Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Before he played the bouncer in “Road House” … before he was the focus in the documentary “Beyond the Mat” … before he was elected to five wrestling hall of fames … before he retired from the sport the first time in 1983 ... Terry Funk was a legend across eastern New Mexico and the High Plains.
If you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, you were a Funk fan, whether watching him wrestle on television or seeing him in person in Clovis, Portales and other small-town venues.
We lost the legend last week following a two-year struggle with dementia. He was 79.
Fellow wrestling legend Ric Flair tweeted:
“In My Entire Life, I’ve Never Met A Guy Who Worked Harder. Terry Funk Was A Great Wrestler, Entertainer, Unbelievably Fearless, And A Great Friend! Rest In Peace My Friend Terry Funk Knowing That No One Will Ever Replace You In The World Of Professional Wrestling!”
World Wrestling Entertainment released this statement:
“Revered by fans and peers across the globe for his tenacity, heart and longevity, Funk will be remembered as one of the toughest competitors to ever step inside the squared circle.”
Funk performed – or competed if you prefer – dozens if not hundreds of times in eastern New Mexico. Newspaper clippings from the 1960s, and ’70s show he was the main attraction in
• August 1967 vs. Thunderbird Patterson
• November 1968, teaming with Rapid Ricky Romero to take on The Infernos
• January 1972, teamed with his dad, Dory Funk Sr., vs. Mr. Okuma and Pak Song
• December 1973 vs. Killer Karl Krupp
• September 1974, vs. Sieg. Stanke in a “Texas Death Match.”
Before winning that “death match” in dramatic comeback fashion, Funk told Clovis News-Journal reporter Greg Lancaster, “I’ve had at least 300 stitches in my face alone, a brain concussion, a chipped vertebrae in my neck, a dislocated shoulder, not to mention the endless amount of bruises. You can’t wrestle pro and not expect to get by unharmed.” Lancaster’s report described Funk as “an obvious crowd favorite.”
Indeed he was.
Tributes poured in last week from across the globe. My favorite came from a former Amarillo journalist, Mike Higgins.
“Terry was frequently a late-night visitor to the offices of an Amarillo newspaper in order to see his longtime buddy Putt Powell,” Higgins wrote on his Facebook page.
“One time the pair were visiting when a reader that was unhappy with something Putt had written (nothing new there) walked in and shouted ‘Where’s that Putt Powell? I am going to kick his ass.’ Terry got up out of his chair, looked down at the visitor and told him, ‘I’m Putt Powell. What can I do for you?’ The guy quickly turned around and left and that was the end of that.”
RiP, Terry Funk. Thanks for the show.
David Stevens is publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at: