Doc Sarpolis
Encyclopedia
Karl Scarpolis was a wrestling promoter in Texas. Born to Lithuanian immigrants, Karl started working as a coal miner.
Scarpolis made Houston his wrestling home and was married on February 3, 1936. Wrestler Ellis Bashara was his best man. He would marry a second time and had a daughter named Betty Jane on July 23, 1944.
, he earned cash performing in a band. He also played football for coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.
After service in World War I
, he attended medical school at Rush College. In 1926, he earned a medical degree from Loyola, becoming the second member of the family to become a doctor.
He was married in Chicago to his first wife, Josie and had two sons with her. The first, Karl Jr. dies as an infant less than a year old. His second son, also named Karl, lived in Chicago until his death in 1996.
Sometime after his second son was born, he left his family behind and moved to Texas.
in 1926, who recommended that he play up his Lithuanian background. One of the early highlights in his career, was wrestling Jim Londos
in San Francisco on July 12, 1932. The match had an attendance of over 10,000. In 1933, he claimed the undisputed championship of Lithuania
by winning a tournament in Cleveland.
During the Great Depression, Scarpolis would book in Dallas for Ed McLemore. He occasionally refereed and filled in for injured wrestlers and filled in for wrestelrs who missed bookings. His nickname was “Doc”, and he purchased one-third of the Texas Wrestling Agency with Sigel and Burke. The group would book grapplers into Dallas, San Antonio, and other cities in Texas
. In April 1953, he sold his stake and jumped to McLemore’s anti-NWA outfit.
Sr. bought out Dory Detton in Amarillo for approximately $75,000. The West Texas territory had the Funk family as its headliners. Once known for junior heavyweights, the new ownership transformed Amarillo into an area featuring grapplers of all shapes and sizes.
Although Funk was considered as a potential replacement for Pat O’Connor as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Scarpolis bit his tongue when the decision was made to go with Buddy Rogers.
Rogers was not popular in West Texas, and in the first nine months of his reign as champion, he snubbed Amarillo. In March 1962, Amarillo recognized Gene Kiniski
as World Champion.
Despite being disenfranchised with the NWA over the selection of Capitol Wrestling’s Buddy Rogers as NWA Heavyweight Champion, Scarpolis continued to pay membership dues. In August 1962, Scarpolis was elected to head the NWA as president. He would be the first sitting president in NWA history to recognize a champion other than the official titleholder. Scarpolis recognized Gene Kiniski rather than Buddy Rogers. Although Lou Thesz
would strip the title from Rogers in Toronto
, and Dory Funk, Jr. would defeat Kiniski, Funk was recognized over Thesz as Sarpolis’ champion.
At the August 1963 convention in St. Louis, members labored to reach a solution. Thesz appeared in Amarillo and any rumours of tension or animosity between Thesz, Funk and Sarpolis were quelled. Losses to The Shiek and Lou Thesz led to the eventual phasing out of Dory’s championship.
Throughout the 1960s, Scarpolis and Dory Funk, Sr. had working agreements with Sam Muchnick
, Verne Gagne
, Bob Geigel and Jim Barnett. The Amarillo production had Stanley Blackburn as its kayfabe commissioner, Shelton Key as the ring announcer, and the weekly TV shows were taped on Saturday afternoons from the studio of KVII-TV (Channel 7 in Amarillo).
Scarpolis died of a heart attack on May 28, 1967 after a boating accident. The Scarpolis family would sell his shares in the Amarillo promotion to Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk.
Scarpolis made Houston his wrestling home and was married on February 3, 1936. Wrestler Ellis Bashara was his best man. He would marry a second time and had a daughter named Betty Jane on July 23, 1944.
Early life
Scarpolis had a love for music and could play several instruments. During enrolment at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, he earned cash performing in a band. He also played football for coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.
After service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he attended medical school at Rush College. In 1926, he earned a medical degree from Loyola, becoming the second member of the family to become a doctor.
He was married in Chicago to his first wife, Josie and had two sons with her. The first, Karl Jr. dies as an infant less than a year old. His second son, also named Karl, lived in Chicago until his death in 1996.
Sometime after his second son was born, he left his family behind and moved to Texas.
