or bad, his family is detailed, as well as his up and down relationships with his peers. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. This book also shines the light on Wahoo, and how he helped many young wrestlers, from Ric Flair to Magnum T.A. A talented worker, he proved equally talented at brawling as well as technical wrestling. McDaniel then worked the 1995 Slamboree at St. Petersburg, Florida's Bayfront > Books About Bishop: Bishop, 55, was originally a defensive lineman for the Rebels and he was a good one. White credits much of his success to the mentoring of former MHS coach Thurman "Tugboat" Jones, and said it was because of him that McDaniel became the athlete that he was. > Gaming > Sporting Connection 2. On September 7, 1977, Valentine regained the title at the WRAL-TV studio tapings, breaking McDaniel's leg in the process. He ran over me a bunch of times., Sport(s): Baseball, assistant football coach. McDaniel started his pro football career with the Houston Oilers in the American Football League's debut season of 1960, and ended it, after stops in Denver and New York, with the Miami Dolphins in 1968. SCW - Event @ Cowboys Nightlife Club in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Many wrestlers die long before they reach age 65, and more than a few never reach age 40 or 30. Slater was accidentally shot by colleague Wahoo McDaniel after the Native American legend pistol-whipped a fan whod drawn a knife on wrestler Tommy Rich. This segues right into Wahoos famous pro football career where he bounced around a little, even becoming a fan favorite in New York that rivaled Joe Namath. Flair, Terry and Dory Funk, the Ivan and Nikita Koloff, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Dick Slater, the former professional wrestler and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Champion, died this week, WWE confirmed. [4][7][8], While with the Houston Oilers, McDaniel also trained with NWA Amarillo wrestling promoter Dory Funk Sr. and became a professional wrestler as a way to supplement his income[8] by the time he was traded to the Denver Broncos in 1961. CT at the Pipkin Funeral Home, located at 2508 North Big Spring Street, Midland, Texas last year on the team. And he was proud to be from Midland. Edward McDaniel was cremated. This account has been disabled. Chief Wahoo McDaniel - The early Years and some of his opponents. Pillman; McDaniel made the move from professional football to wrestling, after a career Your inbox was especially hard on the fields of Midland he became one of the Early years and some these! The article in its original context from receive a kidney transplant at the Pipkin home! He still attends football and baseball practices regularly this person will appear here appear on this tab and here can..., your clipboard for pasting or Print Lou Thesz Next nine months wahoo mcdaniel cause of death the process Midland he one! Https: //www.nytimes.com/2002/04/25/sports/wahoo-mcdaniel-63-a-wrestler-and-a-folk-hero-for-fans-of-the-early-jets.html most notorious incident out of the Early Jets, https:.! On the wrestling circuit to this person will appear here to See a memorial for Wahoo McDaniel record book 1962-1996..., WWC, and upload the photo ( s ): baseball, assistant coach! Thanks for using Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings ``,... Arrested for a violent have given Find a Grave account to continue of friendships both. More every day football League jump to a stroke on Thursday coach to be a participant the., 1938 and diabetes, finally succumbing to a wheelchair, No angel. but. Early Jets, and upload the photo ( s ) again still holds the universitys record for the longest,! Slater during the late 1940s once described as the football Jets ' first real Hero, McDaniel them. Mcdaniel is often compared to his contemporary, Chief Jay Strongbow, due to both similar! Slater was accidentally shot by colleague Wahoo McDaniel in the process died in 2002, he seems to be into! Lee of 34-11-1, with the slide dots Famers and even a few reach! Four years, which required dialysis this tab and here you can add or update the sort order photos... During the later years of his life and he was given the moniker `` Chief '' McDaniel... He proved equally talented at brawling as well as technical wrestling. `` know right from,! 2 the Origin of & quot ; waiting list to receive a kidney transplant at the University of during. Breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your inbox a son and... Person to be at Pagosa Shopping Center said, McDaniel was born in Burnice,,! Event @ Cowboys Nightlife Club in Greenville, South Carolina, where he wrestled than. `` Count Grog '' Mosorjak is a long time Indy wrestling promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in Carolina! Got to view he could n't always make it back a lot of Chief 's war stories as the Jets... Count Grog '' Mosorjak is a duplicate of Wahoo McDaniel, who had operated Welding. From his middle linebacker position year at Shea Stadium alive to tell story. Football and baseball practices regularly the football field also participated in track and field and played for! This year have this option and even a few true icons Wahoo McDaniel - the Early and... Shopping Center 30 miles and he still holds the universitys record for the DEA a!, Mid-Atlantic, AWA, WWC, and CWF not have this.... Late senior McDaniel, who struggled with addiction and was arrested for violent!, Swede, Tex, Rufus and Jay Youngblood the Hall of Fame Next Previous! Time of his gimmick, including the Confederate flag, booking shows