Black Angus Campbell R.I.P.

This is a column I have not been wanting to start on. About a month ago I received an e-mail from Rob Garner. He stated that his uncle was Black Angus, the man that I managed in the early 1970's.

I average about 60-100 e-mails a day, both from the column and my private mailboxes. As always, I do answer ALL mail, and I replied back that I was told by Billy Robinson in Newton, Iowa that Angus had passed away some years before. I went on to ask him for a link so that I could get the obituary on the death of Angus.

Not only did Rob give me the link, but also he sent me daily mail for the next week about his enjoying the columns I write about my days in professional wrestling. He asked for permission to copy some pictures and articles and send them to his relatives.

Angus was born Frances Patrick Hoy in England. At an early age and because of his tremendous size, he chose to become a wrestler at an early age. He trained with an array of people that packed Royal Albert Hall and many other buildings on a regular basis. One of his characters was RASPUTIN "The Mad Monk," but the most noticeable was Black Angus Campbell.

The shoulder-length black hair and long beard reminded you of your worst nightmare whenever you came face to face with him. Intimidation was always the forerunner of any battle, he said to me once. The rest is in knowledge of how to beat your opponent at any given moment.

Angus wrestled for a number of years, and, to my knowledge, I was his only manager of record. In a span of three years in the Midwest, Angus won every title that could be won. With my guidance, he was the North American champ in Calgary on two different reigns. He was the Central States champion a number of times while under my command.

With partners Harley Race and Roger Kirby, he was one half of the tag championships as well.

Promoters Gust Karras and Heart of America Sports were constantly berating him and causing him to become disoriented on many trips to the mat, and he finally broke away from my superior management skills. At first, he was a fan favorite, going against guys that he had been associated with for almost three years and more.

It broke my heart to see him go down that road, as I had made a very lucrative income from his talents. He left Kansas City in 1973 and ventured on the road for a while. He traveled to Florida and the Carolinas and then to the Pacific Northwest, where he set the attendance records on their ears.

I am told that Angus then retired to New Zealand to work in forestry as a ranger. Angus moved to Scotland, and it became his second country of residence and his final spot to rest.

With his passing on April 21, 2005, he left a legacy that will be hard to fill. This is the obituary that was posted in the Manchester Evening news.

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HOY (FRANCES PATRICK) (WILD ANGUS) - On 21 April 2005 peacefully passed away in a hospital in Stranraer, Scotland. Husband, Father, Grand Father, Great Grand Father, Brother and Friend. Requiem Mass 10am on 27 April 2005 at St Josephs Stranraer, Followed by burial at Kirkholm, Scotland.

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His passing also left … Wife, Celia … Children, Steve, Colin, Brian, Marie, Christine and Jackie. He also left sisters Rosemary, Barbara and Teresa, along with a brother, Oliver. Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, along with nieces and nephews, also survive.

Frank (as he was known to all that were close to him) will be missed and greatly appreciated for his time on Earth. He set examples of good living and family for others to follow. He gave me the strength to do things at ringside that I would have never done before. His ability to command a crowd and whip it into a frenzy has never been duplicated. His style in the ring has been copied by a lot of top performers out of admiration. But, then again … to copy someone is the GREATEST form of FLATTERY known in our world.

REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND…

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