Wahoo McDaniel - Master of the Indian Strap Match

As part of series on Midland history, let's have a look at one of the many famous people who passed through these parts.

Wahoo McDaniel was born in Bernice, La., on June 19, 1938, moved to Midland and graduated from Midland High School.  The photos you see here were scanned from copies of pages out of the Midland High School 1956 yearbook.  As you can see, he was proud of his Chickasaw heritage even then.

After high school he played football at the University of Oklahoma.  From there he went on to play professional football for the Dallas Texans, Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, and he wrestled during the off season.  He headlined at Madison Square Garden while he was still a football player, and he eventually became a full time professional wrestler.

Apparently, he was a master of the Indian Strap Match which consisted of two wrestlers connected at the wrist with a long strap.  Then there was the brutal "tomahawk chop."  Look out.

Was professional wrestling fake back then?  There was obviously a great deal of showmanship involved - the better the show, the more popular the wrestler.  Some of us may chuckle at the antics of modern day pro wrestlers.  But, they are real people with real lives.

Wahoo McDaniel died at the age of 63 on April 19, 2002, of renal failure, and according to Ed Todd, his ashes were to have been scattered over a lake near Del Rio.

Anyway, I found out about the photos in the yearbook and wanted to share them.  Apologies for the quality, and thanks to sports historian Roy V. for the pointer.

Biographical resources:  Ed Todd at Midland Reporter-Telegram, AP also at Midland Reporter-Telegram, and Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Updated 9/22/05:  Welcome visitors from Baltimore Jack BlogSpot.  Wahoo McDaniel was legendary around here.  A pro-football player, a wrestler, and those who knew him while he was in high school said he was a very well liked.

Comments

[Redman]

I had a great uncle who was a pro wrestler in the late '20s and '30s. It was fake back then, too.

[George]

Redman,

We would love to read about your great uncle if you could share any stories with us.

George

[Wallace-Midland, Texas]

Wahoo's dad used to have a welding and oil field shop out on the Garden City Highway. The sign was there for decades.

[Matt Walsh]

I would like a copy of he Wahoo Mcdaniel article - how can I get it?

Thanks,

Matt

[George]

Matt,

The article you probably want is the eulogy written by Ed Todd and found in the April 20, 2002, Midland Reporter-Telegram. You might try calling that newspaper to see if they sell reprints of articles. But, if that doesn't work, the old papers are on microfilm at the Midland Public Library, and they have a machine there that will make copies.

Hope this helps.

George