Bob Geigel

Bob Geigel
Geigel in 2009
Born
Robert Frederick Geigel

(1924-10-01)October 1, 1924
Algona, Iowa, U.S.
DiedOctober 30, 2014(2014-10-30) (aged 90)
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Iowa
Occupation(s)Promoter, professional wrestler, Seabee
OrganizationNWA Central States (1963–1986)
Spouse
Vera June Lackender
​
(m. 1947)​
[1]
Children3[1]
Ring name(s)A-Bomber[2]
Bob Geigel[2]
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[2]
Billed weight220 lb (100 kg)[2]
Billed fromAlgona, Iowa, U.S.
Trained byAlphonse Bisignano[2]
Debut1950[2][3]
Retired1987
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Navy
UnitSeabee
Battles / warsWorld War II (Pacific Theater)

Robert Frederick Geigel (October 1, 1924 – October 30, 2014) was an American professional wrestling promoter and professional wrestler. He operated the Kansas City, Missouri-based Heart of America Sports Attractions promotion from 1963 to 1986, and served three terms as the president of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1978 to 1980, from 1982 to 1985, and finally from 1986 to 1987.

Early life

Geigel was born on October 1, 1924, in Algona, Iowa[1] to Frederick Samuel and Leota May Geigel. He attended Algona High School, graduating in 1942. After graduating, Geigel enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II as a Seabee.[4][1]

After leaving the navy, Geigel began studying in the University of Iowa in 1946. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in physical education. Geigel was a champion amateur wrestler during his college years, coming in third place during the 1948 NCAA Championships in the 191 pounds (87 kg) weight division.[3][4][5] After graduating, Geigel considering trying out for the Chicago Cardinals before deciding to become a professional wrestler.

Professional wrestling career

Geigel was recruited into professional wrestling by Alphonse Bisigniano.[4] He debuted in 1950 in Texas.[3] Wrestling primarily in Pinkie George's Midwest Wrestling Association out of Kansas City, Missouri, and also in Amarillo, Texas, Geigel generally played the part of the "heel" or antagonist.[4] He became a full-time professional wrestler in 1952.[5] Though he was generally introduced as being from Algona, Iowa, he was billed as "Texas" Bob Geigel.[6] He also wrestled as "A-Bomber" while working under a mask in Amarillo.

Geigel frequently held tag team championships in his home promotion, holding the NWA Central States World Tag Team Championship four times,[7] and the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) nine times.[8][9] Geigel had a long-standing feud with former tag team partner Bob Brown in Kansas City.[3] He officially retired from the ring in 1976, but continued to wrestle sporadically in the 1980s.[6][3]

Promoting career

Main article: Heart of America Sports Attractions

Geigel became a promoter in 1963, when he took over management of the Kansas City office. Partnering with Gus Karras and Pat O'Connor, he renamed the promotion Heart of America Sports Attractions.[5] He then took his place on the board of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). In that same year, Geigel was cited as a co-defendant in an anti-monopoly case brought against the Central States territory by previous owner Pinkie George. Along with his partners Karras and O'Connor, and fellow co-defendant George Simpson, he refuted the charge, and it was eventually dropped.[4]

In 1978, Geigel became President of the NWA, his first term lasting until 1980. During this term he strongly supported Harley Race, a part-owner of Heart of America, as NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[4] Geigel and Race bought out Sam Muchnick's portion of the St. Louis Wrestling Club,[4] a cornerstone territory of the NWA. Geigel served a second and third term as NWA President from 1982 to 1985 and 1986 to 1987.[5] He retired from promoting wrestling in 1988.[3]

Geigel sold Heart of America Sports Attractions to Jim Crockett Jr. in September 1986. He repurchased the promotion in February 1987 but closed it in 1988.

Personal life

Geigel owned a bar in Kansas City called The Tender Trap.[10] Geigel worked security at The Woodlands racetrack in Kansas City, Kansas after retiring from wrestling, until suffering a broken hip in early 2014.[3][10] Geigel met his wife Vera at the University of Iowa, and they were married for more than 65 years.[10] They had three daughters.[5]

Death

He suffered from Alzheimer's disease.[3] Geigel died on October 30, 2014, in a nursing home in Kansas City.[3][10]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Robert Geigel". LentzFuneralHome.com. 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bob Geigel". Cagematch.net. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Smith, Tom (October 31, 2014). "Wrestler Bob Geigel was at the heart of the Kansas City wrestling scene". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Tim Hornbaker (2007). National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Nation, Ryan (April 19, 2007). "A lifetime of rewards for Bob Geigel". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Kendall, Justin (October 30, 2014). "Bob Geigel, former NWA president and pro wrestler, has died at age 90". The Pitch. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
  7. ^ a b NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States) at Wrestling-Titles.com
  8. ^ a b Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 253. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ^ a b "NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Oliver, Greg (October 30, 2014). "Bob Geigel was a man's man". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  11. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles [W. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
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Preceded by President of the National Wrestling Alliance
1978–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Jim Crockett, Jr.
 President of the National Wrestling Alliance
1982–1985 		Succeeded by
Jim Crockett, Jr.
Preceded by
Jim Crockett, Jr.
 President of the National Wrestling Alliance
1986–1987 		Succeeded by
Jim Crockett, Jr.