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Richard Hardin Friedrich

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Richard Hardin Friedrich Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Nekoosa, Wood County, Wisconsin, USA
Death
8 Aug 1966 (aged 75)
New York, New York County, New York, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 53, Grave 3546
Memorial ID
View Source
Professional Wrestler, he wrestled under the professional name of Ed "Strangler" Lewis. He was one of the wrestling greats of his time, defeating such famous wrestlers as Stanislaus Zbysko, Orville Brown, Joe Stecher, Jim Londos, Dick Shikat, Freddie Beel, and Jack Leon. He was in a famous verbal war with boxing champion Jack Dempsey, but the two never fought; Dempsey later admitted he never did fight Lewis because he knew he couldn't beat him. Lewis held five undisputed World Heavyweight Championships between 1920-1931, the AWA Championship, and the NYSAC Championship. He began in the era when most wrestling matches were "shoots," but by the time he retired almost all winners were pre-determined, as they are today. He held the record for most world championship reigns, until his protégé Lou Thesz bested him. He was a great submission wrestler, who could legitimately cripple his opponents. "Strangler" Lewis is considered one of the original great wrestling champions.
Professional Wrestler, he wrestled under the professional name of Ed "Strangler" Lewis. He was one of the wrestling greats of his time, defeating such famous wrestlers as Stanislaus Zbysko, Orville Brown, Joe Stecher, Jim Londos, Dick Shikat, Freddie Beel, and Jack Leon. He was in a famous verbal war with boxing champion Jack Dempsey, but the two never fought; Dempsey later admitted he never did fight Lewis because he knew he couldn't beat him. Lewis held five undisputed World Heavyweight Championships between 1920-1931, the AWA Championship, and the NYSAC Championship. He began in the era when most wrestling matches were "shoots," but by the time he retired almost all winners were pre-determined, as they are today. He held the record for most world championship reigns, until his protégé Lou Thesz bested him. He was a great submission wrestler, who could legitimately cripple his opponents. "Strangler" Lewis is considered one of the original great wrestling champions.

Bio by: Matt Clevinger


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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Matt Clevinger
  • Added: Apr 20, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19030563/richard_hardin-friedrich: accessed ), memorial page for Richard Hardin Friedrich (30 Jun 1891–8 Aug 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 19030563, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.