Gallup businessman recalls glory days as pro wrestler
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Before there was a Hulk Hogan . . .
Before there was a Stone Cold Austin . . .
Before there was a World Wrestling Federation . . .
There was "Buffalo Bill" Wilson.
He was not the top wrestling star of the late 1940s and 1950s, but
Gallup's Cecil Wilson was a professional wrestler who, week-in and
week-out, could be counted on to bring in fans to see mayhem and let
loose steam by yelling for their favorites.
For 11 years, Wilson traveled the circuit playing in small, out-of-the-way
towns like Gallup and Grants and occasionally being called to arenas
in big cities like Chicago and Mexico City.
Most people in Gallup know Wilson only as the owner of a paving company
in Gallup. But the young Wilson earned a fairly good living in the
decade after World War II traveling to all parts of the country as
a wrestler.
"I was living in Chicago then," he remembered, "and
wanted to be a boxer but they took one look at me I was 24 at the
time and told me I was too old."
But someone suggested that he become a wrestler and that didn't sound
too bad. He had worked a little as a professional magician so the
idea of wrestling was definitely enticing, especially since the golden
age of wrestling was just beginning and wrestlers were becoming popular
heroes.
"I did well in the business," he said. "I made a lot
of money at least for those days but the more money you make, the
more you spend."
He didn't make the millions that today's top wrestlers make, but Wilson
said he enjoyed the years on the road when he wrestled first under
the name of "Dr. Van Dyke" and then switched, in his second
year, to "Buffalo Bill," a name that stuck.
Like today, the wrestlers of Wilson's era were divided into the good
guys and the bad guys.
"I could work either way," he said. "If there already
was a popular villain booked for that night, I would be a good guy
but I really liked being a villain better."
And why not? The villain is the one that the crowds came to boo and
to yell at. He was also the one that the crowd hoped would get knocked
to the ground with a metal chair to the back of the head or get thrown
out of the ring so hard that he would land in the third row.
Yes, Wilson said, that happened to him more than once but except for
a dislocated shoulder and some broken ribs, he came out of his wrestling
career relatively injury free.
But people usually don't want to know whether he was
injured or how much money he made $150 a match was common in those
days what they want to talk about is the "F" word.
"People would ask me, was it fake and this is how I would answer
them," Wilson said. "When a man is 6 feet tall and lifts
you above his head for a body slam, regardless of how you do it, you
are going to hit the mat."
He also pointed out that if people enjoyed watching him and the other
wrestlers and were entertained, they got their money's worth. Everyone
went away happy the wrestlers who made a few bucks and the spectators
who had a chance to forget their problems for a couple of hours and
yell their lungs out.
Wilson traveled all over the Midwest and the West during those days
as well as Canada and Mexico, spending most of his time on the road.
His wrestling career, he admits, cost him his first wife and family.
During this time, he met some of the greats Gorgeous George (an early
Hulk Hogan-type wrestler) and Wee Willie.
While he never wrestled George, he does remember being on the same
bill as him one night. And as for Wee Willie, Wilson
remembers that he was so big that when he wrestled him, he would block
out the crowd.
"Probably one of the biggest differences then from today besides
the money that is made is the size of the wrestlers," Wilson
said. "Most in my day were normal size. Weight lifting didn't
become popular until I was leaving wrestling."
When he became 35, he realized that he was getting a little old for
the traveling and the weekly grind. He also had another family and
he didn't want to lose this one to wrestling too.
He had left Chicago about a month before and was billed to fight in
Gallup.
"I had fought in Gallup several times, as well as Grants and
Albuquerque. In fact most of the matches I had that were televised
were ones I did in Albuquerque," he said.
So he found himself in Gallup and decided to make some money in the
construction business before returning to Chicago. "I still have
not made it back to Chicago," he said.
Instead, he spent the next few years on various construction projects
in the Gallup area and then started his own paving company, which
is now in its 23rd year.
"People around here have pretty much forgotten that at one time
I was a professional wrestler," he said, admitting that he could
see why. "I don't look anything like I did when I was a wrestler."
Wilson, now 76, carries photos of himself as a wrestler in his wallet.
The faded photos show a young Wilson with a classic face and a goatee.
And as Wilson is proud to point out no cauliflower ears.
He still remembers those days with a sense of nostalgia being on the
road, the roar of the crowd and just the happiness of being part of
something that brought joy to people of all ages and all walks of
life.
