The Von Erichs-A Texas Family Riddled with Tragedy
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They were hard-bodied, golden-haired, bare-chested hunks of Texas men.
Their real name was Adkisson. Their stage name was Von Erich. Fritz and his handsome sons Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris were wrestling legends.
Every Texas female in the late 70s and 80s knew of the handsome Von Erichs. I remember hearing various girlfriends talk about having seen one of the Von Erichs out and about.
My grandmother loved wrestling and she loved the Von Erichs. I remember her looking at a photo of one of the Von Erich boys and remarking, "well, if he ain't got it, then Santa Claus sure can't bring it".
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Fritz Von Erich: Master Of The Iron Claw
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Fritz Von Erich-The Iron Claw (1929-1997)
Jack Barton Adkisson was born in 1929 in Jewett, Texas. He was 6'4" 240 lbs and adopted a wrestling persona known as Fritz Von Erich. He is known for his "Iron Claw" and creating World Class Championship Wrestling. He is the father of six sons, and all but one died prematurely and tragically.
Fritz Von Erich died in 1997 from lung cancer that had spread to his brain.
More info on Fritz Von Erich
Jackie Von Erich (1953-1959)
Jack "Jackie" Barton Adkissson, Jr. was the first son of Fritz Von Erich. Jackie tragically died at age 6. He had gone to a neighbor's house. The neighbor had been remodeling and left some wiring exposed. Jackie brushed against the wiring knocking him unconscious. He fell face down into a puddle of melted snow and drowned.
Kevin Von Erich (1957- )
Kevin Von Erich was born in 1957 and become known as The Golden Warrior. He is 6'3" and 235 lbs.
Kevin started wrestling in 1976 at the age of 19. At a time when high-topped boots were common wrestling attire, Kevin wrestled barefooted. Even though he admired another barefoot wrestler, it evidently wasn't his original intent to wrestle barefooted. Someone had hidden his shoes before a match and he was unable to locate them before having to go on. It simply stuck after that.
Kevin is retired from wrestling and lives in Hawaii. His son Ross is an up and coming wrestler going to college in Texas.
David Von Erich (1958-1984)
David Von Erich was born in 1958 and became known as the Yellow Rose of Texas. He was 6'5". Some cites report him as tall as 6'7". He was a big ole boy no matter how you look at it.
In Feb 1984 while on tour in Japan, he complained of stomach pain and feeling tired. He died of gastroenteritis at age 25.
Kerry Von Erich (1960-1993)
Kerry Von Erich was born in 1960. He was 6'3" and 260 lbs. He became known as the Texas Tornado and the Modern Day Warrior. In my opinion, Kerry is the cutest of all the Von Erichs.
He lost his foot in a motorcycle accident where he was reportedly riding barefoot and struck a parked vehicle. He continued his wrestling career wearing a prosthesis.
After his motorcycle accident, he became addicted to the painkillers and after being arrested for possession of painkillers without a prescription, he committed suicide in 1993 at age 33.
Kerry is the father of Lacey Von Erich, the only female Von Erich to enter into the wrestling arena.
Tribute to Kerry Von Erich
Mike Von Erich (1964-1987)
Mike Von Erich was born in 1964. He was 6'1" 200 lbs.
He suffered a shoulder injury during wrestling and even though he seemed to have recovered from it, he developed a high fever (107 degrees) four days later and it was discovered that he had Toxic Shock Syndrome. This caused him to lose body mass and affected his career. In 1987, at only 23 years old, he committed suicide by overdosing on tranquilizers.
Chris Von Erich (1969-1991)
Chris Von Erich was born in 1969. He was the smallest of the Von Erichs. He suffered from asthma and it stunted his growth. He was only 5'6".
Chris was very close to Mike and when Mike died in 1987 Chris took it hard. Mike's death and his own inability to live up to the Von Erich wrestling fame led him to commit suicide in 1991 at the age of 22.
The Next Generation of Von Erichs
Ross Von Erich is the son of Kevin Von Erich. He was born in 1988 and is attending college in Texas.
Lacey Von Erich is the daughter of of Kerry Von Erich. She was born in 1986. She also wrestles barefooted like her Uncle Kevin.
Both of them have begun to follow the Von Erich legacy of wrestling. Who knows what the future holds with these two upcoming Von Erichs?
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Heroes of World Class Wrestling (Director's Cut)
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Class of Heroes
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Heroes Of World Class Wrestling
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More information:
- VonErich.com - The Official Website of the Von Erich Family
Learn more about the tragic Von Erich Family. - Von Erich family - Pro Wrestling
The Von Erich family is a wrestling family. Their actual birth names are "Adkisson", but every member of the family that went into the wrestling business used the ring name "Von Erich".
Faded Glory
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Comments
Thanks foxility! Such a tragic thing to happen to a family. This was a family with such promise, potential and handsome young men.
I'm curious as to what you interested in finding the history of this family.
The pictures. Oh my goodness, the pictures.
I remember these guys. I was a big wrestling fan in the 70's and 80's. The VonErich's were among my faves.
Proud Mom, it was because of my grandmother's interest in Wrestling. She loved it. Being from Texas as well, all my friends used to talk about seeing the brothers out and about. It was a big thing. I also identified with the family for losing a child. However, I cannot begin to image the pain their mother must have felt in losing so many children and under such tragic circumstances.
BT.....was I able to tell you something you didn't know about them?
I haven't watched wrestling in years. I didn't really know about Ross or Lacey. I guess I had moved on to monster trucks by then. Now that I think about it, wrestling came after roller derby, and before monster trucks. Dang I'm a big ole redneck!
There's more online about Lacey than Ross. There is a lot of stuff about Kevin as well. It'll be interesting to see how this next generation does.
Maybe you could do a hub on the history of redneck sports? :)
Very tempting idea. Aside from hockey, the only sports I watch are redneck sports. From arm wrestling, right on down to the lumberjack competition!
Where might I go to watch you roller disco, BT? And will you be in the tutu-ed unitard?
Go for it ! I think it would be an awesome hub. There is so much you could cover and you'd find loads of YouTube videos of that stuff.
I'll have to put this one into the rotation. I'll get to it as soon as I can.
Proud Mom, I haven't roller discoed since high school. If you're curious, that would have been the early 80's. The era of Dance Fever, and Solid Gold Dancers!
I remember seeing Roller Derby on TV as a kid and they were vicious. I never could get rollerskating down enough to actually Roller Disco.
Oh, me too, BT. I still have my skates. But I also know most who did it then can be found secretly doing it still. Figured you were one of them.
I went to the rink several years ago, and they made me sign a waiver against broken bones LOL!
Because of your age, or because of your skates? :-)) Don't see many of the 4 wheeled kind anymore.
My husband bought roller blades and decided to first try them out by leashing up the pony disguised as a dog and heading down our hill. Came back missing a large amount of skin.
I'll stick with my standard issue.
Oh it was my age, all right. They gave me a big diatribe about how much easier our bones break as we get older. I almost wanted to smack the kid, as I wasn't much past 35 at the time. Now I'm 43, that must be positively ancient, in roller years.
Oh the nerve!!!!!!!! You'd think it would have been obvious to the wee one that the spandex would've held your bones together just fine.
Poor BT....LOL I own a pair of rollerblades that I bought in 2004. It's something I'd like to learn to do. But I discovered that for rollerblades you really have to bend your kness and lean forward for them to even fit right. I try to stand too erect and the back of them digs into my calves. I'm just not coordinated enough for this. LOL
I'm not coordinated enough to even try, so you're one up on me.
PM I reckon they thought BT would break his antlers before his neck, and they wanted them for a trophy.
LOL @ The Old Firm. You have a good point there.
Was that in the waiver? You are hilarious, TOF!!!
Shall we leave his waver out of this. he's grubby enough as it is?
I'm blushing, TOF. All the way to my toes!!!
LOL......where did BT run off to?
We might have scared him off.
KCC, I'm LOVING all of your hubs! You are a great writer!
I was just off thinking about redneck sports. I may be able to put this together.
Awwwwwwwww thanks PM......you're way too kind!
BT....I would be so thrilled if you would write that hub. I really think it would be a hit! Don't you guys?
Sorry for the delay....I've been working on a hub myself.
Yes, a hit. Right between the antlers. J/K BT--I think it's a great idea.
Frankly, I don't know of any other kind of sport. Well, polo maybe. Rednecks would be smart enough to stay away from the steaming divot. But 9 years ago, I proved golf can be a redneck sport while in the thriving metropolis of Jal, NM.
She-ite, I've just looked at the ads this hubs attracting. - They're all for Gays!! Proud Mom-DON'T LEAVE US ALONE!
Well, I don't know how much protection I would be, but I'm here for you, TOF.
It's the pictures, I tell you. The pictures!
Not BT's black spandex tights?
That's funny. The ads I see, are all for sexy singles and bikini models. I think it just shows you what it thinks you like, TOF. You do talk about that bear a LOT.
Hey KCC. I just noticed that your author score is up to 99! Awesome!!
Uh oh. I don't know about any bear. Would you care to share, TOF? Or guide me to the right hub to find out for myself.
It may very well be the unitard, but I hate to beat a dead horse.......
OMG....I leave you guys alone for 2 minutes and suddenly we're talking about gays and black spandex.......LOL Want to tell us about the bear TOF?
You keep bringing him up, but don't worry BT. I think that they're only designer incontinence pants. You're getting on a bit you know.
Okay, now I need to borrow a pair! No, maybe you better just give them to me, I don't think you want them back.
The bear made his debut in one of my hubs, but TOF immediately adopted him. Been living with him ever since.
Designer Incontinence Pants......do we think they will ever go to printing little cutsy stuff on them like they do for toddler's Huggies Pull-ups?
I bet someone like Viagra or somebody would love to get a hold of the advertising space.
PM, BT's probably too modest to tell you about the bear, or too embarrassed. Here's the link: http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Jackalopes-Revenge
KCC, Incontinence pants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QETZxWAqSvQ
Seriously. I need a pair!!
I don't think anyone would want "Little Blue" anything written on their drawers!!
Oh, TOF!! At my spry age of late 30 something, I didn't have any need for these until I stumbled onto HubPages a couple of months ago. Now they are a requirement when I log on!! That guy was beyond hilarious!!!! I may camp out at Wal-Mart and watch to see who's buying them now. They have a massage chair right there. I could get pretty comfy.
Thanks for posting the link BT ! PM....late 30-somthing? That sounds suspiciously like 39. Are we knocking on 40's door?
Actually, I'm only 36, and 40 doesn't scare me at all. Now ask me again in 3 or 4 years, I may sing a different tune.
Count your blessings. I kicked in 40's door, and I'm dragging it behind me on a very heavy chain!
I hear you PM.....I'm 46 and 40 is nothing. And so far, 50 isn't intimidating me yet....but like you, ask me again in a couple of years.
Are the chains wrapped around your antlers, BT?
Lots of tragedy in that family. I was also a Roller Derby fan and saw them live in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The woman were hot and kind of scary. That attraction lead to a lot of trouble in my later years (Ha!)
That sounds like the makings of a hub to me, Christoph!
That's a little too close to home, Christoph! Hot and scarey women who cause trouble should be reported immediately to the authorities. I don't want them lurking around my windows.
Where'd your cowboy go?
I too wondered about the avatar. What gives, Christoph?
great hub Thanks KCC - I have never heard of them but really it's pretty tragic for so many to die by their own hands - the poor mama......cheers
I was wondering where you were, ajcor. Hadn't seen any of your hubtivity in awhile. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't succumbed to the heat!
Thanks Ajcor....there are a lot of videos of them on YouTube if you're interested in seeing more of them. I do feel sorry for their mom and the few left behind. I don't think I've seen a family with so much potential, yet so much tragedy, most at their own hand.
Well, I've been wanting to change it for a while because I write in various places and I need a unity of avatars--one for every site--so I needed to make them all the same. I waited because I had a silly Help Me Choose My Avatar contest a while back, and it started a big hubbub. Hard to explain really. Anyway, so many people were against me changing it that I felt obligated to wait for a long time. Besides, that guy isn't me any more--not for a long time. Hope that explains it.
It's funny you would say that about the idea for a hub though. I started one that I hadn't realized may in fact be related to that very thing. Not sure if I can finish it though. It's too personal (and kind of naughty.)
By the way, why does that hit home for you? Do you have scary women stalking around?
KCC I will look at the videos - pretty awful for them all...
thanks for worrying Proud Mom - I feel just like an oil slick but we are going for a swim soonish..... should make things better...
naughty is good..Christoph ...go with the flow of your words...tic
Well, Christoph.....maybe.....you could write your hub as if it were a dream.....that's what they did on "Dallas" isn't it? Besides, your secret would be safe with us. LOL I am kidding, of course. Surely, you can find a way to write it so that it's not TOO revealing or embarassing.
Yeah, I think PM should tell us about her fear of hot scary women on skates.
Well, goodness gracious!! I hope not!!! Them being in Muskogee is too close to home. Don't want such beings lurking around here......
Probably best to keep the personal, naughty stuff close to the vest. Some of the people lurking around hubpages scare me........... :-))
No...haven't we always heard..."Sex sells". Naughty is good. Besides, it's a long time until Santa makes his 2009 Nice & Naughty list. You have plenty of time to make it right with the big man.
Oh, I was kidding. The hot women on skates scare me more than the people around here.
Now where'd TOF go? Nervous about our finding out the living arrangements with the bear?
I have GOT to go to bed. I appreciate the banter. You guys are a hoot!!!!!!
PM ,The bear lives with twelve million elective eels in my compost heap, planning revenge on BT for the lousy trick he pulled.
A Vietnam vet. I know showed up for coffee and I've spent the last couple of hours making him feel guilty. He got drunk here a week ago and slept on the sofa. Some time during the night he blundered into my TV and drove the back of it through the wall. I didn't find out for two days! (It was the spare TV) I wasn't impressed. - (even if the wall was!)
I couldn't even give him a decent telling off as his wife's grandmother died today. (His wife is half his age, the old lady was ninety, - and his mother-in-law is ten years younger than he is. I know an odd lot!)
Sounds like a weird family dynamic - all those suicides.
I think they lived in a world with so much self-imposed pressure to perform and then with the media/fans expectations, it was just all too much for them. When you watch the video of Fritz talking about his boys, he seems quite genuine in his love and adoration of them. So, I don't think he ever meant them any harm in their upbringing. I think the boys just really wanted to please people and always felt like they weren't quite good enough. It's certainly a tragedy.
Electric eels. Compost Heaps. Maybe I should warn BT. I noticed Christoph didn't take very kindly to no one warning him of the plot against him.
London Girl, it took me a moment to realize the family dynamic you were talking about wasn't in reference to the man who slept over at TOF's place. Good thing I went to bed before these posts last night.
The "Toilet Bowl" is about to begin on DIY Network. I've got to get my popcorn popped and grab the bean bag before someone else gets to it first!
You're one of my favorites, KCC!!!!
PM, most of these things that TOF talks about, come from my revenge hub, and my run for the presidency. While I appreciate the thought, no warning is needed. He's been out to get me for months!
The feeling is mutual PM. Thanks for all you do! BT...I really have to get over and read your stuff. I'm trying really hard to catch up. My housework has fallen behind as well.
don't worry, the house work will still be there tomorrow.
Ahhh.....tell me it isn't so, LondonGirl! I hate a messy house. Drives me bananas. But, evidently, it phases no one else in my house. *sigh*
Hi KCC, I had to become your fan too. Where yo bin all my hub life?
BT , I love you like a brother, it's Tinkerbell the bear who's out to get you. Being used as a bum wiper isn't in it if he gets his limp wristed paws on you again!
Here we go with the blushing again.....
Aw gee, sorry PM
You're forgiven, TOF. :-)))))
You guys....LOL
I remember the Von Erichs very well I grew up watching them ,this was a real shame I hope Lacey and Ross do not fall to the "Von Erich curse"
I agree Joe! I hope things have finally settled down for that family. Such pain there. They deserve more happiness.
wow. very informative.
Thanks for stopping by DJRonnie!
Hi KCC, What a tragic story. I cannot for the life of me understand how it is parents go on with life after such horror. The thought of losing even one child is beyond my comprehension. It has to rip your heart out and I don't know how you can have one minute go by every day of your life and not think about it and just feel incredibly lost and broken. Beyond sad.
Growing up I spent many weekends at my grandparents' house. My grandfather was a huge wrestling fan. I was very young so I don't remember the wrestlers' names (it was over 40 yrs ago), but I remember I loved sitting with him and watching. I continued watching it through my teens. Then I shifted to boxing, as my hubby enjoyed that. Today, I don't watch either one, but I've enjoyed the memories you stirred for me.
Thanks for sharing.
PS: I just joined your fan club, can't believe I haven't before now :)
I wasn't even aware of how tragic their story was until I began doing the research for this article. I knew of some of the deaths, but not all of them. It would be interesting to interview the mom.
Glad you enjoyed it! I joined your fan club as well. How have we missed doing that before now?
I don't really know, the important thing is we found out and joined :)
Excellent hub. My Dad knew Jack Sr. When I was in junior high, the wrestlers, including Kerry came to WG Thomas Collesium in Haltom City. I still have his autograph on the program he signed for me. The tradgedy that surrounded this family was very, very sad. Thank you for this hub.
Thanks Lucey! Glad you were able to add your personal note to my hub. It's nice to run into someone who actually got to meet them and 'knew' them. I only 'knew' them through friends and my grandma.
Thank you. That was a time when "wrestling" was so wonderful. Now it is to soap operaish......Thanks for providing such a good hub and reviving my memories.
You're most welcome, Lucey! And thank you!
I didn`t know what happened to them!Thanks!Visit my sites please tell me how to make mine as good as yours!
Oldness, thanks for stopping by! I'll have a look at your hubs!
I was into wrestling in the 80's so I remember the Von Erichs well. They were great competitors and they had excellent sportsmanship.
Good sportsmanship makes such a difference. Thanks for adding your rememberence of the Von Erichs, Mitch!
Great hub, I'd heard of the Von Erichs before. My husband and I are huge wrestling fans and it's one of the saddest stories. Nicely done.
Thank you Lissa Lynn. It truly is a very tragic story.
foxility says:
10 months ago
mmm, Sexy pics. This was really interesting, i enjoyed it a lot.