 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Thomas (1924-01-30)January 30, 1924 |
| Died | March 20, 2003(2003-03-20) (aged 79)[4] |
| Cause of death | Cancer |
| Children | 7 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Art Thomas The Body Hercules Sailor Thomas |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Fitchburg, Wisconsin[2][1] |
| Debut | 1943[1][3] |
| Retired | 1981[1] |
Arthur Thomas (January 30, 1924 – March 20, 2003), better known asSailor Art Thomas orSeaman Art Thomas, was an AmericanMerchant Mariner,bodybuilder, andprofessional wrestler. AWWA World Heavyweight Champion, Thomas was posthumously inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2016.[4][1]
Thomas was born inGurdon, Arkansas, the son of Alfred and Jessie (Lunon) Thomas. In 1935, he moved toMadison, Wisconsin. After his mother's death he was raised in a Wisconsin orphanage and in foster homes.[3][5]
Thomas spent 27 months in theUnited States Merchant Marine. Serving in a construction battalion, Thomas helped build anairstrip inGuam.[5]
After leaving the Merchant Marine, Thomas worked forGreyhound Lines before becoming a professional bodybuilder. After joining a bodybuilding troupe, he began touring the United States. After being spotted bypromoter Jimmy Demetral, Thomas trained as a professional wrestler. He made his debut in 1943.[3] Thomas would usually be introduced as a "just discharged" Navy seaman, wearing a regulation "crackerjack" uniform andpea coat, and enter the ring as aplant to oppose thevillain's dishonorable tactics.
Throughout the early 1960s, Thomas won a series oftag teamchampionships around North America: theWorldwide Wrestling AssociatesInternational Television Tag Team Championship withLou Thesz in California, theMaple Leaf Wrestling NWA International Tag Team Championship with John Paul Henning in Toronto,[6] and theNWADetroit World Tag Team Championship withBobo Brazil in Detroit.[3] In 1962 and 1963, Thomas won theNWA Texas Heavyweight Championship in the Texas-basedSouthwest Sports promotion on two occasions.[3][7] Thomas also competed for theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation from 1963 to 1964, teaming with Bobo Brazil andBruno Sammartino.[1][8]
In April 1972, Thomas won theWWA World Heavyweight Championship of the Indianapolis-basedWorld Wrestling Association, defeatingBaron von Raschke. The title was held up the next month after a bout between Thomas and von Raschke.[3]
Thomas retired in 1981.[1]
Thomas had seven children. He died of cancer only a month after being diagnosed with it.
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