Ann Casey facts for kids

Lucille Ann Casey (born September 29, 1938 – died March 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler. She was best known by her ring names Ann Casey and Panther Girl.

Ann Casey's Early Life

Ann Casey was born in Saraland, Alabama. She was one of nine children in her family. Her family later moved to a cotton farm in Mississippi. Ann went to school in Agricola, Mississippi. After finishing school, she got married and had a son.

Starting Her Wrestling Journey

In 1962, Ann was working at the ticket counter for a professional wrestling promotion. This is a company that organizes wrestling matches. There, she met The Fabulous Moolah, a famous wrestler. Moolah offered to train Ann to become a wrestler. Ann decided to take the offer and moved to South Carolina to train.

Ann Casey's Wrestling Career

Ann Casey's first wrestling match was in the fall of 1962. It was a tag team match. In a tag team match, two wrestlers work together against another team. Ann and Judy Grable teamed up against Rita Cortez and Brenda Scott. Ann also wrestled Miss Brenda in a special match where you had to win two out of three rounds.

Traveling and Challenges

While working with The Fabulous Moolah, Ann traveled all over the United States. She was one of the first women to ever compete in a tag team match in Hawaii. While in Hawaii, Ann took a short break from wrestling.

Two years later, Ann returned to the United States and to professional wrestling. She worked for important promoters like Vince McMahon, Sr. and Vince McMahon, Jr.. She wrestled Donna Christanello at Madison Square Garden in New York City. In 1964, she teamed with Penny Banner against Cora Combs and Kathy O'Brien.

Winning Championships

In 1972, Ann faced a very serious incident that caused her severe injuries. Doctors thought she might not be able to wrestle again. But Ann was incredibly strong and determined. She recovered quickly and was back in the wrestling ring within a few months!

In 1974, Moolah offered Ann the chance to win the USA Women's Wrestling Championship from her. Ann won the title and was never defeated for that belt. Later that year, Ann also won the NWA United States Women's Championship. She won it by defeating Toni Rose. Ann held this championship for about four years. She later lost it to Joyce Grable. In 1975, a wrestling magazine called Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Ann Casey the "Girl Wrestler of the Year". This was a big honor!

Retirement and Later Life

Ann Casey got married again in the 1970s and had a daughter. She still wrestled sometimes. From 1980 to 1985, she worked for the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Later, she earned a special license to work in law, called a paralegal license. She also earned a college degree in criminal justice and psychology from the University of South Alabama.

After her second marriage ended, she worked as a bail bondsman. She also opened a restaurant and drove trucks. Ann Casey's last wrestling match was in 1990. She defeated Judy Grable to keep her USA Women's Championship. In 2004, she was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club. This is a group for retired professional wrestlers.

Writing Her Story

After she stopped wrestling, Ann Casey wrote a very long book about her life. It was called ‘Autobiography of professional woman wrestler, Ann Casey: The Lady, The Life, The Legend.’ The book was over 1,000 pages long! A shorter version of her story appeared in a sports magazine in 2014. It was titled "The Legend of Panther Girl."

Death

Ann Casey had a heart attack in 2005. She was in the hospital in her later years. She passed away on March 1, 2021, at the age of 82.

Championships and accomplishments

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Honoree (2004)
• National Wrestling Alliance
  • NWA United States Women's Championship (1 time)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Girl Wrestler of the Year (1975)
• Other titles
  • USA Women's Wrestling Championship (1 time)
  • Southern States Ladies Championship
  • Mississippi State Ladies Championship