CAC Benevolent Fund

CAC 2004 Part 2

I had gone to Las Vegas, the gaming capital of the world, to be a part of the 39th annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion. I had arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday to be early for the big event.

On Thursday morning, I went to the registration desk to get my name badge and pay for my Friday night Baloney Blowout meal. I was totally impressed when flash bulbs started going off in my eyes and people came up and shook my hand and told me how happy they were to be there to see me get inducted.

For nearly four hours, I sat and signed autographs, posters, shirts, and just about anything else that fans and friends had brought to the event. I stood for individual pictures and then for group shots with many of the young wrestlers. They had come to try out for the business in front of many independent promoters that had come to be a part of the Jack Benny get together.

Following a beautiful lunch with my friend Dr. David Ring and Glen Rylko at the Main Street Station Casino, I retired for a couple of hours of rest in my suite. I barely had my head down on the pillows when the phone went off. It was Mr. Karate, Juan Hernandez, calling to see if I would do him a favor. Of course, the answer was YES … Juan, anything for a good friend like you.

A few minutes later, a knock on my door shook me out of a daydream I was having, recalling the past years I had been at the CAC's. It was Juan and a friend from St. Louis that was involved in promotions there. He asked if I would do a short 10-15-minute interview for him about my life in the business of professional wrestling. After nearly 65 minutes of holding the mike for me, he decided that he had enough tape to do at least three radio programs.

Juan thanked me, and it was then that he asked me to be a part of an upcoming golf event in July to benefit Alicia's House. That is a food bank that helps the hungry and needy of south Chicago. Juan and his wife Stella do a marvelous job in helping folks get necessary supplements to keep them going. Last year, they helped 2,192 families with 5,875 people and distributed 73,555 pounds of food. Just so you know … all the money raised by this and other events go directly to Alicia's House ... nobody at Alicia's House is paid. It is totally NON PROFIT, but it helps so many.

I told Juan that I didn't know how to play golf and wouldn't know how to cook one if I bagged it anyway ... but that I would definitely be there and that I would ask my good friend, Dave Drason, to attend as well. Dave was a manager of the Original Sheik and many others during his career in professional wrestling. He is currently a Winecologist in the Great Lakes area.

It will be held at Cardinal Creek Golf Course at 615 Dixie Highway, Beecher, Illinois at 10 a.m. on July 17. There will be a dinner and meet and greet session later in the day. If you would like information on this event or just want to help out Alicia's House with a donation, you may contact Mr. Karate at P.O. Box 1232, Beecher, Illinois 60401, or e-mail him at [email protected].

After a quick evening snack with Juan and his friend, I returned to the ballroom, where more and more members had been arriving. I sat down with Fred Curry and began a game of cribbage, and, almost instantly, a crowd gathered around us, which included Ox Baker, Butcher Vachon and many others that wanted to get in on the cribbage game.

As I tried to concentrate on the cards that were in my hand, every so often I was jarred by the sounds coming from the ring set up in the front corner of the ballroom where the youngsters were trying each other out. Eventually, I ended up having my butt kicked by Fred Curry, who is a consummate player. I could tell at that point that this year's tournament that started the next day would be a real tough one.

As more of my friends entered the ballroom, I found out that it was easier to just sit back and watch than it was to play. One by one, they made their way to me and many others that would be honored in just two short days. Hugs and handshakes were abundant. Sometimes, a few tears came to our eyes as we remembered friends and family that would not be with us this year.

Bruce and Ross Hart came by to say hello. Penny Banner and Joyce Paustian, along with Ida Mae Martinez, also joined me, and we shared some great moments reliving memories made at past reunions. Chief Paul Farber, George Gunderson and Glen Rylko came by to visit with me. I was then told by security that Bob Orton Sr. had made it to the registration desk.

Having Orton Sr. in the room is like nothing you could ever imagine. He is one person that can liven up a group, no matter what the occasion. How proud he is of his two sons … Bob Jr. and Barry ... but so vibrant of his grandson Randy. We spoke between flash bulbs and autograph hunters from all over the globe. We had folks there from Japan, Mexico, Canada, Nigeria, Europe and all points of the United States.

I looked down at my watch, and it was nearing midnight. I had been up again almost 20 hours. I retired to my suite to try and get some much-needed rest.

To be continued...

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers