RIP, Crazy Luke Graham

You have to be a fan of '60s and '70s wrestling to remember him:

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=16650


James Grady Johnson   
James Grady Johnson Retired Professional Wrestler
-MILLEDGEVILLE - Services for James Grady Johnson, 66, will be held 11A.M. Monday, June 26, 2006 at Freedom Church. Rev. Wendell Thomas will officiate. Interment 3P.M. in Bethesda Cemetery, Lexington, GA. -Mr. Johnson died Friday, June 23. -A native of Union Point, Georgia, Mr. Johnson was the son of the late James Frank and Grace Dwyer Johnson. Mr. Johnson had lived in New York and California while a professional wrestler known as "Crazy Luke Graham." A member of one of the greatest families in pro wrestling, the Graham family, Mr. Johnson, aka Crazy Luke, teamed with Tarzan Tyler to win the first ever WWWF World Tag Team Championship. Other accomplishments include WWE International Tag Team Champion, WWE United States Tag Team Champion, WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Champion, WWC North American Champion, NWA Central States Heavyweight Champion, NWA Mid-American Heavyweight Champion, NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Champion, NWA Tag Team Champion. Upon retirement from pro wrestling, Mr. Johnson returned home to the Athens area. He had lived in Milledgeville for the past year and attended Freedom Church. -Survivors: daughters, Lori Lyle of Milledgeville, Aleshia Greene of Allentown, Delita Sisk of Lexington, Danielle Gattie of Gray; son, Scott Johnson of New Smyrna Beach, FL; eleven grandchildren, three great grandchildren. -The Family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. Sunday evening at Williams Funeral Home. -View the online Memorial Page and sign the guestbook at www.williamsfuneralhome.net



Published in The Telegraph on 6/25/2006. 
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Who's turn for the SportsJournalists.com statement of condolence? We have alot of pro wrestling meatheads here, right?

 

Judging by that hair, I'm guessing he was called "nature boy" at some point.

 

I've talked to his son on occassions. I know he was concerned of his dad's health.

RIP, Crazy Luke

 

No, dools, the original Nature Boy of that era was Buddy Rogers.




A little Graham Brothers history (there were 4 of them, not related):

In the '50s and '60s, the legendary Graham Brothers ruled the sport but Jerry, Eddie, and Luke weren't really related, although this wasn't widely known. Dr. Jerry Graham, a 300 pounder whose deceptively rotund build belied formidable power, was a master showman whose outside-the-ring activities contributed greatly to his popularity. He teamed with "brother" Eddie, a legendary technical wrestler, to rule the WWWF during the early '60s. Luke Graham eventually joined Jerry when Eddie left to start his own organization, but he was not a real brother either. Another eventual fake brother joined the clan--Superstar Billy Graham.

 

I didn't say he was the first and/or only. Just saying that with the peroxide job, he could have been one.

 

nope. never. unh-uh. no. not Crazy Luke. His gimmick was totally different.

 

Crazy Luke's shtick was to pretend that he really was deluded and shaky. Thus the fans would start yelling "Crazy Luke! Crazy Luke!" and Luke would begin cowering and covering his ears.

Good times, good times.