RIP Verne Gagne

Here's how I remember ol' Verne, shown here late in his career in a match in 1976 against the eternal loser George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski:

Verne had Alzheimer's and apparently inadvertently killed a guy in his nursing home a few years ago, but people will remember him for running the AWA here in the Twin Cities. He helped the careers of a lot of wrasslers who went on to national renown. One even became an elected official. And for a young fella in the 1970s, watching the match on a black and white television in his room on a Saturday night, he was the guy, at least if the Crusher or Baron Von Raschke weren't scheduled.