Ken Lucas (August 20, 1940 – August 6, 2014) was an American
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
who won many tag and singles championships in the southern US
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and former professional wrestling governing body operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc.
Founded in 1948, the NWA ...
territories between 1960 and 1985, before finishing his career as a
jobber
Jobber may refer to:
Athletics
* Job (professional wrestling) - A professional wrestler who routinely loses a match.
* Wichita Jobbers, a minor league baseball team in the Western Association from 1905 to 1911
Commerce
* A person or corporation ...
in the
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The territory was originally part o ...
. He trained
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell Morton (born September 21, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. He is the current GCW Television Champion, after pinning Matt Cardona at GCW Say You Will. For most of his care ...
to wrestle, and they teamed often in the early 1980s, winning three championships six times. He was from
Mesa, Arizona
Mesa ( ) is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the most populous city in the East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), East Valley section of the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is bordered by ...
and died at his home in
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...
.
Career
National Wrestling Alliance (1960–1984)
Tucson (1960–1964)
Ken Lucas began his career in 1960 for
Monte LaDue's territory in Tucson, Arizona. In May 1962, he won his first title, the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship, with
"Iron" Mike DiBiase. He would win two more with
Hans Steiner in 1963, before leaving the Tucson area in 1964. During his time in Tucson, he also made stops in Pittsburgh, Hawaii, and Denver.
Texas (1963–1965, 1977)
During his last days in Tucson in 1963, Lucas made a stop in Amarillo, working for
Dory Funk, Sr. He remained in the area until 1965. He would also wrestle briefly in Fort Worth. He wouldn't return to the area until 1977.
Tri-State (1964–1979)
In 1964, Lucas went to the Tri-State area of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, working for
Leroy McGuirk
Leroy Michael McGuirk (December 13, 1910 – September 9, 1988) was an American amateur and professional wrestler, and wrestling promoter. He was involved in professional wrestling for more than fifty years. As one of the longest surviving member ...
. He spent fifteen years in the area, before
Bill Watts
William F. Watts Jr. (born May 5, 1939) is a retired American professional wrestler, promoter and former American football player. Watts garnered fame under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a promoter in the Mid-South Un ...
took the reins in 1979. During his tenure there, Lucas held two
NWA Louisiana Heavyweight Championships and four NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Championships, among other titles.
Gulf Coast (1964–1984)
Lucas went to the Gulf Coast area in 1964, and competed in the area, on and off, for over two decades. During that time, he would hold eleven
NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championships, fifteen
NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship
The NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship was the main tag team championship in Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling or NWA Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast tag team championship is the successor for GCCW's version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship ...
s with eleven different partners, five
NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship was created in October, 1962. Since its creation, the championship has been defended in a number of NWA territories throughout the decades.
Initially, the title was a part of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestl ...
s, two
NWA City of Mobile Heavyweight Championship
NWA or Nwa most commonly refers to:
* N.W.A ("Niggaz Wit Attitudes"), a hip hop group from Compton, California, US
* National Wrestling Alliance, a professional wrestling organization
NWA or Nwa may refer to:
Music
* New Weird America, a subge ...
s, and two
NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship
The NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship was a National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) sanctioned professional wrestling championship promoted by NWA Mid-America in and around their Tennessee and Kentucky territory from 1955 until 1974. The ...
s, among other titles.
Georgia (1965–1966, 1969)
Lucas went down to
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Atlanta, Georgia. The promotion was affiliated with what had been the world's top sanctioning body of championship titles for decades before, the National W ...
in 1965. He would spend two years in the area, before leaving in 1967. He would briefly return to the area in 1969.
Mid-America (1968–1981)
Lucas joined the Mid-America area ran by
Nick Gulas
Nick Gulas (September 3, 1914 – January 21, 1991) was an American professional wrestling promoter in the Southern United States, partnered with Tennessee promoter Roy Welch for decades. Gulas was also known as "The King of Managers", "King B", ...
in 1968. When
Jerry Jarrett
Jerry Winston Jarrett (born September 4, 1942) is an American retired professional wrestling promoter and professional wrestler. Along with his long-term business partner Jerry Lawler, Jarrett is a key figure in the history of professional wrestl ...
broke away from Gulas to form the
Championship Wrestling Association in Memphis, he went back and forth between Nashville and Memphis for three years until Gulas's promotion closed in 1980. He won several Tag Team Championships within the area and one
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title defended in the US states of Tennessee and Alabama. The title began in 1957 and lasted first until 1980 when it was first abandoned when Jerry Jarrett took over the Mi ...
.
Florida (1976)
Lucas made a stop in Florida in 1976, working for
Championship Wrestling from Florida
Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as ...
. While there, he held two Tag Team titles with
Mike Graham.
Central States (1978)
Lucas made a brief stop in the Central States area in Kansas City in 1978. While there, he held one Heavyweight Championship and one Tag Team Championship with
Kevin Sullivan.
Southwest Championship Wrestling (1982–1984)
After wrestling for the NWA for over two decades, Lucas went back to Texas for
Southwest Championship Wrestling
Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW) was a professional wrestling promotion that was owned by Joe Blanchard and based in San Antonio, Texas, from 1978 to 1985, when it was purchased by Texas All-Star Wrestling and absorbed into that company.
...
in 1982. While there, he won two Tag Team Championships with
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell Morton (born September 21, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. He is the current GCW Television Champion, after pinning Matt Cardona at GCW Say You Will. For most of his care ...