"It was hard to quit and it did stay in my mind for a long time,"
he said. "It took a long time before I could even watch wrestling
on television but today, I watch it all of the time."
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Patients protest doctor's firing
Amanda Witt
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Patients and supporters of the Northside Clinic picketed
Monday to protest the termination of Dr. Thomas Verne.
Many patients at the clinic are terminally ill or have chronic health
problems. With Verne gone, they said they are left without a doctor
until August.
"We're abandoned now," said Irene Sanchez Ornelas, a patient
of Verne for three years. She said Verne went to her house when she
could not walk.
"He knows each and every one of us," Ornelas
said.
Deb Williams said Verne opened the clinic for her over the holidays
to give her medication, adding, "He's a gem when it comes to
doctors."
The Northside Clinic where Verne worked is operated by Presbyterian
Medical Services (PMS). It operates on a sliding payment scale, with
the patient paying what he or she can afford. It has been serving
indigent people in Gallup for the last 10 years.
Verne's contract was not renewed and was due to expire Sept. 8. On
June 12, his contract was terminated by PMS, leaving patients without
a doctor.
Verne was told the reason for his termination was not because of his
ability as a doctor, but as a result of a disagreement between him
and PMS administrators.
PMS President Jim Ribbsomer would not offer an explanation of Verne's
termination, saying, "It's personnel issues."
On June 8, Verne and Ornelas began circulating a letter to patients
which said: "In my opinion, the organization (PMS) feels it is
doing you a favor simply by providing health care to the Northside,
and you should be satisfied with whomever they bring in next. I objected
to this attitude and also voiced my displeasure with several other
practices of Presbyterian Medical Services."
Verne said PMS's local administrator, Genevieve Sanchez, obtained
a copy of the letter and was "extremely upset." He believes
this was the reason he was fired.
In his letter, Verne suggested, the people should take control of
the Northside Clinic and remove PMS from Gallup. The city of Gallup
leases the building to PMS for a low cost. He encouraged his patients
to get involved and contact PMS, the mayor and city council.
In the last 10 years there has been a gap in providers, Ornelas said.
"The best care is provided by physicians who know patients well,"
she said.
Two main concerns about the clinic are the high turnover rate of office
staff and physicians and the low salaries the staff is paid, Verne
said. Another concern is that the local administrators live in Grants
and are less responsive to the needs of Gallup.
Charlotte Rowley's parents are patients of the Northside Clinic. Her
mother called her and was upset because she could not get an appointment,
but was offered an appointment with the physician's assistant.
"My biggest concern was that this is technically abandonment.
My parents now have no doctor," Rowley said.
Rowley said none of the patients had received correspondence about
the situation at the clinic as of Monday.
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital has agreed to see clinic patients
through the emergency room, Verne said, so that people who need care
get it.
In response to the concern of being without a doctor, Ribbsomer said
the clinic has temporary care providers until August when the new
doctor arrives. "Our No. 1 priority is patient care," Ribbsomer
said.
But Rowley said the transition was not smooth and PMS had not acted
responsibly. In a meeting with PMS, Rowley said, the attitude was
"What do you expect? We are giving you indigent care."
The immediate problem is the physician's assistant and temporary physicians
at the clinic now are not familiar with many of Verne's patients.
Williams said after Verne was dismissed, "I had difficulty getting
medication because they are not familiar with it."
The action being taken by patients of the Northside Clinic in response
to Verne's dismissal includes a petition signed by more than 600 people
to get PMS out of Gallup. They also picketed Monday at the clinic.
In Verne's letter he said RMCH has expressed interest in running the
clinic. He claimed the reason PMS should be asked to leave Gallup
is because it gets most of the grant money for indigent care, making
it almost impossible for other groups such as RMCH to get this funding.
Ribbsomer said the citizens of Gallup are welcome to look into taking
over the clinic. PMS was asked to come into Gallup to provide indigent
care by the people of Gallup, he said.
For now, Gallup citizens are leading the protest. Verne said if it
were not for their interest, he would not be fighting for the clinic.
"My wife, Dr. Nancy Ciavarri, and I enjoy working in Gallup and
hope to stay here. That's why we feel it is worth fighting for,"
Verne said.
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Fed judge dismisses lawsuit against
CSC
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A lawsuit against Correctional Services Corp. that has
bounced around the judicial system for almost two years took another
bounce last week.
U.S. District Court dismissed a lawsuit filed against CSC by its former
employees, who said the company unjustly fired them.
The plaintiff's attorney, William Stripp, said he will re-file the
suit in the same court after making a change to the complaint that
will correct the mistake for which the case was dismissed.
The plaintiffs first filed separately (though with the same lawyer)
in September 1998 in McKinley County District Court, where it was
dismissed because Stripp wanted to take the suit to the U. S. District
Court.
It was taken as a single, joint lawsuit to the federal court in January.
The lawsuit is asking for about $36.75 million.
The plaintiffs worked for CSC when it managed the McKinley County
Adult Detention Center from June, 1997 to January. Management and
Training Corp. now operates the jail.
CSC told the former employees that they were fired because of disciplinary
problems but the plaintiffs allege that CSC fired them because they
complained about dangerous conditions at the jail. The former employees
said CSC never showed proof of their alleged misbehavior.
The lawsuit also said CSC did not fulfill the contractual obligations
it had with these employees.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs including guards, nurses, food preparers
and councilors described a jail that was hazardous for employees and
inmates. They said the pods were overcrowded; the officers were undertrained;
and violent and diseased inmates were assigned to work in the kitchen
where they used knives.
The plaintiffs said they were fired when they tried to talk about
the problems with the administrators at the county jail and corporate
officials in Florida.
The case was dismissed Wednesday and the court wrote up its decision
Thursday.
The defendants in the case were CSC and "unknown persons 1 through
100." The court dismissed the case because the "unknown
persons" could have included defendants the court doesn't have
jurisdiction over.
The federal courts can take a case if none of the defendants are from
the same state any of the plaintiffs are from.
The former employees who are suing are from New Mexico and CSC is
a Florida company but "unknown persons" could be from anywhere.
If those defendants turn out to be from New Mexico, the U.S. District
Court can no longer hear the case.
Including "unknown persons" as defendants is a common practice
used to describe people who may be involved in the case but whose
identity is not yet known. However, this case cannot be heard in federal
court if that phrase is kept.
Stripp said he will take out that phrase and re-file the suit.
CSC argued that the plaintiffs should have included Bob Bass as one
of the defendants. Bass was the facility administrator when CSC operated
the building and now he is the CSC vice president for business development.
Bass is mentioned several times in the complaint.
If Bass is included in the case, a federal court cannot try the lawsuit
because Bass is from New Mexico, like the plaintiffs. The case would
go to the McKinley County District Court.
Stripp said Bass was acting under the authority of CSC so Bass does
not have to be an individual defendant. The courts agreed.
The separate cases first filed by 11 former employees in 1998 were
assigned to County District Court Judge Joseph Rich. Stripp said he
filed a motion to excuse the judge when he heard that Rich was Bass's
godfather.
After Rich was excused, the courts found Stripp's motion was submitted
after the deadline for motions to excuse judges. The cases were returned
to Rich, and Stripp decided to file in federal court instead. The
cases were dismissed from county court.
By this time, four more former employees had joined the lawsuit.
Bass said, "It's a totally frivolous lawsuit. It's been dismissed
in a state court and now it's dismissed in a federal court."
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3 cross picket line at mine
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
TSE BONITO — Three union members who crossed the McKinley Mine
picket line were called derogatory names during a pep rally Monday
morning.
The three members of the United Mine Workers of America local became
the first strikebreakers in the 44-day-old walkout against Pittsburg
and Midway Coal Mining Company.
But the union tallied a legal victory by getting Judge Joseph Rich
of the District Court in Gallup tossed off the case the day he was
to consider turning the company's temporary restraining order into
a permanent injunction.
This means the order is extended to July 6 so another judge can decide
how far from the pavement Local 1332's pickets must stay and how many
can carry a sign. The union maintains it has peacefully exercised
its constitutional rights.
There also were hints Monday that P&M and UMWA may restart negotiations
to end the strike. Talks ended May 12, except for a one-day negotiation
that ended with P&M turning down a revised union offer. The strike
began May 14.
Union members held a half-day pep rally Monday in Tse Bonito to hear
International President Cecil Roberts talk himself hoarse promoting
unity as the way to victory. After about an hour Roberts and his assistants
left to travel to West Virginia.
