Doug Hepburn
Encyclopedia
Doug Ivan Hepburn (September 16, 1926 – November 22, 2000) was a Canadian world-champion weightlifter.
Born in Vancouver
with a club foot
and cross-eyed, Hepburn overcame these handicaps, setting a Canadian record for weightlifting in 1950 and winning gold medals at the 1953 world championships in Stockholm
and the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
in Vancouver. He was named British Columbia
's Man of the Year
for 1954.
Like his father and stepfather, he battled with alcoholism
, and this combined with depression made for a hard private life. After his successes as a weightlifter, he became a professional wrestler
. He was originally approached by San Francisco-based wrestling promoter Joe Malcewicz, but Hepburn turned down the offer. He later got involved in the business when he agreed to perform feats of strength at wrestling events promoted by Whipper Billy Watson
. In January 1955, he signed what was announced as a five-year contract with Toronto
promoter Frank Tunney
. After being trained by Watson and Pat Frayley, Hepburn defeated Frank Marconi in his debut match on March 22 that year. He later faced such wrestlers as Fritz Von Erich
. Hepburn did not enjoy wrestling, however, and stated that he put little effort into developing as a competitor. Hepburn ultimately quit working for Tunney; he had one more brief stint as a wrestler while working for Cliff Parker in British Columbia
before retiring.
Hepburn opened a gym at the age of 37. Perhaps inspired with his own battles against addiction, Hepburn became a strong advocate of drug-free athletics.
Hepburn was a singer and songwriter, releasing a Christmas tune, the "Hepburn Carol". He had literary ambitions and had a large output of essays and poems and other writings. In his later years, he custom built gym equipment and marketed protein powder and other sports supplements.
Hepburn died of a perforated ulcer at age 74. He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (1953), Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
(1955), and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (1966).
Born in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
with a club foot
Club foot
A club foot, or congenital talipes equinovarus , is a congenital deformity involving one foot or both. The affected foot appears rotated internally at the ankle. TEV is classified into 2 groups: Postural TEV or Structural TEV....
and cross-eyed, Hepburn overcame these handicaps, setting a Canadian record for weightlifting in 1950 and winning gold medals at the 1953 world championships in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games
The 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Vancouver, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 30 July-7 August 1954. These were the first games since the name change from British Empire Games took effect in 1952....
in Vancouver. He was named British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
's Man of the Year
Man of the Year
A Man of the Year award usually refers to a person nominated as the most influential or meritous in a business, organisation, a specific form of human endeavour, or amongst humanity at large...
for 1954.
Like his father and stepfather, he battled with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, and this combined with depression made for a hard private life. After his successes as a weightlifter, he became a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He was originally approached by San Francisco-based wrestling promoter Joe Malcewicz, but Hepburn turned down the offer. He later got involved in the business when he agreed to perform feats of strength at wrestling events promoted by Whipper Billy Watson
Whipper Billy Watson
William John Potts, O.Ont was a Canadian professional wrestler best known by his ring name Whipper Billy Watson, and was a two-time world heavyweight wrestling champion.-Early life:...
. In January 1955, he signed what was announced as a five-year contract with 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...
promoter Frank Tunney
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
. After being trained by Watson and Pat Frayley, Hepburn defeated Frank Marconi in his debut match on March 22 that year. He later faced such wrestlers as Fritz Von Erich
Fritz Von Erich
Jack Barton Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring name Fritz Von Erich, better known today as a wrestling promoter and the patriarch of the Von Erich family...
. Hepburn did not enjoy wrestling, however, and stated that he put little effort into developing as a competitor. Hepburn ultimately quit working for Tunney; he had one more brief stint as a wrestler while working for Cliff Parker in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
before retiring.
Hepburn opened a gym at the age of 37. Perhaps inspired with his own battles against addiction, Hepburn became a strong advocate of drug-free athletics.
Hepburn was a singer and songwriter, releasing a Christmas tune, the "Hepburn Carol". He had literary ambitions and had a large output of essays and poems and other writings. In his later years, he custom built gym equipment and marketed protein powder and other sports supplements.
Hepburn died of a perforated ulcer at age 74. He has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame (1953), Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
(1955), and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame (1966).