Jim Melby |
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This week’s column is dedicated to the life and memory of a great man, a wrestling fan, a writer, and a good friend to all that knew him, Jim Melby. Jim was the greatest guy that you could ever get to put a story together about anyone involved in sports. He went out of his way to make sure that his facts were absolute and true. He gave you an insight as to another side of each person that he wrote about. He would research and read countless magazines and books sometimes to get more than the facts about someone. Jim did this for a career of 40 years. He also was with the Ramsey County corrections department in St. Paul, Minnesota. His care and concern for those who went the wrong way in life became a passion that he worked with every day to try and correct. Jim attended many WFIA events and was a spokesperson for the group. Jim was also an editor for many great wrestling magazines, including Wrestling Revue, Wrestling News and others. He penned many articles under his own name and helped to correct others that many reporters in the field sent in for publication. I will always remember Newton, Iowa 2006 as a milestone in Jim's life because he was given as big of an award as the front table full of legends at the banquet received. Filling his shoes and picking a person to honor this year will be a big task. During an autograph session earlier in the day, I was passing by Jim's table, and he asked if I would do him a huge favor and sign some pictures of myself and Angus. I was only too happy to sign his pictures, and then I opened my briefcase and gave him some more shots of Angus and myself that he did not have in his huge collection of nearly 25,000 pictures. I also included some of Tokyo Joe and The Great Togo and Bobby Hart with me. One other thing that I remember about Jim is, when I accepted for the Bill Miller family the year before, Jim asked if he could add something to my speech. He ended up giving a piece of history to the museum that he owned. It was the last ring jacket that Bill Miller wore. I have a few words that Dave Drason Burzynski wrote that I would love to add to this column. They also are from the heart, and I couldn't have said it any better. As I sit here broken hearted and with a tear dripping down my cheek, I have to say good bye to one of the nicest gentlemen and truest friends I have ever known in the wrestling business. I met Jim Melby at our first WFIA Convention in Mankato, Minnesota, when like myself, he was an over zealous fan of the sport of wrestling, and followed it with a passion that we wanted to leave our own mark upon it in the years to follow. His writings over the years were well respected among his peers, and those who knew him, admired him more for his warmth as a human being, rather than his mutual admiration for those who performed their magic in the ring for all to enjoy. Though he never worked his magic inside the squared circle, his knowledge and work within the wrestling business make him a legend among those he acknowledged and admired. He worked to survive but wrestling was his life, his passion, his purpose upon this planet. I will miss his rye humor, his lovable laugh, his words of kindness and encouragement despite his suffering and pain with which he never sought compassion or pity. We regret when we never have the chance to say goodbye, because our heroes and admired friends will live with us forever. I feel touched and blessed to have known, shared a laugh, and to have had a chance to call him my friend. My heart tolls 10 times while 10 tears of respect ring out to our dear friend.
Dave Drason Burzynski
There is also an in depth story about Jim Melby at http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/02/11/3595612.html written by a another good friend, Bill Fernow. I encourage you to go and read it. To the friends and family of Jim Melby, I send my deepest sympathy and hope that God will give you all the strength to overcome this huge loss. Rest in Peace , Jim.
Percival A. Friend,
Retired
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