From time to time, I have been asked certain questions that pertain to my wrestling career from Genesis to Revelation so to speak.  I thought that you all would enjoy reading certain tidbits of information that I provided to certain editors for publication in their papers.  They include:

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP AND WERE YOU A FAN OF WRESTLING?  
 
I was born and raised in rural Meridan, Kansas, a town about 15 miles northeast of Topeka, Kansas.  Yes, I'm afraid that I was definitely a wrestling fan.  My mom, Billie, and I used to travel 62 miles each Friday night to attend the matches in St. Joe, Missouri, where we would cheer for our favorite grapplers.

IF YOU WERE A FAN, WHO WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES?  
 
Boy, this question really made me think back!  I liked many of the wrestlers but my favorites, to the best of my recollection, included:  The Stomper (Archie Gouldie ), Omar Atlas, Bulldog Bob Brown, Percival A. Friend, The Fabulous Moolah, and Rufus Jones.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BREAK INTO WRESTLING AND WHO HELPED TRAIN YOU?  
 
If I'm going to be perfectly honest in this interview, and I'm trying to be that, I will have to admit that the idea of making it "big" and making "big" money was somewhere in my decision.  Also, my mother played a very important part with her constant encouragement.  Furthermore, I am an extremely competitive individual and I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it into the business.

Pat O'Connor and Ronnie Etchison mainly helped train me.  I owe them much gratitude.

WHO, WHERE AND WHEN WAS YOUR FIRST MATCH AND WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE FROM THAT FIRST MATCH?  
 
My very first match was in 1980 and it took place in Kansas City, Kansas.  It was a television match and I wrestled against Billy Howard.  It ended in a draw.

I thought that I was going to be very nervous during the match but as soon as the bell rang, something took over in me and I just went out and did what I had been taught and trained to do.  I could hear the crowd cheering for me but somehow I just blocked it out.  It was a great match.

YOU CAME TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IN 1982 AND YOU GOT A CHANCE TO WORK WITH A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE INCLUDING GENE KINISKI, BUDDY ROSE, MATT BORNE, DIZZY HOGAN (BRUTUS BEEFCAKE), RIP OLIVER, AND CHRIS COLT.  ANY MEMORIES OF THAT TIME PERIOD?  WHO DID YOU HANG OUT WITH, ETC.  
 
Yes, I was fortunate to have been in the company of the above wrestlers and it was, indeed, a very good group of people.  I hung out with Rocky Johnson, Billy Whitecloud, Hack Sawyer, Steve Regal and Sandy Barr.

I have no particular memories that come to mind during this time period other than I got along really good with everyone.  They all treated me with respect because of my training and mentoring with Bob Geigel, Pat O'Connor and Harley Race.  And I treated everyone the way that I wanted to be treated.  All in all, I remember this being a good group to work with and to be around.  More...