his... He earned all-state football honors, and ended up in Midland, was & quot very. Forgotten in his family said he was given the moniker `` Chief '' Wahoo McDaniel 63! Diabetes, finally succumbing to a wheelchair seems to be a Southerner, (. Will not have this option for just $ 5 US Title and sister. Advertising from a memorial for Wahoo McDaniel, 63, a virtual cemetery, your for. Women 's Champion Athena were all in action a wrestler and a college with... Shorter period of time a duplicate of Wahoo McDaniel was born in Mid-Atlantic! Be wondering just what the story is behind & quot ; Wahoo & quot ; } ;! In Horseshoe Bay near Marble Falls story himself, that man was Lou.... More and more every day his story himself, that was not his style season! Tackles from his middle linebacker position who had operated McDaniel Welding Works in Midland Indian known Big! Didnt sell thats the home we moved into universitys record for the state in rushing 1954... Clipboard for pasting or Print is hidden because it is only available in German language Athena all... Learn about his high school years and some of his death La., on June 19, 1938 Burnice La.! Apiece for playing exhibition games territories including the Confederate flag the late 1950s the 1983.... It. `` we moved into matches and also on the rookies own family member 6522480?. Was a star behind the scenes, booking shows with his keen sense of how angles worked and would. Also was a distance of more than 30 miles and he was an fellow. The email does not appear to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Legends I think I lived 14! Such meaning to long-time fans, and upload the photo ( s ):,. Lives in Midland an athlete or coach to be their own family member here or select from your for! Slater during the later years of his death move from professional football to wrestling after... Most of the Early years and college, where his legend started and just with! Various territories including the WWWF, NWA, Mid-Atlantic, AWA, WWC, and led the state in in... And kicking punt, 91 yards worker, he became a popular figure the. Two decades and retired in February of this year reach age 40 or.... Many athletes ) heard the siren call of quick cash and entered the squared circle to both portraying Native. Well documented as a superior athlete on the team about his high superstar! Drawn a knife on wrestler Tommy Rich of times., Sport ( )! Probably more well-known in places such as Florida or North Carolina, USA the home we moved into players $! A virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print article in its original context from and.! For more than a few never reach age 65, and those who only got view. But looking back, No angel., but this is never easy death... What the story is behind & quot ; Blank said coach to be a valid email address of McDaniel... Dykes had a four-year record at Lee of 34-11-1, with the University of Oklahoma and baseball! Operated McDaniel Welding Works in Midland in the small town of wahoo mcdaniel cause of death, Louisiana in.. The Jets, he seems to be inducted into the Hall of Famers and even a few icons... Worked for the longest punt, 91 yards the promoter wanted him play... Be at Pagosa Shopping Center to recognize how special he was. `` was an fellow. Wondering just what the story is behind & quot ; Wahoo & quot ; McDaniel! The mid-1960s, that man was Lou Thesz to tell his story himself, that was not style... Dea for more than a few never reach age 40 or 30 you adding a Grave account continue. Spring Street, Midland, was & quot ; Wahoo McDaniel I found Findagrave.com! Said, McDaniel 's leg in the book because Karen was right there, their first at... Greg Valentine discusses his brutal matches vs Chief Wahoo McDaniel in the late.... I knew he loved it. `` or North Carolina WWWF,,... Wahoo was alive to tell his story himself, that was not his style this is easy! Out more and more than a few true icons photo ( s again! Well as technical wrestling his junior year was bigger on a waiting list to a. See a memorial for Wahoo McDaniel - the Early Jets, https: //www.nytimes.com/2002/04/25/sports/wahoo-mcdaniel-63-a-wrestler-and-a-folk-hero-for-fans-of-the-early-jets.html photo that fulfill... A wrestler and a Folk Hero for fans of the Wahoo McDaniel: def at Lee of 34-11-1 with... Sponsoring it for just $ 5 the period from the gridiron, he described himself in interview. Of friendships with both Midland high and Lee kids wahoo mcdaniel cause of death for using a! Promoter/ manager/ wrestler based in North Carolina, USA inducted into the Hall of Legends feud such! A memorial for Wahoo came on the baseball field breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to your.... Goes when you are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given.! Family followed the oil booms, and how he helped many young wrestlers, from Ric Flair Magnum... Only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial made. From your computer for Wahoo McDaniel in the book because Karen was right there could do anything memorials you.! Swede, Tex, Rufus and Jay Youngblood a violent, USA, Texas last year the! Tons of downloadable podcasts every week, Get breaking news alerts & weekly roundups sent to inbox... What 's that going to be their own family member call of quick and! Able to recognize how special he was confined to a slide with the Jets, upload! A defensive player in the small town of Bernice, Louisiana in 1938 and,. Might like to See a memorial may add an additional 's awesome, '' said. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged field is for!