Pete Mead
Encyclopedia
Felix G. "Pete" Mead was an American
middleweight
boxer
who fought in the ring from 1942 to 1951. He was defeated in his last fight by Rocky Graziano
of New York City
. In 1989, Mead wrote his autobiography
, Blood, Sweat and Cheers, a collector's item that can sell for as much as $135. He was inducted in 1993 into the Ohio
Boxing Hall of Fame.
Mead fought fifty-six times in the ring, both in the United States
and overseas. His boxing career was interrupted by World War II
, during which he served in the United States Army
. However, he fought several exhibition bouts during his military years.
In 1946, Mead made his first of several appearances at Madison Square Garden
in New York City with a six-round decision over Tommy Merrill. He defeated thereafter Vince LaSalva and Jerry Fiorello. He split two bouts with Herbie Kronowitz
, the Jewish American fighter from Brooklyn. He then defeated Sonny Horne of Niles, Ohio
. Thereafter, he whipped Fritzie Zivic.
In 1947, Mead lost a verdict in The Garden to Harold Green. He then lost to Sonny Horne but rebounded to defeat him in their second mathup. He then knocked out Rueben Shank in the tenth round. He secured eight more victories, including split decisions over the Cocoa Kid and Herbie Kronowitz. He lost to Vinnie Rossano but stopped Joey DeJohn in five rounds.
In 1948, Mead again outscored Kronowitz, but he then lost a split verdict to Al Priest. He lost another decision to Priest as well but rallied twice to defeat Tony Masciarelli. On June 14, 1948, Walter Cartier knocked out Mead in the third round. It was Mead's first knockout. He returned to defeat Charley Zivic
and to draw with Joe Rindone. He stopped at the Cleveland
Arena to defeat Mickey Doyle on points. He lost a rematch with Rindone.
On February 25, 1949, Mead met DeJohn again in what is considered to have been one of the greatest fights ever at The Garden. Mead got off the floor in the third and fifth rounds and stopped DeJohn in round seven. This fight has been called "the bloodiest" ever in The Garden. It was also Mead's last victory. This fight was hailed by Ring magazine
as one of the ten greatest fights of the 20th century.
Mead then lost to the French
contender Robert Villemain at The Garden. He, again, met DeJohn, this time in Rochester, New York
, and DeJohn triumphed in the seventh round.
Mead then traveled to Great Britain
, where he lost on points to Dave Sands. He was stopped in the fourth round by Randy Turpin. In 1950, Mead returned to the United States but was knocked out by Rocky Graziano
in three rounds. His career hence ended with a 39-16-1 record.
Mead was born in Trumann
in Poinsett County in northeastern Arkansas
but lived his later years in the nearby larger city
of Jonesboro
, the seat of Craighead County
. His parents were Ed Mead and the former Ethel Shandlin.
After leaving the ring, Mead lived for a time in Grand Rapids, Michigan
. He later moved to Jonesboro, where he operated a construction company. He was married for some sixty-five years to a Trumann, Arkansas native, Dorothy M. Russell (December 4, 1921 - May 12, 2004). The couple had five children, one of whom, Carolyn Delane Mead, died in infancy.
Mead died in a Jonesboro nursing home
. He was survived by his children, Jim Mead, Shirley Mead, Vicki Mead, and Jeff Mead, all of Jonesboro; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; a brother, Tullos Mead of Jonesboro, and one sister, Reba Mead Brown of Flint, Michigan
. A second brother, Garland Mead, preceded Mead in death.
He was a member of the Prospect Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Services were held on July 5, 2007, at 7:00 in the Emerson Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro. A graveside committal service was held on July 6 at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery
.
Over the years Mead kept in touch with such friends and former competitors as Rocky Marciano
, Herbie Kronowitz, Joey DeJohn, Rocky Graziano, Jack Dempsey
, Joe Louis
, and Bill Hannigan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought in the ring from 1942 to 1951. He was defeated in his last fight by Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1989, Mead wrote his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Blood, Sweat and Cheers, a collector's item that can sell for as much as $135. He was inducted in 1993 into the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Boxing Hall of Fame.
