The following are highlights from the latest online blog of WWE Hall Of Fame announcer Jim Ross:
Since Steve "Dr. Death Williams passed away earlier this week I have not addressed the matter until now. Losing Steve, which came as no major surprise knowing how sick he was in the final days of his life, has affected me in ways that words cannot adequately describe.
I grew up an only child and somehow from a rural, eastern Oklahoma background made my way into the unique and challenge business of professional wrestling.
Then in the late 70’s, I inherited a "younger brother" by the name of Doctor Death. That began a 30+ year relationship that was challenged at times but it never failed us because of the foundation upon which it was constructed.
Like Steve, that foundation was rock solid, strong, and seemingly indestructible.
OU wrestling coach Stan Abel called his boyhood friend Cowboy Bill Watts in the late 70’s about Stan’s starting heavyweight aptly nicknamed "Dr. Death" and told him that Doc was "born to be a pro wrestler." Cowboy wasted no time in making the contact with Steve and their relationship began with Bill the mentor and Steve the student. (Cowboy would provide Doc with ample doses of "tough love" that a lesser man would never have been able to survive.)
I was always in awe of Doc as I had never seen a man of his size, he was 330 when he first signed with Watts while still a student at OU, with the quickness, flexibility and reflexes of this powerhouse. Obviously, Doc’s strength was remarkable as he was a 500 pound bench presser and had to ability to do leg presses with all the weights that were able to fit on the machine in the OU weight room.
Heck, I remember Doc military pressing 300 pound Terry Gordy several times inside a cage extending his arms so that Bam Bam’s back was touching the back of the cage.
However, as strong as Doc was, as quick as he was, and as generally athletic as he was, he had a heart of gold and was blessed with a kind, gentle spirit and a loving heart.
Check out the full blog online at www.JRsBarBQ.com.
