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Jackie Fargo

{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1930–2013)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Jackie Fargo

|image = Jackie Fargo.jpg

|caption = Fargo in 1961

|image_size =

|birth_name = Henry Faggart

|names = Honey Boy Fargo{{cite web|title=Jackie Fargo struts into the afterlife|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2013/06/24/20923256.html|work=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121222536/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2013/06/24/20923256.html|archive-date=21 January 2016}}
Jackie Fargo
Wildman Fargo

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

|weight = 250 Ib (113 kg)

|children = 3

|death_cause = Heart failure

|family = Sonny Fargo (brother)

|birth_date = {{birth date|1930|6|26}}

|birth_place = Concord, North Carolina, U.S.

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|6|24|1930|6|26}}

|death_place = China Grove, North Carolina, U.S.[http://www.chattanoogan.com/2013/6/25/253937/Wrestling-Legend-Jackie-Fargo-Dies-In.aspx Wrestling Legend Jackie Fargo Dies In North Carolina]

|billed =

|trainer =

|debut = 1950

|retired = 2006

}}

Henry Faggart (June 26, 1930 – June 24, 2013) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jackie Fargo. He competed in Southeastern regional promotions and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

A mainstay of NWA Mid-America (later the Continental Wrestling Association), he served as a mentor to Jerry "The King" Lawler and The Fabulous Ones, among other wrestlers in the Memphis area. He was known for his blonde hair and "Fargo Strut" mannerism, having held 45 tag team championships throughout his career, with the likes of Don Fargo, Sonny "Roughhouse" Fargo, amongst others.

Professional wrestling career

Fargo's first experience with wrestling was as a teenager at the YMCA in Goldsboro, North Carolina; after he took part in the state championships, a local promoter suggested that Fargo could earn more money by switching to professional wrestling.{{cite web|title=Concord native Jackie Fargo, pro wrestling hall of famer, dies at 82|date=27 June 2013 |url=http://www.independenttribune.com/news/article_1f650ddf-5a9d-53b7-946d-32d8c45fe3ab.html|publisher=Independent Tribune|access-date=16 April 2014}} Fargo was trained at the [http://amberridington.com/portfolio-item/rovers-wrestlers-and-stars-the-quonset-auditorium-in-post-world-war-ii-kentucky-2010/ Quonset Auditorium] in Bowling Green, Kentucky by Joe and Kenny Marshall, and first wrestled under the name "Wild Man Fargo".

Fargo started his professional wrestling career around 1950 for Johnny Long in Atlanta. In 1952, Fargo wrestled in Cuba before serving in the Korean War. Fargo was a very successful tag team wrestler, having held tag team championships 45 times throughout his career. He formed a famous tag team with Don Fargo (real name Don Kalt) as the Fabulous Fargos; together they won the NWA World Tag Team titles in 1958{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}} and dominated the National Wrestling Alliance during the late 1950s. Jackie and Don Fargo's match against Antonino Rocca and Miguel Pérez was witnessed by a record-breaking 20,125 people at Madison Square Garden on March 30, 1957.{{cite web|title=Jackie Fargo 1930 - 2013|url=http://prowrestling.about.com/b/2013/06/24/jackie-fargo-1930-2013.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416174649/http://prowrestling.about.com/b/2013/06/24/jackie-fargo-1930-2013.htm|archive-date=16 April 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.1wrestlinglegends.com/crowbarpress/shoots/shoot1.htm |title=Shooting with the Legends: Don Fargo |access-date=2007-04-18|year=2006|publisher=1wrestlinglegends.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070228010220/http://www.1wrestlinglegends.com/crowbarpress/shoots/shoot1.htm |archive-date = 2007-02-28}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p_ZWAgAAQBAJ&q=Jackie+Fargo+%26+Don+Stevens&pg=PA96|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams|author=Greg Oliver|date=April 2005|page=95|publisher=ECW Press |isbn=9781550226836}} Upon ceasing his tag team with Don Fargo, Jackie Fargo formed another tag team with his real-life brother, Sonny, also known in the ring as Roughhouse; this team also enjoyed success. Jim Cornette credits Fargo with popularising wild brawls and the use of tables and chairs in wrestling in the Tennessee area, which he sees as one of the origins of the later 'hardcore' wrestling style.[http://jimcornette.com/Commentary.html The Slippery Slop of Hardcore Wrestling] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721184514/http://www.jimcornette.com/Commentary.html |date=2009-07-21 }}

