Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum, Part Two

Friday morning started out for me at 7 a.m. with a nice hot shower and then meeting with Bob Roop, Baron and Mrs. Raschke, George and Mrs. Schire and a few others in the hotel cafe.

For the next couple of hours, until they closed the buffet, we filled our bellies and told war stories. We laughed and sometimes cried and kept the atmosphere in good attendance. At 9:45 Bob Roop and I were asked by Mike Chapman to join the group at the Golf outing at the Irv Warren Course. It had been raining all morning and was still raining when we left for the event.

Bob Roop, who had been sitting in the passenger seat in my Chevy HHR and very scrunched up for over 500 miles the day before, began to tell me how uncomfortable he was. I explained that, in the front of the seat, there was a handle that would let the seat back. He pulled it and went back almost a foot and then proceeded to give me what for. I explained to him that all he needed to do was ask, and I would tell him how to build a car.

We laughed about the scenario and vowed to let everybody know that would listen about the rib. Arriving at the Country Club, we were met by Chief Paul Farber and Carlton Haselrig. Danny Hodge was with his beautiful wife Delores and checking out the roster to see who would be playing in his foursome if the weather cleared.

The clubhouse began to rapidly fill with a conglomerate of wrestling legends and state officials and golf enthusiasts. I will give the Dan Gable Museum credit as they do a super job of getting the elite of the world to their events. As luck would have it, many trees were downed in the storm, and not enough holes were open to complete a round.

Mike Chapman and Kent Sesker began to introduce all the guests of importance to the overflow crowd. One by one, they took their place in the sunlight as the applause rang out for each. The guy that got the biggest round of applause was Dan Gable, and rightfully so.

It was decided to have a cook out instead of the golf tourney, and we dined on the best steaks. They had a silent auction as well as a raffle to help the Museum. It was a great success with a lot of super prizes donated.

Following the meal, we returned to the Ramada for a short nap before going to Harley Race's WLW matches at Young Arena. Many of the Legends of Pro Wrestling were at the autograph tables awaiting the opening of the doors to let fans in. Among the list were Harley Race, Larry Hennig, Fritz Von Goering, Bob Roop, Danny Hodge, Carlton Haselrig, Nick Bockwinkel, Baron Von Raschke, Bob Geigel and Tom Andrews. Despite the economy and the shortcomings it has, the attendance was as good as it was last year, nearing the 500 mark.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to Larry Hennig and reminding him that I still had his $1 from the year before when he graciously lost a Cribbage game to me. We decided to watch the matches this year as his granddaughter, Amy Hennig, was scheduled to wrestle on the card.

While the matches were on, I went around to the young athletes and introduced myself to them. All of them had the courtesy to stop what they were doing and greet me with a lot of dignity as Harley had told them about me and our days in the old Kansas City territory. It is always a super feeling to know that you did a great job and were remembered by your peers that you traveled down the roads of life with.

Following the matches, we returned to the Ramada for a few casual drinks and to chat with everybody. Bob Roop was still hollering about me not letting him know the seat let back. When I finally looked down to my watch it was 1:30 in the morning and time to hit the sack.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers