Joe Blanchard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Blanchard |
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| Birth name | Joseph Edgar Blanchard |
| Born | December 7, 1928 Haskell, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | March 22, 2012 (aged 83) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Children | 2, including Tully Blanchard |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Joe Blanchard Joltin' Joe |
| Billed height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 225 lb (102 kg). |
| Debut | 1953 |
| Retired | 1978 |
Joseph Edgar Blanchard (born December 7, 1928 – died March 22, 2012) was an American athlete. He was famous as a football player, a professional wrestler, and a wrestling promoter. His son, Tully Blanchard, was a well-known wrestler. His granddaughter, Tessa Blanchard, is also a wrestling champion.
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Joe Blanchard's Football Days
Joe Blanchard went to Kansas State University. There, he played football and was a top college wrestler. In 1950, he won the Big 7 Conference wrestling tournament.
He then played professional football for the Edmonton Eskimos. This team is part of the Canadian Football League. In 1952, he played in the Grey Cup championship game. His team lost to the Toronto Argonauts.
Some of his teammates later became famous wrestlers. These included Gene Kiniski and Wilbur Snyder. Blanchard played his last football season in 1954. He played for the Calgary Stampeders that year.
His Professional Wrestling Career
In 1953, Joe Blanchard started his professional wrestling career. He began wrestling in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling. He wrestled in many different places.
He had great success in Hawaii. There, he won the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship twice. He won these titles with his partner, Lord James Blears. He also did very well in Texas. He won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship two times.
Becoming a Wrestling Promoter
In 1978, Blanchard started his own wrestling company. It was called Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW). This company was based in San Antonio. He stopped wrestling that same year. He had wrestled for 25 years.
Blanchard ran SCW until 1985. He then sold the company. Later, in 1989, he became the President of the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He stayed with the AWA until it closed in 1991.
Later Life and Passing
Joe Blanchard passed away on March 22, 2012. He was 83 years old.
Championships and Awards
Joe Blanchard earned several important titles and honors:
- 50th State Big Time Wrestling
- NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Lord James Blears
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
See also
- List of professional wrestling promoters
- List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers
