Real Name - Richard Hutton
Lifespan - 10/4/23 - 11/24/03
6' 245 lbs. - Tulsa, OK
Aliases - Cowboy Dick Hutton
Athletic background - Wrestling (Oklahoma A&M/`48 Olympics), Football (High School)
Peak Years - `54-`59

Place in History - Dick Hutton might not be the most memorable name in pro-wrestling's history, but he was one of the very best amateurs to go pro with tremendous skill that took him to the top quickly. Hutton started wrestling in junior high school and took two second place finishes in state chapmionships in high school. He pursued Oklahoma A&M, where he was a four-time All-American and won three NCAA heavyweight titles (a feat only accomplished by three other four year varisty wrestlers, until Pat Smith won four in `94). Not surprisingly, Hutton pursued Olympic wrestling and represented the US in 1948, but an injury kept him from competing. Hutton went into pro-wrestling after the success of Verne Gagne (the person who beat him by referee's decision costing him the four NCAA championships).Hutton was a large man with the reflexes and technical skill that translated into being one of the most skilled pro-wrestlers of the "Golden Age." While he was in college, he'd had a successful sparring session with Lou Thesz, which led to being mentored by Thesz's own mentor, Ed "Strangler" Lewis, when he was breaking in. He took to the sport quickly, at least the in-ring portion, so he was pushed hard right away. In Al Haft's Ohio promotion, Hutton adopted the "take-on-all-comers" gimmick, which made him a star. Thesz, who held him in the highest regard, was giving him title shots when he was only two years in and would only drop the belt to Hutton when he bowed out of being the NWA Champion in 1957. Hutton frequently challenged Thesz in Canada, where his gimmick got over well and interestingly he was a bigger draw in Canada than he was the United States. The NWA was in turmoil though and while Hutton is remembered as a weak champion, he was never promoted well in the splintering company that struggled throughout the next decade. Hutton was even paired with legendary drawing cards like Whipper Watson, Buddy Rogers, Bill Longson and, of course, Lou Thesz, but had to drop it to Pat O'Connor in the beginning of 1959. His last success was a submission win over Rikidozan in Osaka during a 2/3 falls championship match, which he lost. However, that win made him in Japan and after Thesz and Blassie he was the biggest gaijin in Japan for a while. Hutton went on to work as "Cowboy" Dick Hutton in various places, even working in jeans in California, before retiring in the early 60s after an amazing ten year run. Hutton settled down with an Arizona ranch and aside from a few appearances, disappeared from the public eye before his death in 2003 at the age of 80.