Dr. Tom Prichard

Your Dreams Can Come True

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Dr. Tom Prichard and I worked side by side coaching talent for the greatest wrestling
company in the world, the World Wrestling Federation or as it was known, the WWF.
We were priveliged to coach some gifted athletes, the likes of Edge, Christian, Kurt
Angle, Test, Val Venis, Darrin Drosdov, Rikishi, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Shawn
Stasiak, Crash Holly, and many others who made their way to the top of the WWF.

*******
As a sports entertainer/professional wrestler, The highest honor you can be paid
is accolade from your fans. Sometimes it is there and you are unaware how deeply
people can be affected. I first came to Houston in 1969 to wrestle Johnny Valentine
and later, Wahoo McDaniel, Jose Lothario, Red Bastein and Mill Mascares.

The following stories were written for Mr. Cotton's Mythology class at J. Frank
Dobie High School in Houston, Texas in 1976 by a very young, Dr. Tom Prichard.
I was first made aware of them as a gift from Tom in Stamford, Ct. in January of
1998. Now it is 2002 and Marti brought out the old case with aged brown papers.

I consider these as a tribute to the sincerity of the people who follow our careers
and to my father, Dory Funk Sr. and brother, Terry Funk.
 
 

J. Frank Dobie High School
Houston, Texas    1976
Mr. Cotton's Mythology Class
Room 208

"I Raised My Boy to be a Champion"
By Tom Prichard

Dory Funk Sr. was truly one of the best wrestlers I've seen in action. Dory Sr. was a perfect
example of a dedicated father. He never played favorites. He was always equally dividing the
work on his ranch between Dory Jr. and Terry. He was doing this to give them a good healthy
life on a ranch, out of doors, instead of the smoggy city.

Both of Dory's sons are champion's in their own right. There was no man happier in the world
on February 11, 1969 than Dory Funk Sr., when Dory Jr. won the world championship in Florida.
Then, at that moment he know all his wrestling training, all his coaching had paid off. When Dory Jr.
won the title, Dory told him that he would have to bring nothing but dignity to the belt, and honor his
obligations. He taught Dory Jr. to defend the championship against all leading contenders. He warned
him that holding the championship of the world would bring him many rewards, and it would-be
rough at times, along with a lot of travel. He told him that he should put out his best whether wrestling
in front of a crowd of 12,000 at a huge coliseum, or whether he was wrestling in front of a
crowd of six or seven hundred at a high school gymnasium for the belt.

Dory Funk Sr. raised two great sons, and had a right to be proud of them.

On May 26, 1973 tragedy struck the Funk family. Dory Sr. passed away due to a heart attack, Dory
Funk Sr. died at the age of fifty four.

Dory Sr. was a bad guy in many parts of the nation. He and Terry were almost mobbed at New York's
Madison Square Garden after a tag team match in which the Funks came out victorious. Dory Funk Sr.
started his pro career in 1948 in Amarillo, and it extended through four decades. From 1948 to 1951,
Dory Sr. was also a high school football coach and Superintendant at Cal Farley's Boy's Ranch, near
Amarillo. This was a place for homeless boys. He continued to wrestle while he coached. Dory was
an outstanding high school wrestler in his hometown, Hammond Indiana, and was also student body
president of Hammond High while he was there. Dory Sr also wrestled at Indiana University and in
his senior year was elected into the Indiana Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The King of the Texas Death Matches Dory Funk Sr. meets the King of the Cowboys, Roy Rogers
(Boys Ranch Rodeo, 1948)

Dory Funk Sr. was certainly a man who believed for what he stood up for. He was considered
"The King of Texas Death Matches," because no one was able to defeat him in a Texas Death
Match. Many wrestlers tried but Dory Funk Sr. always loved this rough type of match, and excepted
any and all challenges. Dory Funk Sr. won the Brass Knucks championship on many different occasions,
and usually held the title a long time. Dory Sr. stood up for his sons, whenever the thought that somebody
was trying to take advantage of them. Dory Funk Sr. was a man of many talents, and the whole wrestling
world was shocked at his death. He was a man that was loved and hated. He always did the best for his
family and put them before himself always.

Father and Son Champions - Dory Sr. held many titles, but was the proudest man alive when his son,
Dory Funk Jr. defeated Gene Kiniski for the belt emblematic of the world's championship.
 

J. Frank Dobie High School
Houston, Texas    1976
Mr. Cotton's Mythology Class
Room 208

Hero Report
by Tom Prichard

Dory Funk Jr. tests J. Frank Dobie High School former Middle Linebacker, Tom Prichard.
 

A Wrestler's Dream Come True
The dream of every dedicated amateur and professional wrestler is to become the best in his weight
or match specialty. Well for one young dedicated athlete, this magnificent dream came true. I'm talking
about Dory Funk Jr., the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) champion. Dory is the greatest
wrestler I have ever had the pleasure of watching in action. I've seen a lot of very great wrestlers both
professional and amateur, and Dory is the greatest of them all. Dory stands 6' 3", and weighs 243 lbs.
The National Wrestling Alliance is the largest club in professional wrestling. There are two other major
associations that have middle-sized champions. I have always admired all of the Funks. Dory played
football at West Texas State University, and in 1963, he played on the Buffaloes to allow West Texas to
edge Ohio University 15 - 14 in the Sun Bowl. Dory won the world championship when he was 27 years
old, and the man he won it from was Gene Kiniski. Funk won the belt in Tampa, Fla., on the date of
Feb. 11, 1969. Dory is a very smart individual besides knowing his wrestling. He has his teaching certificate,
and would like to become a part time physical education instructor after he stops wrestling. Dory said he
would like to become a promoter at 35. He won't completely stop all his wrestling. He will be involved and
teach P.E. at the same time he is promoting wrestling. Before Dory won the world title, he was a regular on
the El Paso Monday night wrestling cards. Dory Funk Jr. has wrestled many of the top grapplers in the
United States, and has defended his title successfully all over the world. He has been pinned and beaten
in non-title matches in Florida, by two men. Both of these men are top challengers for the NWA title which
Dory now holds. In my opinion, I think Dory Funk Jr. is the greatest wrestler in the world He set a goal in
his life, and because he wanted it bad enough, went out and made his dream come true.

Your dreams can come true!!!

Tom Prichard

Thanks Tom,

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