Sailor Art Thomas

There have been a lot of strong, big men in the wrestling rings. My mind thinks back to The Mighty Atlas, Ricky Cortez, Reggie Lisowski, Yukon Eric, Strangler Lewis and Sailor Art Thomas.

The essential factor needed to be successful in athletics is strength. A lot of men in the business of professional wrestling had this power and displayed it by having sculpted bodies that would make the statues of old Roman time seem oblivious to shape.

Art Thomas was a living example of what hard work and conditioning can do for a career. Art was an amiable black superstar that made many wrestlers submit to his massive bearhug.

Art came from a large family that did not have resources for special items. Art had to struggle to achieve the things that most young men his age were handed. Art started to work part time after school to help his family, and, when he was of age, he enlisted in the Navy. Art enjoyed the work he did on board the ships he was stationed on and soon took to the gyms on board to further his massive body.

Art began to get involved with the contests held aboard ships between the sailors and won many of them by brute strength. Art also knew some of the basic wrestling holds from watching some of the matches in Madison, Wisconsin ... his hometown. Art was not a small man by any means; standing 6'4" and weighing 275 pounds, he did not go unnoticed.

When Art was released from service, he went back to Madison and began to take in matches at the local arena and approached the promoter about getting into professional wrestling. At first, strength was the biggest factor in getting wins in the ring. Gradually, he won more matches with wrestling holds and maneuvers, not sustaining any serious injuries.

Art won a bodybuilding contest early in his wrestling years and came in second place in the Mr. Wisconsin tournament. He traveled the country, wrestling in many of the huge territories that made up the complex NWA area. He also campaigned in the AWA as well as others in the Midwest.

Art and his partner, the late Dick The Bruiser, met and defeated many top tag teams in the Midwest area until they had the challenge to meet the Blackjacks ... Mulligan and Lanza. Art had proven himself in many encounters with other partners to ask the Bruiser to team with him. They met the Blackjacks in Hammond, Indiana and captured the AWA belts from them.

One of the other feuds that Art was involved with was against The Bloody Red Baron Fritz Von Raschke. Fritz had captured the WWA version of the World's Heavyweight Championship and had lost it to Art. For nearly two months, they chased each other all over the Midwest, and, finally, in Ft. Wayne at the War Memorial Auditorium, Fritz won the title back, but not before being nearly squeezed out of his high top German leather boots that were kept very highly polished.

Art even had the opportunity to meet the World's Heavyweight Champion, Buddy Rogers, in a match that Buddy won by a narrow decision. Art also teamed with Bobo Brazil in many championship tag matches around the world. They were great friends, and Art would often take the time to visit Bobo after their retirement from the mat wars.

One of the stories that Bobo related to me was, when Art first came to New York, they were staying in Harlem, and Art carried his gear in a sea bag. They were scheduled to meet the Graham Brothers at Madison Square Garden. In the late afternoon, they left on the subway to go to the Garden. Art still carried his sea bag with him and boarded the train, not knowing that his friend was going to pull a joke on him.

Art was seated near the exit next to Bobo. At the second stop, Bobo jumped up and started out the door of the subway ... Art grabbed his sea bag and threw it over his shoulder and went through the exit door and, luckily, turned his head to see Bobo darting back on board the train. Art was able to make it back on by prying the nearly closed doors open with his massive strength. He got on and sat next to Bobo and began to look rather hard at him ... after all, he didn’t know where the exit for Madison Square Garden was. He had never been to New York before.

About six more stops down the road, Bobo did the same thing to him again. Art was very close to having the train pull away from him again. This time ... Art sat back next to Bobo, who was trying very hard to hold back the laughter. Art told him to knock it off or he would make sure that Bobo wouldn't be at the Garden that evening. Bobo didn't try and get Art off the subway after that.

Bobo and Art went on to beat the Grahams that evening and won the WWWF Tag Belts. It was a hard fought match that found Art learning a few more lessons about the cruel tactics of the Graham Brothers. Dr. Jerry Graham had a very sadistic streak in his body that was let out when he entered the ropes of a wrestling ring. Eddie Graham was an articulate survivor in the ring by a complete knowledge of more wrestling holds and movements than any five men in the business.

Together, the Grahams nearly beat the huge chest of Thomas into his back. They twisted and pulled on him until he cried out in pain to Bobo, who was trapped on the ring apron, waiting to tag in. Bobo finally got in and headbutted Dr. Jerry and busted his forehead wide open. He then grabbed Eddie and did the same to him. It was then that Art had gotten his breath back and tagged in and applied his massive bear hug to Eddie and won the title belts.

Art retired after a very successful career in wrestling and went to work for a huge meat packing plant in Madison, Wisconsin.

My TAM is off to one more of the greats of our business. Your friendship with one of my best friends, Bobo Brazil, meant a lot to me. The wonderful memories and good times that you shared together have a special place in time.

Rest in Peace, Art...

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