Felix G. "Pete" Mead was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middleweightMiddleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxerBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought in the ring from 1942 to 1951. He was defeated in his last fight by
Rocky GrazianoRocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
of
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. In 1989, Mead wrote his
autobiographyAn autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
,
Blood, Sweat and Cheers, a collector's item that can sell for as much as $135. He was inducted in 1993 into the
OhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Boxing Hall of Fame.
Mead fought fifty-six times in the ring, both in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and overseas. His boxing career was interrupted by
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which he served in the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. However, he fought several exhibition bouts during his military years.
In 1946, Mead made his first of several appearances at
Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City with a six-round decision over Tommy Merrill. He defeated thereafter Vince LaSalva and Jerry Fiorello. He split two bouts with
Herbie KronowitzHerbert "Herbie" Kronowitz, originally Theodore "Ted" Kronowitz , is a retired American middleweight boxer who fought in the ring from 1941 to 1950. After his boxing career ended, Kronowitz was a highly-regarded referee for nearly thirty years...
, the Jewish American fighter from Brooklyn. He then defeated Sonny Horne of
Niles, OhioNiles is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 20,932 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Thereafter, he whipped Fritzie Zivic.
In 1947, Mead lost a verdict in The Garden to Harold Green. He then lost to Sonny Horne but rebounded to defeat him in their second mathup. He then knocked out Rueben Shank in the tenth round. He secured eight more victories, including split decisions over the Cocoa Kid and Herbie Kronowitz. He lost to Vinnie Rossano but stopped Joey DeJohn in five rounds.
In 1948, Mead again outscored Kronowitz, but he then lost a split verdict to Al Priest. He lost another decision to Priest as well but rallied twice to defeat Tony Masciarelli. On June 14, 1948, Walter Cartier knocked out Mead in the third round. It was Mead's first knockout. He returned to defeat
Charley ZivicCharley Zivic later known as Charley Affif, was a Lebanese American professional boxer from 1944 through 1951, with 42 wins, 13 losses, and 4 draws...
and to draw with Joe Rindone. He stopped at the
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Arena to defeat Mickey Doyle on points. He lost a rematch with Rindone.
On February 25, 1949, Mead met DeJohn again in what is considered to have been one of the greatest fights ever at The Garden. Mead got off the floor in the third and fifth rounds and stopped DeJohn in round seven. This fight has been called "the bloodiest" ever in The Garden. It was also Mead's last victory. This fight was hailed by
Ring magazineMagazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
as one of the ten greatest fights of the 20th century.
Mead then lost to the
FrenchThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
contender Robert Villemain at The Garden. He, again, met DeJohn, this time in
Rochester, New YorkRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and DeJohn triumphed in the seventh round.
Mead then traveled to
Great BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, where he lost on points to Dave Sands. He was stopped in the fourth round by Randy Turpin. In 1950, Mead returned to the United States but was knocked out by
Rocky GrazianoRocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
in three rounds. His career hence ended with a 39-16-1 record.
Mead was born in
TrumannTrumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at ....
in
Poinsett County in northeastern
ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
but lived his later years in the nearby larger
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of
JonesboroJonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
, the seat of
Craighead CountyCraighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
. His parents were Ed Mead and the former Ethel Shandlin.
After leaving the ring, Mead lived for a time in
Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. He later moved to Jonesboro, where he operated a construction company. He was married for some sixty-five years to a Trumann, Arkansas native, Dorothy M. Russell (December 4, 1921 - May 12, 2004). The couple had five children, one of whom, Carolyn Delane Mead, died in infancy.
Mead died in a Jonesboro
nursing homeA nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
. He was survived by his children, Jim Mead, Shirley Mead, Vicki Mead, and Jeff Mead, all of Jonesboro; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; a brother, Tullos Mead of Jonesboro, and one sister, Reba Mead Brown of
Flint, MichiganFlint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. A second brother, Garland Mead, preceded Mead in death.
He was a member of the Prospect Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Services were held on July 5, 2007, at 7:00 in the Emerson Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro. A graveside committal service was held on July 6 at Jonesboro Memorial Park
CemeteryA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
Over the years Mead kept in touch with such friends and former competitors as
Rocky MarcianoRocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
, Herbie Kronowitz, Joey DeJohn, Rocky Graziano,
Jack DempseyWilliam Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
,
Joe LouisJoseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, and Bill Hannigan.