Jump to content

Bob Orton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For his son who is also known as "Cowboy" Bob Orton, seeBob Orton Jr.
Bob Orton
Orton in 1954
Birth nameRobert Keith Orton
Born(1929-07-21)July 21, 1929
Kansas City, Missouri,U.S.
DiedJuly 16, 2006(2006-07-16)(aged 76)
Las Vegas, Nevada,U.S.
Spouse(s)
Rita Orton
​
(m.1950)​
Children3; includingBob Jr.andBarry
RelativesRandy Orton(grandson)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bob Orton
Bob Orton Sr.
El Lobo
Rocky Fitzpatrick
The Zodiak
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Billed fromKansas City, Missouri
Debut1951
RetiredJuly 2000

Robert Keith Orton Sr.(July 21, 1929 – July 16, 2006) was an Americanprofessional wrestler.The patriarch of the Orton wrestling family, his two sonsBob Orton Jr.andBarry Orton,and grandsonRandy Orton,have all wrestled professionally. To distinguish between him and his son, he is also known asBob Orton Sr.Bob Orton Sr. was often referred to by his nickname "The Big O".

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Orton in 1952

Orton was a two-time holder of the Florida version of theNWA World Tag Team Championshipwithtag teampartnerEddie Grahamin 1966.[1]He also innovated the pedigree as he captured several othertitlesin variousNational Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) territories with it, including theFloridaandGeorgiaversions of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship, as well as theNWA Florida Tag Team Championship(withBob Orton Jr.) inFlorida Championship Wrestlingand theNWA United States Heavyweight ChampionshipinCentral States Wrestling.[1]He also competed in theAmerican Wrestling Association(AWA), where he would also gain championship success.[1]In 1961, Orton competed for the then NWA Capitol Wrestling Federation (nowWWE) teaming with "Nature Boy"Buddy Rogers.

Orton eventually leftCapitol Wrestling Corporation,by competing in other NWA territories. In 1968, Orton returned to Capitol Wrestling Corporation renamed asWorld Wide Wrestling Federation(WWWF), often using thering nameRocky Fitzpatrick. In September 1968, as "Cowboy" Rocky Fitzpatrick, he was number one challenger toWWWF World Heavyweight ChampionBruno Sammartino,losing to Sammartino at Madison Square Garden. He fought Sammartino in other northeastern cities as well. In the summer of 1969, Orton wrestled in the Ohio Sports Classics Promotion. He retired in July 2000 and spent the last years of his life living inLas Vegas, Nevada.

Personal life[edit]

Orton married his wife Rita on January 22, 1950. Together they had three children:Bob Jr.,Barry,and Rhonda. Bob Jr.'s son,Randy Orton,is also a professional wrestler.

Orton andAndré the Giantwere good friends for many years.[2]

Death[edit]

Orton died inLas Vegas, Nevadaon July 16, 2006, at the age of 76, five days short of his 77th birthday, following multipleheart attacks.[2]His grandson stated "He had a heart attack at home, and they took him to the hospital where he had another more severe heart attack, he had an eight hour surgery that gave him a 20 percent chance to survive; he did, but about 10 hours after the surgery he passed away."[3]He was cremated and had his ashes scattered onMount Charleston,Nevada in April 2007.

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2006).Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ^abBrady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling".PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts.Kappa Publications. p. 23. 2007 Edition.
  3. ^"Bob Orton, Sr. passes away".WWE.RetrievedApril 13,2021.
  4. ^"Honorees".Cauliflower Alley Club.Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 27,2020.
  5. ^Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "(Kansas and Western Missouri) West Missouri: North American Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories.Archeus Communications. p. 253.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^"NWA North American Tag Team Title (Central States version)".wrestling-titles.com.RetrievedMarch 24,2015.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Orton&oldid=1234295541"