My dad used to take us to see the St. Louis Wrestling Club tape "Wrestling at the Chase." His friend Pat O'Connor would introduce him around to the wrestlers. Over the years, we got to meet Ric Flair, Ted Dibiase, all the Von Erichs, Harley Race, Jack Brisco and Rocky Johnson. I can remember sitting near Larry Matysik, the announcer, and getting to touch Ric's robe. It was black with sequins and feathers around the neckline. 

I am now in my '40s and my dad has been gone almost 18 years. The best memories of my life are of my dad, brothers and myself spending a Saturday morning/night driving to the Channel 11 studios or the Checkerdome (which is also gone) and just spending family time together. As we have been watching the Hall of Fame Ceremony, Wrestlemania and last night's Raw, it seems like we are saying goodbye to a family member. 

And we definitely thank you for the memories.

Amy
St. Louis, Mo.

***

I have been a wrestling fan/mark virtually all of my life. Currently I live in the Columbia area and work as a schoolteacher. I moved to South Carolina in 1989 and began working at rock radio station WROQ in Greenville. Every four or five months or so, NWA/Crockett Promotions would host a card in the old Greenville Memorial Auditorium and WROQ always advertise the matches. I was fortunate to always be available to work these dates as a live radio remote, because I was such a big wrestling fan.

I first met Ric Flair as I brought contest winners backstage to meet the Nature Boy and get an autograph. Of course I used this opportunity to small talk and "get to know" as much as I could in the hour or so I would get to spend with him. I was amazed at the fact that I would only get to see him each time for only a few minutes, every four to five months, yet he would actually remember me and call me by the name the next time we met.

Being Ric Flair is probably something like being Elvis; everyone wants to shake your hand, say hello or get an autograph, and he probably meets literally hundreds of folks every week as he travels. The fact that he would remember my name and recall who I was and what we had previously talked about is simply amazing to me.

Since this time period, I have seen Mr. Flair at various times at various events (not necessarily a wrestling event), and he still recalls who I am. As recently as The Fabulous Moolah's funeral, which we both attended, I just happened to be parked beside Ric Flair and his wife. As he walked to his SUV after the service, he said hello to everyone waiting in line to leave as he passed and waved to me (whether he really realized it was me or not, I can't absolutely say with confidence). He was so approachable to all who went up and spoke to him in the parking lot, when he wasn't really being Ric Flair we normally see on TV, just someone who wanted to pay his respect to Ms. Ellison.

Ric Flair has always been generous with his fans and would do, sign or say anything he was asked to do. I have seen him leave messages on cell phones, kiss the girls and their mothers (no lie!) and write or sign anything at anytime he was asked to, whether it was convenient for him or not. Ric Flair is a gentleman, champion, and perhaps the greatest wrestler who has ever laced up a pair of boots. I have seen lesser celebrities treat their fans like crap, but I have never seen Ric Flair be anything but one of the classiest individuals I have ever met. Because of this, I understand, perhaps more so than others, why he has enjoyed the success he has had during his career.

I have always referred to Mr. Flair as "Champ" when I have addressed him in person and this is the way I will remember the wrestler Ric Flair; sure he is the "Nature Boy" and actually lived out the "Horseman" lifestyle, but he is truly a champion… WHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Robert Wagner
Irmo, S.C.

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