Dick Hutton

Background

Hutton was born in Amarillo, Texas to Bailey and Gladys Hutton.

Education

He attended Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical and went on to Oklahoma State University.

Career

He had one brother, Jerald Hutton. He moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma later on. Dick joined the army and was a veteran of World World War World War II Also while at Oklahoma State University, he went to the 1948 Olympic Games.

He came 5th in Freestyle wrestling.

Hutton made his debut in 1952, in a loss against Bill Longson. Hutton left Tulsa, as it was primarily a territory for light-heavyweight wrestlers, and went to Texas.

Beating Hutton would"ve earned the fan $1,000. On November 14, 1957, in Toronto"s Maple Leaf Gardens 10,000 people saw Hutton beat Thesz for the belt after 35:15, when Thesz submitted to an abdominal stretch.

He teamed regularly with Gene Kiniski in Toronto.

On January 9, 1959, after a championship reign of 421 days, Hutton dropped the belt to Pat O"Connor. Hutton never really had much other success in professional wrestling. He was criticised by some people for having a lack of charisma with poor drawing ability.

However, many other wrestlers praised his wrestling ability.

Hutton was forced into retirement because of heart trouble and other injuries. He died on November 24, 2003.

Amateur wrestling

National Collegiate Athletic Association

National Collegiate Athletic Association Wrestling Championship (3 times) - in 1947, 1948, and 1950

National Collegiate Athletic Association Hall Of Fame Inductee

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State University Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

National Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Olympic Games

1948 Olympic Freestyle Wrestling - 5th place

Professional wrestling

Cauliflower Alley Club

Other honoree (1994)

Maple Leaf Wrestling

NWA Canadian Open Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hard Boiled Haggerty

NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

NWA Western States Sports

NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time) - with Dory Funk

Worldwide Wrestling Associates

WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sam Steamboat

Other titles

Ohio Heavyweight Championship (2 times).

Achievements

• He was a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion and, as a professional, held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. While at Oklahoma State University he was the National Collegiate Athletic Association wrestling champion three times, in 1947, 1948 and 1950 (In 1949 he lost in the finals to Verne Gagne, future professional wrestler). Number one ever won. Thesz chose Hutton to be the next NWA Champion, winning the title from himself.

Membership

While in Columbus, Ohio, in a territory run by First Rate (at Lloyd's) Haft, Hutton would wrestle members of the audience.

Connections

Friend:

Lou Thesz