Kay Noble
Encyclopedia
Mary Charlene Noble known from childhood by her nickname Kay Noble, was an American
female professional wrestler. Her career spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, during which time she was known for her toughness in the ring. She worked along well-known female professional wrestlers such as Penny Banner
, The Fabulous Moolah
, and Gladys Gillem
. She also wrestled in mixed tag team matches with partners such as her husband Doug Gilbert and Terry Funk
. During her almost thirty years wrestling, she held the Texas Women's Championship, Central States Women's Championship, and AWA World Women's Championship
. She was also honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club
in 2001, before dying of stomach cancer in April 2006.
. The following year in October 1958, Noble, along with Lorraine Johnson, Penny Banner
, and Laura Martinez were charged with inciting a riot when they began fighting outside of the ring, but they pleaded not guilty in court. The promoters of the event paid the fine.
She later helped train male professional wrestler Colonel DeBeers. During her career, she held both the Texas Women's Championship and Central States Women's Championship. Throughout her years wrestling, Noble was known for her toughness and strength. She was also a high-flying wrestler
.
In the 1960s, she worked primarily in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. During this time, she wrestled a series of mixed tag team matches with her husband Doug Gilbert against Roy Collins and Barbara Baker. She also wrestled a series of matches against and teaming with Betty Niccoli
. She also wrestled as the partner of Jack Cain in mixed tag team matches against Jean Antone and Terry Funk
. Funk was also her partner on occasion. Her other well-known opponents included Penny Banner, The Fabulous Moolah
, and Gladys Gillem
. In 1963, she won the vacant AWA World Women's Championship
by defeating Kathy Starr in Minnesota, and she held the tile for approximately eight years, losing it to Vivian Vachon
in November 1971 in Canada.
She was named WFIA's "Girl Wrestling of the Year" in 1971. By the 1980s, Noble only wrestled part-time while raising her children In 2001, the Cauliflower Alley Club
, a society of retired professional wrestlers, honored her contributions to women's wrestling.
as a bartender in Kansas. After retiring from professional wrestling, Noble entered into the pest control and upholstery industries. Noble owned Kay's Upholstery in Amarillo, Texas
. She later worked in pediatrics at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital. In her spare time, she played the piano.
Noble was first married to Doug Gilbert (Doug Lindzy), who she met in an elevator and married in 1959. The couple had three children: Teresa, Michael, and Steve. After having the children, the couple bought a home in South Bend, Indiana
, where they also owned horses. Her second marriage to Dean Fortune produced two sons, David and Danny. In November 1985, she married Dick Bell, to whom she was still married at the time of her death.
She died on April 27, 2006 in Amarillo, Texas due to an inoperable cancer
of the stomach, having been diagnosed the previous October. Her funeral was on May 1, 2006. At the time of her death, she also had 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
female professional wrestler. Her career spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, during which time she was known for her toughness in the ring. She worked along well-known female professional wrestlers such as Penny Banner
Penny Banner
Mary Ann Kostecki , better know by her stage name Penny Banner, was a professional wrestler. She was best known for her time spent in the American Wrestling Association...
, The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
, and Gladys Gillem
Gladys Gillem
Gladys Gillem Wall , also known as Gladys "Killem" Gillem or Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem, was an American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...
. She also wrestled in mixed tag team matches with partners such as her husband Doug Gilbert and Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
. During her almost thirty years wrestling, she held the Texas Women's Championship, Central States Women's Championship, and AWA World Women's Championship
AWA World Women's Championship
The AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
. She was also honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
in 2001, before dying of stomach cancer in April 2006.
Professional wrestling career
Noble first wanted to become a professional wrestler at age 15 and wanted promoter Gust Karras to help her break into the business. She, however, did not began her professional wrestling career until 1957 at the age 18 after being approached by a promoter in her hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. She was trained by Laura Martinez and Sonny MyersSonny Myers
Harold "Sonny" Myers was an American professional wrestler, involved in the business for sixty years.-Career:...
. The following year in October 1958, Noble, along with Lorraine Johnson, Penny Banner
Penny Banner
Mary Ann Kostecki , better know by her stage name Penny Banner, was a professional wrestler. She was best known for her time spent in the American Wrestling Association...
, and Laura Martinez were charged with inciting a riot when they began fighting outside of the ring, but they pleaded not guilty in court. The promoters of the event paid the fine.
She later helped train male professional wrestler Colonel DeBeers. During her career, she held both the Texas Women's Championship and Central States Women's Championship. Throughout her years wrestling, Noble was known for her toughness and strength. She was also a high-flying wrestler
Professional wrestling aerial techniques
Aerial techniques are maneuvers, using the ring and its posts and ropes as aids, used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. These moves are mainly done by smaller, quicker wrestlers who are unable to do most of the power moves. There is a wide variety of aerial...
.
In the 1960s, she worked primarily in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. During this time, she wrestled a series of mixed tag team matches with her husband Doug Gilbert against Roy Collins and Barbara Baker. She also wrestled a series of matches against and teaming with Betty Niccoli
Betty Niccoli
Betty Jo Niccoli is an American former female professional wrestler. She wrestled in the United States, Canada, and Japan. She was also influential in helping lift the ban of women's wrestling in the state of New York....
. She also wrestled as the partner of Jack Cain in mixed tag team matches against Jean Antone and Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
. Funk was also her partner on occasion. Her other well-known opponents included Penny Banner, The Fabulous Moolah
The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
, and Gladys Gillem
Gladys Gillem
Gladys Gillem Wall , also known as Gladys "Killem" Gillem or Gladys "Kill 'Em" Gillem, was an American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...
. In 1963, she won the vacant AWA World Women's Championship
AWA World Women's Championship
The AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
by defeating Kathy Starr in Minnesota, and she held the tile for approximately eight years, losing it to Vivian Vachon
Vivian Vachon
Vivian Vachon was a female professional wrestler. She was the sister of wrestlers Maurice and Paul Vachon. She was also the aunt of wrestler Luna Vachon...
in November 1971 in Canada.
She was named WFIA's "Girl Wrestling of the Year" in 1971. By the 1980s, Noble only wrestled part-time while raising her children In 2001, the Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
, a society of retired professional wrestlers, honored her contributions to women's wrestling.
Personal life
She once worked for Bob GeigelBob Geigel
Robert "Bob" Geigel is a former American professional wrestling promoter and also a former professional wrestler. Geigel ran the NWA Central States promotion between 1963 and 1986, until it was bought out by Jim Crockett Promotions...
as a bartender in Kansas. After retiring from professional wrestling, Noble entered into the pest control and upholstery industries. Noble owned Kay's Upholstery in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
. She later worked in pediatrics at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital. In her spare time, she played the piano.
Noble was first married to Doug Gilbert (Doug Lindzy), who she met in an elevator and married in 1959. The couple had three children: Teresa, Michael, and Steve. After having the children, the couple bought a home in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, where they also owned horses. Her second marriage to Dean Fortune produced two sons, David and Danny. In November 1985, she married Dick Bell, to whom she was still married at the time of her death.
She died on April 27, 2006 in Amarillo, Texas due to an inoperable cancer
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
of the stomach, having been diagnosed the previous October. Her funeral was on May 1, 2006. At the time of her death, she also had 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
- AWA World Women's ChampionshipAWA World Women's ChampionshipThe AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
(1 time)
- AWA World Women's Championship
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Other honoree (2001)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Lady Wrestler (Class of 2010)
- Other titles
- Texas Women's Championship
- Central States Women's Championship
- WFIA's Girl Wrestler of the Year (1971)