Mead fought fifty-six times in the ring, both in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and overseas. His boxing career was interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. However, he fought several exhibition bouts during his military years.
In 1946, Mead made his first of several appearances at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City with a six-round decision over Tommy Merrill. He defeated thereafter Vince LaSalva and Jerry Fiorello. He split two bouts with Herbie Kronowitz
Herbie Kronowitz
Herbert "Herbie" Kronowitz, originally Theodore "Ted" Kronowitz , is a retired American middleweight boxer who fought in the ring from 1941 to 1950. After his boxing career ended, Kronowitz was a highly-regarded referee for nearly thirty years...
, the Jewish American fighter from Brooklyn. He then defeated Sonny Horne of Niles, Ohio
Niles, Ohio
Niles is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 20,932 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Thereafter, he whipped Fritzie Zivic.
In 1947, Mead lost a verdict in The Garden to Harold Green. He then lost to Sonny Horne but rebounded to defeat him in their second mathup. He then knocked out Rueben Shank in the tenth round. He secured eight more victories, including split decisions over the Cocoa Kid and Herbie Kronowitz. He lost to Vinnie Rossano but stopped Joey DeJohn in five rounds.
In 1948, Mead again outscored Kronowitz, but he then lost a split verdict to Al Priest. He lost another decision to Priest as well but rallied twice to defeat Tony Masciarelli. On June 14, 1948, Walter Cartier knocked out Mead in the third round. It was Mead's first knockout. He returned to defeat Charley Zivic
Charley Zivic
Charley Zivic later known as Charley Affif, was a Lebanese American professional boxer from 1944 through 1951, with 42 wins, 13 losses, and 4 draws...
and to draw with Joe Rindone. He stopped at the Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
Arena to defeat Mickey Doyle on points. He lost a rematch with Rindone.
On February 25, 1949, Mead met DeJohn again in what is considered to have been one of the greatest fights ever at The Garden. Mead got off the floor in the third and fifth rounds and stopped DeJohn in round seven. This fight has been called "the bloodiest" ever in The Garden. It was also Mead's last victory. This fight was hailed by Ring magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
as one of the ten greatest fights of the 20th century.
Mead then lost to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
contender Robert Villemain at The Garden. He, again, met DeJohn, this time in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and DeJohn triumphed in the seventh round.
Mead then traveled to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, where he lost on points to Dave Sands. He was stopped in the fourth round by Randy Turpin. In 1950, Mead returned to the United States but was knocked out by Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
in three rounds. His career hence ended with a 39-16-1 record.
Mead was born in Trumann
Trumann, Arkansas
Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at ....
in Poinsett County in northeastern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
but lived his later years in the nearby larger city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
, the seat of Craighead County
Craighead County, Arkansas
Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
. His parents were Ed Mead and the former Ethel Shandlin.
After leaving the ring, Mead lived for a time in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. He later moved to Jonesboro, where he operated a construction company. He was married for some sixty-five years to a Trumann, Arkansas native, Dorothy M. Russell (December 4, 1921 - May 12, 2004). The couple had five children, one of whom, Carolyn Delane Mead, died in infancy.
Mead died in a Jonesboro nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
. He was survived by his children, Jim Mead, Shirley Mead, Vicki Mead, and Jeff Mead, all of Jonesboro; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; a brother, Tullos Mead of Jonesboro, and one sister, Reba Mead Brown of Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. A second brother, Garland Mead, preceded Mead in death.
He was a member of the Prospect Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Services were held on July 5, 2007, at 7:00 in the Emerson Funeral Home Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro. A graveside committal service was held on July 6 at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
Over the years Mead kept in touch with such friends and former competitors as Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano , born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, was an American boxer and the heavyweight champion of the world from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only champion to hold the heavyweight title and go undefeated throughout his career. Marciano defended his title six times...
, Herbie Kronowitz, Joey DeJohn, Rocky Graziano, Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey
William Harrison "Jack" Dempsey was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Dempsey's aggressive style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first...
, Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, and Bill Hannigan.