, whom Lucas trained four years earlier in Tennessee.
American Wrestling Association (1984–1985)
In 1984, Lucas joined the
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The territory was originally part o ...
in Minneapolis. By this time, Lucas was winding down his career, so he was mainly used as a jobber. After a year with the AWA, Lucas retired after 25 years in the ring.
Retirement and death
After retiring, Lucas became a fixture at the
T&W Flea Market, where he would sell hats and other items. He died at home in Pensacola, Florida on August 6, 2014, aged 73.
Championships and accomplishments
*
Central States Wrestling
:*
NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that served as the main title for the National Wrestling Alliance promotion, NWA Central-States Championship Wrestling. For most of its existence, however, ...
(1 time)
:*
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Central States version)
The Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was the main professional wrestling championship for tag teams in Heart of America Sports Attractions, later known as Central States Wrestling (CSW) from 1951 to 1959, then again f ...
(
1 time) – with
Kevin Sullivan
*
Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
Continental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Dothan, Alabama from 1985 until 1989, owned by Ron Fuller. The promotion evolved out of the NWA-affiliated Southeastern Championship Wr ...
**
NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship was created in October, 1962. Since its creation, the championship has been defended in a number of NWA territories throughout the decades.
Initially, the title was a part of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestl ...
(7 times)
**
NWA Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
**
NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
**
NWA Southern Tag Team Championship The NWA Southern Tag Team Championship is any of a group of professional wrestling tag team championship titles in the National Wrestling Alliance.
Specific titles include:
* The NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version)
* The NWA South ...
(4 times) – with Chris Lucas
**
NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship
The NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship was the main tag team championship in Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling or NWA Gulf Coast. The Gulf Coast tag team championship is the successor for GCCW's version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship ...
(15 times) – with Bobby Fields, Dennis Hall,
Chris Lucas
Chris Lucas (born 27 March 1992) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Oakleigh Cannons in the NPL Victoria. Lucas played for Gold Coast United for the A-League in 2011-12 season and made his professional ...
, Don Carson, Mac MacFarland, Johnny West,
Mike Boyette
Michael Bowyer (April 24, 1943 – December 6, 2012), also known by the ring name Mike "The California Hippie" Boyette, was an American professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1966.
Early life
Boyette was born in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to h ...
, Nick Kozak and Gorgeous George Jr.
**
NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship
The NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship was the major tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's Alabama territory known as Continental Championship Wrestling, Southeastern Championship Wrestling. It existed from 1974 until November 19 ...
(4 times) - with Kevin Sullivan,
Bob Armstrong
Joseph Melton James (October 3, 1939 – August 27, 2020) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships ...
, and
Dizzy Hogan
**
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship or ''Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship'' was one of two identically named regional championship titles, a Southern and Northern division promoted by Southeast Championship Wrestling. The Southern d ...
(10 times)
**
(3 times)
**
NWA United States Tag Team Championship ''(Gulf Coast version)'' (4 times) – with Mike Boyette, Johnny West, Bob Kelly and Dennis Hall
*
NWA Mid-America
NWA Mid-America was a professional wrestling promotion territory under the umbrella of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) that promoted shows in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama from the 1940s until 1981. The company was founded in the 1940s by ...
**
AWA Southern Tag Team Championship
The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-America version)'' from its ince ...
(13 times) - with Dennis Hall,
Johnny Walker,
Billy Robinson
William Alfred Robinson (18 September 1938 – 3 March 2014) was a British professional wrestler and wrestling instructor. Robinson was one of the few wrestlers who was successful in several continents ( Europe, North America, Asia and Ocean ...
, and
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell Morton (born September 21, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, currently performing on the independent circuit. He is the current GCW Television Champion, after pinning Matt Cardona at GCW Say You Will. For most of his care ...
**
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title defended in the US states of Tennessee and Alabama. The title began in 1957 and lasted first until 1980 when it was first abandoned when Jerry Jarrett took over the Mi ...
(1 time)
**
NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship
The NWA Mid-America Tag Team championship was a tag team title promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion NWA Mid-America that ran more or less exclusively in Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky, United States, from the 1940s until 1 ...
(7 times) - with Frankie Laine,
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson (born July 26, 1956) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tommy “Wildfire” Rich. He is a one time former National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion and Smoky Mountain Wrestling ...
,
Ray Candy
Ray Canty (December 3, 1951 – May 23, 1994), better known by the ring name Ray Candy, was an American professional wrestler who worked for a variety of different wrestling promotions in the United States, Japan and Puerto Rico such as Jim Crocke ...
,
Dutch Mantel
Wayne Maurice Keown (born November 29, 1949) is an American professional wrestling manager, booker and retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Dutch Mantel (also spelled Dutch Mantell).
Keown debuted in 1972, as Wayne Cow ...
,
George Gulas
George Gulas is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with his father Nick Gulas' professional wrestling promotion NWA Mid-America in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Professional wrestling career
Gulas ini ...
, and Ricky Morton
**
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)
The Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was a regional professional wrestling championship for tag teams that was used in the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) NWA Mid-America professional wrestling promotion from 1957 ...
(1 time) - with Frankie Laine
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, Ken
1940 births
2014 deaths
American male professional wrestlers
20th-century professional wrestlers
Professional wrestlers from Arizona
NWA Florida Tag Team Champions