Professional Wrestler. He wrestled in the Memphis, Tennessee area under the name of "Sputnik Monroe." He held numerous titles throughout his career, including the Texas Brass Knuckles Title, Texas Title, Tennessee Tile and Florida Title He also held the Southern Tag Team Titles and the World Tag Titles with his "brother" Rocket Monroe in 1967. He was a key figure in wrestling during the 50's and 60's. But his greatest claim to fame was as an important player in the desegregation of the wrestling venues in Memphis. He was known to bribe the gatekeeper to admit more Black wrestling fans than the promoters allowed, thereby forcing the owners to do away with the "Blacks Only" sections and allow mixed seating. He was known to refuse to perform at shows where the promoters refused to allow Black fans to enter the auditorium. He was inducted into the Memphis Hall of Wrestling in 1994. His efforts to promote desegregation in Memphis were spotlighted in a NPR broadcast in 2001 and the following year by a display at the Rock 'n' Soul Museum on Beale Street in Memphis.
Professional Wrestler. He wrestled in the Memphis, Tennessee area under the name of "Sputnik Monroe." He held numerous titles throughout his career, including the Texas Brass Knuckles Title, Texas Title, Tennessee Tile and Florida Title He also held the Southern Tag Team Titles and the World Tag Titles with his "brother" Rocket Monroe in 1967. He was a key figure in wrestling during the 50's and 60's. But his greatest claim to fame was as an important player in the desegregation of the wrestling venues in Memphis. He was known to bribe the gatekeeper to admit more Black wrestling fans than the promoters allowed, thereby forcing the owners to do away with the "Blacks Only" sections and allow mixed seating. He was known to refuse to perform at shows where the promoters refused to allow Black fans to enter the auditorium. He was inducted into the Memphis Hall of Wrestling in 1994. His efforts to promote desegregation in Memphis were spotlighted in a NPR broadcast in 2001 and the following year by a display at the Rock 'n' Soul Museum on Beale Street in Memphis.
Bio by: Art & Tracy
Inscription
ROSCOE M
BRUMBAUGH
S2
US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
DEC 18 1928
NOV 3 2006
SPUTNIK MONROE
PROF WRESTLER
Family Members
Half Siblings
Children
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