CAC 2007 Part Two

The Ring of Friendship is what the cauliflower ear stands for. The Cauliflower Alley Club represents a conglomeration of past and present wrestlers, referees, promoters, managers, boxers, members of the martial arts and people of the entertainment field.

Our membership has nearly 5,000 people in its ranks. We gather once a year for a huge gathering and reward outstanding people for their involvement in our business. 2007 was no exception to greatness, as a salute to the Canadians became our second night to honor a group of people for their hard work. A few years ago, the club honored the women of professional wrestling with a Ladies Night.

Besides the "Baloney Blowout” dinner for Friday night and the salute to our neighbors to the North, this year, the club handed out the first-ever Mike Mazurki Fan Award to Diane Devine, now of Denver, Colorado. She had been involved in professional wrestling as a fan and fan club director for a lot of the greats of the 60's and 70's. She attended many WFIA gatherings in the early years of its existence.

Hanging out with the late Jim Melby and Don Wilson, a huge appreciation for wrestling's past and present was taught to her. She was long overdue for this award and nearly missed it this year.

As I walked back to my suite at the Riviera on Friday evening following a super day, I was silently thinking of a dear friend that I had lost almost a year before. Bob Orton Sr., who would have been 77 on his next birthday, passed away in July of 2006.

In the morning, I would be going with the Orton family, along with Diane Devine and Bob Verhey, to scatter his ashes. I tossed and turned, and, finally, at 7 a.m., I went down to Katy's coffee shop and had some breakfast to hold me over.

I then went to the parking garage and got my rented van and went to the designated area where everyone would meet for the 45-minute trip. At 8:20, the Ortons arrived, and we proceeded to Mt. Charleston, some 35 miles away.

The majestic beauty of the mountains and the surrounding valley were what caught my attention the first time I went there last year with Rhonda and Bob Orton Sr. I have been to the Rockies, hiked in the Appalachians and rode a tram to the top of the Sandia crest east of Albuquerque. I have crossed the Continental Divide during a blizzard, but none can compare with the sights and splendor to be seen at Mt. Charleston.

Bob Orton had often spoken to me of its beauty almost every Saturday when he called me. Gosh, I miss those calls…

As we turned off Highway 95 North onto Nevada 157, we began the uphill climb to nearly 7,000 feet. There are many turns and twists to the road that make you appreciate its being there. We went to a place that Bob loved the most, called "DESERT VIEW," and slowly ascended to the end of the trail and climbed over the railing to a spot about 100 feet below.

This would be the final resting spot for Bob's ashes. One by one, we each took a double handful of ashes from the turquoise-colored urn and waited for a gust of wind to come up the ravine, and then we tossed them into the air.

The ashes sometimes would rise as much as 50 feet with the help of the wind. Soon, all the ashes were gone, and our job was done. Bob's final wishes were carried out with all the dignity and honor of a state funeral. As I looked back on the family, I suddenly noticed that each member had on one of Bob's old wrestling ring jackets.

As we were just getting over the railing and back on to the path, a huge blast of wind came through the valley. It suddenly blew dust, dirt, tree limbs and ashes downwind towards the valley below as if it were in a tornado. It almost seemed as if Bob was there, telling us THANKS for setting him free to be in the spot he loved so much.

We traveled back to the lodge where Bob had eaten often and enjoyed a late brunch. Then, it was back to the Riviera Hotel, where the CAC was continuing on.

As I went into the reception room, I began to run into a lot of my friends and tried to keep my spirits uplifted while enjoying their company. I took my rental car back to the agency drop-off point across Las Vegas Blvd. at the Circus Circus Casino.

Returning to the hotel, I went to my suite and took a long hot shower and a cat nap to ready myself for the night and the CAC banquet and awards celebration.

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