Wrestling
He was lured into wrestling by Jack PfeferJack Pfefer
Jack Pfefer was an professional wrestling promoter during the early-to-mid 1900's. He pioneered an earlier form of sports entertainment, as he was one of the first promoters to visualize the pro wrestling business in the mold of theater...
in 1926, who recommended that he play up his Lithuanian background. One of the early highlights in his career, was wrestling Jim Londos
Jim Londos
Christos Theofilou or Christopher Theophelus better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos, was a professional wrestler who was one of the most popular stars wrestling offered during the Great Depression.-Career:Jim Londos was born Christos Theofilou in 1897 in Argos, Greece. as the youngest of...
in San Francisco on July 12, 1932. The match had an attendance of over 10,000. In 1933, he claimed the undisputed championship of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
by winning a tournament in Cleveland.
During the Great Depression, Scarpolis would book in Dallas for Ed McLemore. He occasionally refereed and filled in for injured wrestlers and filled in for wrestelrs who missed bookings. His nickname was “Doc”, and he purchased one-third of the Texas Wrestling Agency with Sigel and Burke. The group would book grapplers into Dallas, San Antonio, and other cities in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In April 1953, he sold his stake and jumped to McLemore’s anti-NWA outfit.
Amarillo
In 1955, Scarpolis and Dory FunkDory Funk
Dorrance Wilhelm "Dory" Funk was a professional wrestler. He is the father of wrestlers Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk.-Career:...
Sr. bought out Dory Detton in Amarillo for approximately $75,000. The West Texas territory had the Funk family as its headliners. Once known for junior heavyweights, the new ownership transformed Amarillo into an area featuring grapplers of all shapes and sizes.
Although Funk was considered as a potential replacement for Pat O’Connor as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Scarpolis bit his tongue when the decision was made to go with Buddy Rogers.
Rogers was not popular in West Texas, and in the first nine months of his reign as champion, he snubbed Amarillo. In March 1962, Amarillo recognized Gene Kiniski
Gene Kiniski
Eugene Nicholas "Gene" Kiniski was a Canadian professional wrestler and the father of wrestlers Nick Kiniski and Kelly Kiniski. "Canada's Greatest Athlete" as he billed himself for promotional purposes was born outside of Edmonton, Alberta...
as World Champion.
Despite being disenfranchised with the NWA over the selection of Capitol Wrestling’s Buddy Rogers as NWA Heavyweight Champion, Scarpolis continued to pay membership dues. In August 1962, Scarpolis was elected to head the NWA as president. He would be the first sitting president in NWA history to recognize a champion other than the official titleholder. Scarpolis recognized Gene Kiniski rather than Buddy Rogers. Although Lou Thesz
Lou Thesz
Aloysius Martin "Lou" Thesz was a United States professional wrestler and 18-time world heavyweight champion, most notably holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. Combined, he held the NWA Championship for 10 years, three months and nine days , longer than anyone else in history...
would strip the title from Rogers in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and Dory Funk, Jr. would defeat Kiniski, Funk was recognized over Thesz as Sarpolis’ champion.
At the August 1963 convention in St. Louis, members labored to reach a solution. Thesz appeared in Amarillo and any rumours of tension or animosity between Thesz, Funk and Sarpolis were quelled. Losses to The Shiek and Lou Thesz led to the eventual phasing out of Dory’s championship.
Throughout the 1960s, Scarpolis and Dory Funk, Sr. had working agreements with Sam Muchnick
Sam Muchnick
Sam Muchnick was an American professional wrestling promoter from St. Louis, Missouri. He is often deemed as wrestling’s equivalent of Pete Rozelle , and he was instrumental in establishing the National Wrestling Alliance, which became the industry’s top governing body, in 1948...
, Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
, Bob Geigel and Jim Barnett. The Amarillo production had Stanley Blackburn as its kayfabe commissioner, Shelton Key as the ring announcer, and the weekly TV shows were taped on Saturday afternoons from the studio of KVII-TV (Channel 7 in Amarillo).
Scarpolis died of a heart attack on May 28, 1967 after a boating accident. The Scarpolis family would sell his shares in the Amarillo promotion to Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk.