Harley Race Bio: He was a professional American Wrestler, and trainer. Race wrestled in the National Wrestling Alliance, the American Wrestling Association, the World Wrestling Federation, and World Championship Wrestling.
| Quick Bio | |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 11 April 1943 |
| Birth Place | Quitman, Missouri, United States |
| Death Date | 1st August 2019 |
| Age | 76 years |
| Profession | Wrestler |
| Spouse | B.J. Race, Vivian Louise Jones |
| Children | Leland Race, Justin Race |
| Height | 1.85 m |
| Net Worth | Update Soon |
Harley Race Bio
Race was an early fan of professional wrestling, watching programming from the nearby Chicago territory on the DuMont Television Network.
He began training as a professional wrestler as a teen under former world champions Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko, who operated a farm in his native Missouri.
While in high school, an altercation with a classmate led to the principal kneeing Race in the back of the head as he tried to break up the fight.
Enraged, Race attacked him, resulting in his expulsion. Already 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 225 lb (102 kg), Race decided to get his start in professional wrestling. Race then became the driver of Happy Humphrey who was too large to drive at the time.
Race continued running World League Wrestling (WLW) and his wrestling camp in Eldon, Missouri.
He later moved the businesses to nearby Troy.
Many of his trainees were sent to the NOAH promotion in Japan for extra experience. Over the years he needed surgery to his neck, hip replacements, knee replacements and had five vertebra in his back fused together due to the years of taking hard bumps.
In May 2017 he broke both legs in a fall at his home, one in several places. He needed four blood transfusions during surgery. Race would continue to promote WLW until his death whilst in rehab.
Harley Race Wife, Children – Personal Life
Race was born to sharecroppers George and Mary Race in 1943. He married his first wife, Vivian Jones, in 1960.
She died five weeks after their wedding in the same car crash in which Race nearly lost a leg.
after Vivian’s death, Race married Sandra Jones, who he briefly mentioned in his 2004 autobiography King of the Ring.
This second marriage produced a daughter, Candice Marie, and ended in divorce. His third wife, whom Race refused to mention by name in his autobiography, divorced him in the early 1990s after over 30 years of marriage.
Together they had a son, Justin, who was an amateur wrestler but never participated in professional wrestling.
His fourth wife, Beverly B.J. Race was vice president of the Commerce Bank of Kansas City. They married in late 1995, shortly after Race’s career-ending car crash.
She often traveled with Race until she died of pneumonia. Race has five grandchildren.
Death and Cause
Race was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. On 1st August 2019, it was revealed by long-time friend Dustin Rhodes that Race had died at the age of 76 from the lung cancer.
Sending positive thoughts to the loved ones of an all time legend. Rest In Peace, Harley Race pic.twitter.com/DDTB5xN287
— Brainbuster Banter (@BrainbusterB) August 1, 2019
AEW is saddened to learn that Pro Wrestling Hall of Famer Harley Race has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/Ik29DwZIQ4
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 1, 2019
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