Sam Avey
Encyclopedia
Sam Avey was an American
businessman and sports promoter. Best known as the wrestling
promoter
of little big men, he is also credited for helping to create the Tulsa wrestling territory later used by the National Wrestling Alliance
.
on February 5, 1895. Prior to wrestling, Avey was a merchant in the family grocery, located in Cherryvale
, Kansas
. While growing up in Cherryvale, the community’s most prominent sports celebrity was Billy Sandow
. Sandow was the manager of Ed “Strangler” Lewis
, and Sandow was the catalyst for Avey’s interest in professional wrestling.
, Avey returned to Cherryvale and was recruited by Sandow to embark upon a wrestling career. He started in wrestling by travelling as a referee. In his early years in wrestling, it was not uncommon that Avey was misspelled Avery. Later on, Avey was brought to Tulsa to promote the matches of Ed “Strangler” Lewis
.
At the time, Oklahoma
was a breeding ground for potential wrestlers. One of the wrestlers who caught Avey’s eyes was Leroy McGuirk
, a grappler from Oklahoma A&M
. McGuirk would eventually become a junior heavyweight champion, and wrestlers from all over the country came to Oklahoma.
After McGuirk was injured in auto accident, Avey gave him points in the company and named him the matchmaker. In September 1950, both men were appointed to Executive Positions in the National Wrestling Alliance
. McGuirk was appointed as Second Vice-President while Avey was named the Treasurer due to his banking background.
. In 1942, he acquired the Tulsa Coliseum for $185,000, and it was known affectionately as Avey's Coliseum. It regularly hosted prestigious political events and sporting events, such as ice hockey
, boxing, and wrestling matches.
Avey also owned the radio station KAKC
, and it broadcast from the Coliseum basement. On September 20, 1952, the building was burned to the ground after it was struck by lightning. The building’s wooden roof accelerated the fire.
In January 1958, Avey sold out the wrestling promotion to McGuirk. He left to concentrate on his role as senior vice president with the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He was still linked to the NWA and remained as Treasurer until August 1960.
party for children.
Part of Avey’s wrestling legacy is that he gave Tulsa a structured promotion, which McGuirk ran with great success. Avey died on August 9, 1962 the age of 67.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and sports promoter. Best known as the wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
of little big men, he is also credited for helping to create the Tulsa wrestling territory later used by the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
.
Early life
Sam Avey was born in Kingfisher, OklahomaKingfisher, Oklahoma
Kingfisher is a city in and the county seat of Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,380 at the 2000 census. It is the former home and namesake of Kingfisher College.-History:...
on February 5, 1895. Prior to wrestling, Avey was a merchant in the family grocery, located in Cherryvale
Cherryvale, Kansas
Cherryvale is a city in Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. The population was 2,386 at the 2000 census.-History:Cherryvale was founded on the land of the Osage Indians who were pushed out by veterans of the American Civil War looking for land. The first white man to purchase property and...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. While growing up in Cherryvale, the community’s most prominent sports celebrity was Billy Sandow
Billy Sandow
Wilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow , was the manager of professional wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s...
. Sandow was the manager of Ed “Strangler” Lewis
Ed Lewis (wrestler)
Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
, and Sandow was the catalyst for Avey’s interest in professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling
After serving in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Avey returned to Cherryvale and was recruited by Sandow to embark upon a wrestling career. He started in wrestling by travelling as a referee. In his early years in wrestling, it was not uncommon that Avey was misspelled Avery. Later on, Avey was brought to Tulsa to promote the matches of Ed “Strangler” Lewis
Ed Lewis (wrestler)
Robert Herman Julius Friedrich , was a professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ed "Strangler" Lewis, whose career spanned four decades.-Wrestling career:...
.
At the time, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
was a breeding ground for potential wrestlers. One of the wrestlers who caught Avey’s eyes was Leroy McGuirk
Leroy McGuirk
Leroy Michael McGuirk was an American wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. He was involved in professional wrestling for more than fifty years. As one of the longest surviving members of the National Wrestling Alliance , he was affiliated with the promotion from 1949 to 1982.-Early...
, a grappler from Oklahoma A&M
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater is a land-grant, sun-grant, coeducational public research university located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act...
. McGuirk would eventually become a junior heavyweight champion, and wrestlers from all over the country came to Oklahoma.
After McGuirk was injured in auto accident, Avey gave him points in the company and named him the matchmaker. In September 1950, both men were appointed to Executive Positions in the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
. McGuirk was appointed as Second Vice-President while Avey was named the Treasurer due to his banking background.
Hockey and Avey's Coliseum
Sam Avey had other interests outside of wrestling. He was the owner of the Tulsa Oilers hockey club in the 1940s. At the time, the Oilers were affiliated with the United States Hockey LeagueUnited States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
. In 1942, he acquired the Tulsa Coliseum for $185,000, and it was known affectionately as Avey's Coliseum. It regularly hosted prestigious political events and sporting events, such as ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, boxing, and wrestling matches.
Avey also owned the radio station KAKC
KAKC
KAKC is a sports talk radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:KAKC 970 first signed on the air in 1946 and was founded by Sam Avey....
, and it broadcast from the Coliseum basement. On September 20, 1952, the building was burned to the ground after it was struck by lightning. The building’s wooden roof accelerated the fire.
In January 1958, Avey sold out the wrestling promotion to McGuirk. He left to concentrate on his role as senior vice president with the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He was still linked to the NWA and remained as Treasurer until August 1960.
Charitable Work
Avey was the director of the Tulsa chamber of commerce, president of the Rotary Club and was involved in numerous charities. Said charities included the annual Milk Fund wrestling spectacular every March and a celebrated ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
party for children.
Part of Avey’s wrestling legacy is that he gave Tulsa a structured promotion, which McGuirk ran with great success. Avey died on August 9, 1962 the age of 67.