 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Allen Crockett (1908-06-02)June 2, 1908 Bristol, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 1973(1973-04-01) (aged 64) |
| Cause of death | Heart Attack[1] |
Spouse | Elizabeth Eversole (his death) |
| Children | Frances Crockett Ringley (born 1940) James Allen Crockett Jr. (1944–2021) David Finley Crockett (born 1946) Charles J. "Jackie" Crockett (born 1948-2024) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Big Jim |
| Debut | 1931 |
James Allen Crockett Sr. (June 2, 1908 – April 1, 1973) was an Americanprofessional wrestling promoter and professional sports franchise owner sometimes known asJim Crockett Sr., or to people within the business simply as "Big Jim".
Crockett was born on June 2, 1908, inBristol, Virginia, to Charles Sampson Crockett (1878-1960) and Josie E. (Berry) Crockett. As a youth, he became a fan of pro wrestling, which had thrived during the 1920s with such grapplers asStrangler Lewis andJoe Stecher dominating the scene.[citation needed]
In the early 1930s, a dispute arose over the bookings of new wrestling sensationJim Londos, soNew York City promoterJack Curley negotiated an alliance between various regional managers that enabled Londos to travel the country as champion while allowing the promoters to share profits evenly across the regions. As a result of this arrangement, new wrestling "territories" emerged across theU.S., and in 1935, a 25-year-old Crockett, who had also served as a concert promoter while also owning a theater and a restaurant, decided to set up a permanent wrestling shop based inCharlotte, North Carolina. The organization, known asJim Crockett Promotions, scheduled wrestling events in both Carolinas, as well as inVirginia, under the banner of Eastern States Championship Wrestling. Over the next decade, ESCW featured some of the top wrestling stars of the day. Then in 1948, wrestling's top promoters gathered inWaterloo, Iowa, to form the industry's first true governing body, known as theNational Wrestling Alliance. As the dominant force representing the Carolina region, Jim Crockett Promotions soon became an important member of the NWA, with Crockett serving as a chief lieutenant under longtime NWA President and leading St. Louis promoterSam Muchnick.[citation needed] Over the next 25 years, Crockett's Carolina territory reigned among the most successful regions in the NWA, as he regularly sold out the 16,000-seatGreensboro Coliseum featuring such stars asJohnny Weaver, Rip Hawk, Swede Hanson, andGene &Ole Anderson on his Championship Wrestling program.[citation needed]
The championship trophy of theSouthern Hockey League was named theJames Crockett Cup.[2] In 1976, the Crockett family purchased theAsheville Orioles and renamed them theCharlotte Orioles. They also saved the historicCalvin Griffith Park from being torn down and restored it to preserve its history. It was renamedJim Crockett Memorial Park, and then DBA "Crockett Park" in 1977. The stadium was set on fire by a group of juveniles on March 16, 1985, and by 1987, it was closed down.
He was married to Elizabeth Jackson Eversole Crockett, with whom he had four children:James Allen Crockett, Jr.,David Finley Crockett, Charles J. "Jackie" Crockett (died March 13, 2024)[3] and Frances Crockett.[citation needed]
By the early 1970s, an ailing Crockett was forced to retire, as his son-in-law John Rigley had begun to take over many of the territory's responsibilities. Crockett died on April 1, 1973, and control of the company was then ceded to his son, 28-year-oldJim Crockett, Jr., who took over the promotion and ultimately renamed it "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling."[citation needed] Jim Crockett Promotions would eventually hold a tag team tournament from 1986 through 1988 in honor of him called theJim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament.[citation needed] He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2015.[citation needed]
Established in 1931, the Crockett Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to financially assist US military veterans who have returned home from service. The organization is named after Jim Crockett Sr. and maintains a strong association to professional wrestling and baseball. Various figures from the pro wrestling industry have endorsed Crockett Foundation.[citation needed]