During the 1960s, Fargo won the NWA Georgia Tag Team title with Joe Fargo and Mario Milano as well as enjoying numerous title reigns capturing the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship with Don Fargo, Lester Welch, Tex Riley, Mario Milano, Sonny Fargo, Len Rossi, Dennis Hall, Jerry Jarrett, Mr. Wrestling and the legendary Lou Thesz. Fargo was the originator of the "Fargo Strut".{{cite web|title='Fargo Strut' wrestler Jackie Fargo passes away|url=http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/22670985/fargo-strut-wrestler-jackie-fargo-passes-away|publisher=FOX Memphis|access-date=16 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182050/http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/22670985/fargo-strut-wrestler-jackie-fargo-passes-away|archive-date=16 April 2014}} This charismatic walk in the ring has been copied by other professional wrestlers including Jerry Lawler, Jeff Jarrett and the Fabulous Ones.{{cite web|title=Jackie Fargo Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/salisburypost/obituary.aspx?pid=165519963|publisher=Salisbury Post|access-date=16 April 2014}} Although fellow wrestler Buddy Rogers also had a distinctive strut, Fargo claimed that he had never seen Rogers. A longtime mentor to many younger wrestlers in the Memphis area, he later became involved in a feud with former protégé Jerry Lawler who defeated Fargo in a handicap match with Jim White for the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship on March 28, 1973.

Fargo later teamed with George Gulas and Tojo Yamamoto to capture the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship title several times during the early 1970s, becoming the first NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions along with Gulas and Dennis Hall in November 1973. In 1972, Fargo had a notorious feud with Al Greene, who once during the feud shaved off Fargo's blonde hair.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Steven|title='I Hate You, Fargo!' - Reflections on a true one-of-a-kind, Jackie Fargo|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/MatMatters/2013/06/17/20907176.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140416040634/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/MatMatters/2013/06/17/20907176.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 16, 2014|work=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=16 April 2014}} Although retiring in 1980, he joined Jerry Jarrett's Continental Wrestling Association to help The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn) in their feud against The Moondogs before their departure in 1984 and retired shortly thereafter. On June 19, 2002, Fargo appeared on the first NWA-TNA Weekly pay per view along with other NWA legends. Fargo's last matches saw him wrestle both in 2004 and later 2006, at the age of 76.

Personal life

Fargo was hospitalized with pneumonia in both lungs in December 2011. Fargo died on June 24, 2013, after being hospitalized for a week for congestive heart failure.{{cite web|title=Jerry Lawler comments on the death of wrestling legend Jackie Fargo|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/jerry-lawler-on-jackie-fargo-26126343|publisher=WWE|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-date=10 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410165150/http://www.wwe.com/inside/jerry-lawler-on-jackie-fargo-26126343|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Pro wrestling star Jackie Fargo dead at 82|date=24 June 2013 |url=http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/22672418/legendary-wrestler-jackie-fargo-dies-at-85|publisher=WRCB|access-date=16 April 2014}} Fargo was survived by three daughters, one grandson, two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.

Championships and accomplishments

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|1229521}}
  • [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/jackie-fargo.html Online World of Wrestling profile]
  • [http://amberridington.com/portfolio-item/rovers-wrestlers-and-stars-the-quonset-auditorium-in-post-world-war-ii-kentucky-2010/ rovers-wrestlers-and-stars-the-quonset-auditorium-in-post-world-war-ii-kentucky]
  • {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

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{{NWA Hall of Fame}}

{{NWA Mid-America championship}}

{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Chicago version)}}

{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Georgia version)}}

{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Indianapolis version)}}

{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Mid-America version)}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fargo, Jackie}}

Category:1930 births

Category:2013 deaths

Category:American male professional wrestlers

Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers

Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers

Category:Professional wrestlers from North Carolina

Category:American professional wrestling trainers

Category:Sportspeople from Concord, North Carolina

Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum

Category:NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champions