The crowd of about 150 men, women and children also heard Roberts
say that as soon as he can he will work on raising the $150 a week
strike pay from the union that also includes medical insurance. Under
the expired contract employees received at least $780 for a 40-hour
week.
Roberts said all international unions have been contacted to apply
pressure to Chevron and that if the strike continues much longer members
of the local will go to the corporation's headquarters in San Francisco
to picket.
Roberts warned that the strikebreakers are driving everyone's wages
down. For illustration, he said if the average wage is $18 and a strikebreaker
will go to work for $16 that strikebreaker better watch out because
someone else will come along and be willing to work for $14 an hour.
He said solidarity built the union since 1890 when union members or
their families were sometimes killed by company-hired thugs. He said
the union won the long and bitter 1987 strike that made Navajos a
believer in unions and that it will win the
2000 walkout through maintaining solidarity.
Of the international, he promised, "We won't let you down. We'll
give you the money you need to keep this strike going. United we stand,
divided we fall."
Among other speakers were Apache County Supervisor Joe Shirley and
former Arizona State Sen. James Henderson. Navajo Nation President
Kelsey Begaye continued to receive criticism for not supporting the
strikers.
Begaye met last week with a team led by Local 1332 President Lawrence
Oliver and with P&M's top executive Steve Parker.
Begaye's staff said his main goal is to get the sides to settle the
dispute.
| Top |
City wants power study
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — City officials are once again looking to have a study
done to determine what the city should do about getting cheaper electricity
in the future.
City Manager David Ruiz said that there are so many changes occurring
in the electricity market that no one knows for sure what would be
cheapest for area consumers create the city's own power plant or continue
buying from someone else, like Public Service Company of New Mexico.
The city already has had one study done but Ruiz said that was too
general and now the city wants to get specific information on the
options available when its current contracts ends.
This whole question of building or buying has been a controversial
subject of late because of the decision by the city council to terminate
a "letter of intent" contract with TASCO GEN Systems, LLC...
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Yazzie picks up extra bonus
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
CHINLE, Ariz. - Donovan Yazzie of Seba Dalkai, Ariz. picked up an
extra $1,000 cash for being the all-around cowboy during the NNRCA-sanctioned
Claw's Rodeo of Rodeos that ended late Saturday night at Gorman's
Arena.
Yazzie pocketed the most money by competing in two or more events.
Roderick Tso of Smoke Signal, Ariz. was the reserve all-around champion
and received $500 cash.
Yazzie and Tso finished 1-2 in the calf roping event. Yazzie won the
calf roping with a winning time of 9.26 seconds that paid $564. Tso
trailed in second place with a 9.83 that paid $470. Darrell Nez placed
third with a 10.07 ($376). Gerald Daye was fourth with a 10.13 ($282)
while Darryl Boyd placed fifth with a 10.88 ($188).
The team roping combination of Ervin Begay and Ricky Kee claimed the
team roping with a fast time of 6.19 seconds that was worth $1,390
for the pair. The team of Victor and James Begay placed second with
a 6.75 ($1,150)...
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Mariners steal 12-11 victory
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP - The league-leading Mariners took advantage of extra time
to pull out a thrilling 12-11 comeback victory over the Pirates Monday
night in Mickey Mantle league action at Veteran's Memorial Complex.
Trailing 11-8, the Mariners rallied for four runs in the bottom of
the seventh inning which included a delayed double steal to score
the winning run.
In the opening game, the Mets won by a forfeit over the Pigeon Springs
White Sox who were unable to field a team.
The 7-1 Mariners, who filed a protest over a 6-5 loss to the Mets
Friday night, rallied twice over the 4-6 Pirates to post a stunning
comeback...
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Man killed in fall
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — A 26-year-old Kirtland man died Saturday when he
tried to climb from a pickup truck bed into the cab
and fell on U.S. 666, Navajo police report.
Philbert Pine died at the scene, according to the New Mexico Medical
Examiner's Office.
The driver, David Willie, 56, of the San Juan Chapter, told the Navajo
police he was taking Pine to the U.S. Indian Health Service hospital
in Shiprock with cuts and bleeding. Willie told the victim to stay
up front, in the cab, but Pine became upset and climbed into the back.
While they were headed north at an estimated speed of 65 m.p.h. at
Mile Post 89, Pine apparently tried to climb into the cab on the passenger's
side. When he lost his grip and fell, he slid almost 160 feet, according
to the Shiprock Police District report...
