Lee Campione

Just recently, I found out where an old friend, Lee Campione, was. I am very excited to go and see him the next time I visit Corunna, Michigan. It's amazing the amount of friends that I made while in the wrestling business from 1963 to 1976.

Some I have forgotten over the years. Billy Goelz, Johnny Kace, Steve Zold, Martino Angelo, Jim Hady, Luis Martinez, Bobo Brazil and many others stand out in my memory banks. While going through some data for the next card in Corunna, Michigan, I ran across some old wrestling programs from the National Guard Armory in Owosso, Michigan.

It was one of the promotions that were under the umbrella of Big Time Wrestling and World Wide Sports. From 1962 until the late 80's, they dominated the industry with some of the top talent that was available. Names like The Sheik (managed by Dave "Supermouth" Drason), Ben Justice and the Stomper, Mighty Igor, Kabuki, Big Jess Ortega, Bill, Ed and Danny Miller, Johnny Valentine, and Fred and Bull Curry were just a few of the superstars that wrestled in places like the Beautiful Air Conditioned Cobo Arena. Dayton, Ohio's Hara Arena, Cincinnati Gardens, Cleveland Arena and lots more places in a tri-state area sold out continually with these great stars.

Many would go to small arena events held in places like Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Jackson, Port Huron and Flint. On very special nights, Lee Campione would promote wrestling in Owosso. Usually, it would be a sellout within a few hours of announcing the card.

Lee was a stickler with getting some of the top stars to come to Owosso. They would draw fans from far away towns like Flint, Saginaw and Lansing continually. Many fans knew Lee from the bar and grill he ran in Owosso and were close friends with him.

A few known facts about Lee surround him with being a number one son in the eyes of the city fathers of Owosso. His reputation was impeccable, and everyone that knew him respected him for the outstanding human that he was.

Lee graduated from St. Paul High School in 1938, and, in 1941, he became a Michigan Golden Gloves Champion in an open class. While serving in the U.S. Army, he sparred with the legendary Joe Louis in 1943 at Camp San Luis Obispo. The Brown Bomber was touring the country giving exhibitions of boxing at many Army Camps.

Lee was chosen from many to spar with Joe. Later, when asked about the bout, Lee said, "Louis put me down in the third round. What a trip that was!" When they asked Champ Joe Louis about the ending, he replied, "You had me scared in the third round." Lee excitedly said, "I did?" The champ said, "Yes, Lee, I thought I killed you with that last left hand.”

In 1946, at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Missouri, Lee won the boxing championship. He fought professionally until 1949 and returned to Owosso. Lee was also an accomplished bowler and a book author, writing about his life, entitled "Ringside View." It was a book with over 240 pages about the life and times of an Owosso champion.

Some of the men that Lee fought in the ring include Jack Marshall, Bob Nelson, Jimmy Burke, Allan Small, Eddie Caleces, Tony Elizondo, Herb Jones, Whitey Berlier, Ringo Harris, Al Mitchell, Young Johnny Risko, Pat McGafferty, Virgil Strauss, Deacon Logan, Willy McCoy and Jimmy Curl. These matches were held in cities like Houston, Texas; Wichita, Kansas; Chicago, Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Rockford, Illinois, as well as Michigan City, Indiana and Detroit, Michigan.

It will be great to see Lee again and talk about some of the memories that were made at the old Armory during those "Special Nights" that Lee brought to the fans.

Hope to see you ringside.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree