Freestone County, Texas
Reflections


FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT 
By J. R.(Sonny) SESSIONS
 
BIG TIME WRESTLING
 
Years ago the Freestone C. Sheriff's Office and Reserve Deputies became very 
involved with all the Big Time Wrestler's of the time.

Especially Fritz Von Erick and his Super Star son's Kevin, David and Kerry who 
were the biggest box office attractions in the business. The shows sponsored 
by us raised funds that helped keep the Reserve Deputy's financially sound. 
New patrol vehicles and other equipment were purchased over the years from 
this.

The Von Erick's were the biggest draw anywhere as had followers and admirers 
from all walks of like.  They were usually the Good Guys in a match.  The 
crowds at these were different from any other attraction and came from 
everywhere.  At the Wortham Fire Dept. Bar-BQ before one of the scheduled 
programs I was going to leave early and was asked by lifelong friends Mary 
and Pete what the hurry? Told them about the show that night and as they had 
never been to one invited them as my guest.  The reluctantly agreed to come, 
before the match was over nearly had to drag Mary from the ring and they never
missed another match as long as we had them.  It was always a good show and 
all the participants were trained athletes.

We had the big names, women wrestlers, midget wrestlers, black wrestlers and 
others.  It was always a good show. Crowds became smaller due to it being 
televised weekly.  There are few such shows today.  The Von Ericks became very 
famous and are all deceased today, a tragic end for the boys. Fritz in true 
life was a Leon Co. native of the Jewett area. Peggy had a cousin whose 
husband a fairly big name wrestler Nick Kozak who participated on the show and
visited us.  Their was lots of work involved here as most were held in the Old
Fair Grounds Rodeo Arena, but it was lots of fun too.

One program was Kerry Von Erick vs Bugsy McGraw, the Great Kabuki Vs Kevin Von
Erick, Midgets Lone Eagle Vs Tiny Tom and The Golden Dragon vs Kim Kuk and 
others not so well known.  They were always a good show and probably the 
cheapest for big names.