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Luna shuts down Mariners
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
GALLUP — Rusty Luna put out a fire. Chris Valenciano put out
the Mariners' lights.
Luna retired seven straight batters in a sparkling relief pitching
performance and Valenciano hit an inside-the-park home run that ended
the game on the 10-run rule in the fifth inning as the Rangers beat
the Fort Defiance Mariners 16-6 in Sandy Koufax baseball action Monday
night.
In other league action, the Diamondbacks routed the Athletics 18-3.
The Rangers were rolling along with an 11-0 lead through two innings.
That was until things began to fall apart in the top of the third
inning...
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Grants votes to pay dino park costs
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Even before a district judge hears the city's application
for default judgment against Dinamation, city councilors Monday decided
to start paying salaries and to restock the gift shop.
The director of the dino park will receive $30,000 a year and her
associate, $18,000 a year.
The decision to pay salaries and other costs was decidedly split.
City Attorney Camille Martinez-Olguin today is rushing a contract
to Judge Louis P. McDonald for his approval. Grants is trying to take
over the Dinamation Museum in a so far one-sided hostile default judgment
hearing set to be heard at the end of July...
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Deaths
Leland Barton
CASTLE BUTTE, Ariz. — Funeral services for Leland Barton, 40,
were held at 10 a.m. today, June 27, at the Geer Mortuary in Winslow,
Ariz. The Rev. Henry Chee officiated. Burial followed at Desert View
Cemetery in Winslow, Ariz.
Barton died June 21 in Castle Butte. He was born June 8, 1960, in
Wilson, Ariz., for the Zuni Edge Water People Clan into the Manygoats
People Clan.
Barton attended school in Dilcon, Tohatchi and was a 1981 graduate
of Joseph City High School in Arizona. His hobbies were working with
horses and participating in song and dance.
Survivors include his brother, Wilbert Barton, and sisters, Thelma
Singer, Precilla Todechinee and Lucy Gross.
Barton was preceded in death by his brothers, Ambrose Barton and Sam
Bennett; sister, Irene Morris; grandparents, Julia Nez, Hosteen Barton
and Rosie Barton. Pallbearers were family members.
The family received relatives and friends at the family's residence
following services.
Leopoldo J. Romero
GRANTS — Funeral services for Leopoldo "Leo" J. Romero,
58, will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Grants Mortuary
Chapel. Burial will follow at the Pioneer Memorial Park in Bluewater.
Visitation will be held an hour before services.
Romero was born April 11, 1942, to Valentino J. and Julia M. Lopez
Romero.
Survivors include his wife, Nina Romero of Grants; sons, Leo Romero
Jr. of Moriarty and Rick Romero of Albuquerque; daughters, Lori Lopez
of Espanola, Deluvina Gutierrez of Belen, Katherine Lavato and Brenda
Bernal, both of Albuquerque, Sherri Carlson of Bluewater and Joann
Bernal of Los Lunas and Tonja Wilson of Grants; brothers, Alfonso
Romero of Bluewater, Frank Romero of Los Lunas, Val Romero of Roswell
and Kenny Romero of Albuquerque; sisters, Edna Martinez of Santa Fe,
Beatrice Soto, Marilyn Otero, Precilla Romero, Elizabeth Chavez and
Lupe Romero, all of Albuquerque; 32 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Gilbert Salazar, Jason Carlson, George Bernal,
Travis Lopez, Leo Romero III and Sam Gomez.
Winfred J. Grider
MILAN — Funeral services for Winfred J. Grider, 79, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 29, at the First Baptist Church. The Rev.
Morgan Browning will officiate.
Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. today at Grants Mortuary Chapel.
Grider died June 25 outside of Milan. He was born March 10, 1921,
in Lakeview, Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Maureen Grider of Milan; sons, Larry Grider
and Alan Grider, both of Milan, David Grider of Cedar City, Utah,
and Ronnie Grider of Elko, Nev.; daughters, Linda Ault of Grants,
Terry Martin of Los Lunas and Jackie Smith of Lead, S.D.; brothers,
Wes Grider of Grants and Joe Grider of Melrose; sister, Claudine Davis
of Truth or Consequences; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Grider was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.
Pallbearers will be Larry Grider, David Grider, Alan Grider, Ronnie
Grider, Russell Grider and Paul Grider.
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