Waterloo, Iowa 2008

When getting ready for a long drive, I like to plan the event well in advance. This year, I did not have too much time to devote to that, as I had just come back from a week in Las Vegas filled with many memories and a couple of setbacks that I have overcome.

With rental car in hand, I proceeded to Bob Roop's home outside of Lansing, Michigan. We had talked about going to Waterloo, as he was an inductee of the Lou Thesz / George Tragos professional wing of the International Museum of Wrestling in 2006.

Bob's career has had some mighty heavy involvement in wrestling, starting in the amateur ranks and then going to the Olympics and later going into the professional ranks. You just don't get the kind of notoriety that he has, waiting for a bus along I-75. It takes a lot of hard work and energy to get to the goals that he has done.

In private life, Bob has just been degreed to teach school in his home state of Michigan. He is a college graduate and has attachments to his degree to teach the more difficult learners. Bob was also involved in the Boy Scouts and took his sons to some of the highest posts that a Scout can achieve.

As I rolled into the beautiful corner lot that occupies his home, I saw his dog running after its toy and bringing it to me to throw. Molly, Bob's wife, welcomed me to their home and said that Bob was just finishing up in the shower and would be down in a few minutes.

Suddenly, the huge front door of Casa De Roop opened, and a much slimmer Bob Roop came out to greet me. I say slimmer because Bob, in his 60's, had begun a regiment of training to shed his body of nearly 50 pounds nearly 10 months ago.

We got the car packed with all of the things that Bob wanted to take with him and said our goodbyes and were off to the South and West for a nearly 500-mile day long trip to Iowa.

Time seemed to be of no concern to us as we rolled along at 65 and 70 miles an hour through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and, finally, Iowa. We had a chance to talk some guy talk and shop talk during the 8 ½ hours. We made a few stops to top off the tank in Illinois and then stopped at the huge I-80 truck stop in Iowa.

The truck stop is one of the focal points as you enter the state and offers its patrons about anything you need to have, either as a tourist or a professional driver commanding an 18-wheeler cross country. The old saying of having everything from soup to nuts and throwing in a few extras is true about this truck stop. Inside, in the rear of the building, you will find a few 18-wheelers on display for interested drivers that want to add a little sparkle or power to their rigs. There are also a number of restaurants and shops within it's walls that will fill every need that your travels need.

Arriving in Waterloo, Bob and I went to the hotel we were assigned to and checked in. We were lucky to get a room, as all the hotels in town had been filled with local folks that had been displaced by the flood just two weeks before.

I went downstairs and bumped into Bob Leonard from Canada, and we began a chat that was more than welcomed by both. I have known Bob since 1970, when I wrestled in Calgary and he was a photographer for Stampede Wrestling. Of course, he has done just about everything in the ring except wrestle and has know every one of the top stars that came thru Calgary.

As I looked up, I saw a familiar face coming at me, and I rose to a huge hug from my friend Danny Hodge and his wife Delores, who had just arrived from Oklahoma. We spoke for a few minutes, and then he was taken away by Mike Chapman to see the devastation that had been done to the museum.

I decided to walk up the street a few blocks and see for myself some of the damage that had been done to other hotels in the area. It is really amazing what water can do when it wants to. There is very little that anyone can do when the torrential rains and overflowing dams give you a high rise of water that just sweeps everything in its way to a new location.

I saw trees that were planted in the sidewalks uprooted and placed in the first floor balcony of hotels just a block from where I was at. There was more stuff on the sidewalks than you would find at a flea market. All of it ruined by Mother Nature.

As I returned to the Ramada, the Hodges were just getting out of a van and going into a private room to have a dinner put on by the Museum. Mike Chapman asked me if I had eaten yet and invited me to sit in on the spread.

The room quickly filled up with a gusto of friendship and many good stories . Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, Abe Jacobs, Wendi Weaver (Penny Banner’s daughter), Mike and Bev Chapman, Charlie Thesz and the board of directors of the Museum were there.

During the meal, Nikita Koloff and his dad came by to say hi to all in attendance. A number of pictures were taken in a very relaxed atmosphere. I really enjoyed the meal and could not finish the huge serving of club sandwich I had ordered. I took the remainder back to Bob, who declined to attend because of the long day we had in the car.

To be continued…..

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee
2007 TCCW Hall of Fame Honoree