Tiger Conway Sr.

Plasse Dennis Bradford Conway (August 4, 1932–November 13, 2006) was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Tiger Conway. He is often referred to as Tiger Conway Sr. because his son later used the same name and became Tiger Conway Jr. Due to racial segregation in wrestling, he was forced to compete against only other African Americans for much of his career.

Tiger Conway Sr.
Tiger Conway posing for a photo
Birth namePlasse Dennis Bradford Conway
Born(1932-08-04)August 4, 1932
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
DiedNovember 13, 2006(2006-11-13) (aged 74)
Houston, Texas
Spouse(s)
Inita Conway
​
​
(m. 1950; his death 2006)​
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Tiger Conway Sr.
Trained byDanny McShain
Debut1955

Career

Conway was born on August 4, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up living on a plantation with his parents and moved to Houston, Texas in 1947, where he worked in a hotel. At the hotel, he met wrestler Danny McShain, who helped him get involved in wrestling.[1]

In the 1950s, when Conway made his debut, professional wrestling was segregated and people competed against others of their own race. Conway was forced to wrestle on the "chitterling circuit",[1] named after the innards of pigs that slave owners refused to eat and gave to their slaves instead.[2] Conway won his only title, the Texas Negro Championship, in his first professional match.[1][3]

By the 1960s, Conway was permitted to compete against Caucasians. In a match against Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon, Vachon broke Conway's kneecap.[1] Later in his career, Conway formed a tag team with his son, who competed as Tiger Conway Jr.[1][3]

Personal life

Conway was a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, an organization for retired wrestlers and boxers.[1] After his retirement from wrestling, he operated a fence-building business and was a member of the Christian Alliance for Humanitarian Aid, Inc. board of directors.[1]

Conway married Inita Conway, and they remained married until his death 56 years later. In November 2006, Conway suffered a stroke and brain aneurysm. He died on November 13, 2006 in Houston.[1][4][5]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Oliver, Greg (2006-11-14). "Tiger Conway Sr. dead at 74". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  2. Bower, Anne (2007). African American Foodways: Explorations of History and Culture. University of Illinois Press. p. 51. ISBN 0-252-03185-7.
  3. "Wrestler Profiles: Tiger Conway Sr". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  4. "Cauliflower Alley Club News: November 2006". Cauliflower Alley Club. 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  5. "Deceased Pro Wrestlers". Gary Will's Wrestling History. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
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