Tom Drake (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Tom Drake is an attorney, former professional wrestler, politician, and former member of the athletic staff of legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
. He currently resides in Vinemont, Alabama with his wife, Christine, also an attorney and former member of the Alabama Board of Education.
after his father died when Drake was only six years old, he attended public schools in Cullman County
. Obtaining an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
after high school, he both wrestled and played football for the Chattanooga "Mocs". He was subsequently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
, but his career with them ended when he was drafted by the United States Army. After an honorable discharge, he went on to become the head wrestling coach at the University of Alabama
and member of the athletic staff.
Pivotal in his success was the acclaim and notoriety he achieved as a wrestler. Along the way, Drake wrestled or partnered with many of the sports' greatest legends, including Gorgeous George
, Lou Thesz
, Bearcat Brown, Tojo Yamamoto
and Len Rossi. Sometimes wrestling as the "Cullman Comet", Drake wrestled professionally until 1978, eventually being inducted into the International Wrestlers Hall of Fame in 2001. His signature wrestling move was the "dropkick".
In 1960, Drake entered law school at the University of Alabama. While still a student, he successfully campaigned for a seat in the Alabama Legislature, representing Cullman County for 32 years. While a member of the House of Representatives
, he was elected to back to back terms as the Speaker of the House under then Governor George Wallace
.
Coming from a long line of lawyers on his mother's side of the family, Drake practiced personal injury law and general civil law for over 48 years, handling may high-profile cases in the North Alabama area.
Invited to be a contestant on the popular 1970's game show What's My Line?
, the celebrity panel was challenged to guess Drake's "other" occupation, after being informed he was both a attorney, farmer and legislator. Eventually, they correctly guessed it was professional wrestling.
In 2008, he was the recipient of the Senator Hugh Farley Award at the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
. He currently resides in Vinemont, Alabama with his wife, Christine, also an attorney and former member of the Alabama Board of Education.
Career
Raised in the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
after his father died when Drake was only six years old, he attended public schools in Cullman County
Cullman County, Alabama
Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means...
. Obtaining an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
after high school, he both wrestled and played football for the Chattanooga "Mocs". He was subsequently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, but his career with them ended when he was drafted by the United States Army. After an honorable discharge, he went on to become the head wrestling coach at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
and member of the athletic staff.
Pivotal in his success was the acclaim and notoriety he achieved as a wrestler. Along the way, Drake wrestled or partnered with many of the sports' greatest legends, including Gorgeous George
George Wagner
George Raymond Wagner was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Gorgeous George...
, Lou Thesz
Lou Thesz
Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz was a United States professional wrestler and 18-time world heavyweight champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days , longer than anyone else in history...
, Bearcat Brown, Tojo Yamamoto
Tojo Yamamoto
Harold Watanabe was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tojo Yamamoto. He was born in Hawaii.-In-ring career:...
and Len Rossi. Sometimes wrestling as the "Cullman Comet", Drake wrestled professionally until 1978, eventually being inducted into the International Wrestlers Hall of Fame in 2001. His signature wrestling move was the "dropkick".
In 1960, Drake entered law school at the University of Alabama. While still a student, he successfully campaigned for a seat in the Alabama Legislature, representing Cullman County for 32 years. While a member of the House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
, he was elected to back to back terms as the Speaker of the House under then Governor George Wallace
George Wallace
George Corley Wallace, Jr. was the 45th Governor of Alabama, serving four terms: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics, according to biographers Dan T. Carter and Stephan Lesher, he ran for U.S...
.
Coming from a long line of lawyers on his mother's side of the family, Drake practiced personal injury law and general civil law for over 48 years, handling may high-profile cases in the North Alabama area.
Invited to be a contestant on the popular 1970's game show What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, the celebrity panel was challenged to guess Drake's "other" occupation, after being informed he was both a attorney, farmer and legislator. Eventually, they correctly guessed it was professional wrestling.
In 2008, he was the recipient of the Senator Hugh Farley Award at the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.