Bobby Managoff

He was born Robert Manoogian on January 4, 1918 and raised in the very tough area of South Chicago. His father was a professional wrestler know in his day as The Terrible Turk and also as Big Yusiff.

Bobby, as he was called, developed a love for body building, and, early in his life, he began to put his skills of being a masseuse to work in a health club that he worked at in Chicago. He traveled with his father many nights to watch him in the ring facing many of wrestling's great stars like Jim Londos, Lou Thesz and Ed "Strangler" Lewis.

In the late 30's, he asked his father to teach him how to wrestle, and, in 1936, at the tender age of 18, he began a wonderful career that lasted into the middle 60's. His first matches were in the area around Chicago, and he longed for a larger territory to roam. In February of 1942, he traveled to Texas, where he became the Heavyweight Champion and an overnight success.

He lost the title to Juan Humberto about a month later and signed with the NWA in Houston. His ability in the ring, along with the knowledge of pure wrestling taught to him by his dad, won him the NWA World Title from Yvon Robert on November 27, 1942. He defended the belt until he was beaten by "Wild" Bill Longson on February 19, 1943 in St. Louis, Missouri before a sellout crowd.

He returned to Texas, where he teamed up with Otto Kuss and began a quest to become Texas Tag Team Champs. That vision became a reality in 1945, and they held the prestigious belts made of gold and encrusted with many diamonds valued at over $25,000.

To give you an idea how tough the competition was in Texas, five months after winning the tag belts, they faced a newly formed team of Hans Schnabel and Marvin Jones. Both were super athletes on their own merits and put an end to the title reign held by Managoff and Kuss on May 14, 1945 in Galveston.

Bobby longed for an individual title to defend and began to feud with the current champ, and, in less than a month, he won the Texas title again. He lost the title to Dave Levin, who lost it to Buddy "Nature Boy" Rogers a few weeks later. Bobby then started a feud with Rogers, and they fought many hard battles during the next few years.

In 1949, Bobby went to Hawaii on a request from Lord James Blears, and, less than a month later, on November 9, he beat Jack Claybourne for the NWA Hawaii Championship. Dean Detton defeated him for the title on December 11. Managoff started feuding with Whipper Billy Watson between 1950 and 1953. On July 19, 1953, he defeated Hans Schnabel to win his second Hawaii title. He lost it to Ben Sharpe on August 23.

He started a stint in Montreal, Quebec, where he won the Montreal World Heavyweight Championship on five occasions. In 1965, after wrestling on special occasions, he officially retired from professional wrestling and went back to running a health club in Chicago.

During the early 60's, many of the greats from the old Dumont TV network of wrestling stars would come and work out at the club. It was there that a chance meeting between a young Jimmy Valiant and veteran star Luis Martinez took place. Jimmy asked for assistance to become a wrestler, and the two men taught him all the basics that he would need to succeed.

Bobby continued life as a trainer and produced other great athletes from the Chicago area. He was very helpful in fund raisers and charity work to help those less fortunate than himself. He was a great humanitarian and image to the world.

In 2000, he was elected as the first recipient of the newly named "Frank Gotch Award" given at the yearly inductions in Newton, Iowa at the International Wrestling Museum. I was there the night they honored this great gentleman and had goose bumps just being in the same room with him. Bobby noticed my Three Stooges tie and made a comment about having his picture taken with the Stooges at Coney Island during a brief visit to New York in the 50's.

I will always remember his kindness and camaraderie he had with everyone in the room that day. You could feel the realm of knowledge and wisdom coming from his every move. His smile was one that made me remember this man in a very special way. I am proud that I had a chance to meet with a man that made history happen. Thank you, Bobby Managoff, for all that you did for our profession.

Bobby died on April 3, 2002, but his life lives on in the legacy he created here on Earth. Rest In Peace, Robert Manoogian, Jr., another of the great men that helped to mold my life.

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