If you’ve read Bluegrass Brawlers, you already know some of the tales from the 1930s-1950s about Heywood Allen and the Allen Athletic Club. This coming year I am doing more research on the Allen Club and “that gang of Allen’s” that brought pro wrestling legends like Lou Thesz, Orville Brown, Bronko Nagurski, Buddy Rogers, Baron Leone, Mae Young, June Byars, Mildred Burke, Fritz von Erich, and many more to Louisville every Tuesday night at the Columbia Gym.
I am putting this post out in the hopes I can track down relatives, descendants, or other folks who might have info on Allen and his various cohorts. The names I have (so far) are listed below who were part of Allen’s gang (or his story in general). If you have information on any of these folks, please message me and let me know. I would love to hear from you!
Heywood Allen
Heywood Allen, Jr.
Francis S. McDonough
“Miss Betty” Bessie McDonough
Kid Scotty Williams
Blacksmith Pedigo
“The Black Panther” Jim Mitchell
Stu Gibson
George Lewis
Wild Bill Cantrell
Sgt. Buck Moore, LMPD
Johnson S. Mattingly (former KY Athletic Commissioner)
Mel Meiners
It was two years ago today I went to Ohio Valley Wrestling’s last TV taping of the year. That night I met up with Erin, an old friend who has been a fixture behind the OVW concessions counter for years, and told her my intention to write a book about Louisville wrestling.