Edward "Ed" Eugene McLemore, Jr.

1905 - 1969  (63 years)

• Name	Edward "Ed" Eugene McLemore  [1, 2, 3]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Nickname	Ed
  Birth	3 Jul 1905	Texas   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Death	9 Jan 1969	Dallas County, Texas   [2, 3, 4]
  Burial	Calvary Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas   [2, 3]
  Notes	Famed wrestling promotor, long associated with the Dallas Sportatorium. Built by the Cox Fence Company on the occasion of the Texas Centennial celebration in 1936 , the original Dallas Sportatorium was constructed in the shape of an octagon and played host to weekly wrestling shows promoted initially by Burt Willoughby, and later by Ed McLemore. Beginning in 1948 , it was also the site of the Big D Jamboree , a weekly country music showcase similar in format to the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride; portions of the Jamboree were broadcast nationally on the CBS Radio Network. The Sportatorium was destroyed by fire on May 1 , 1953 , in what was rumored to be an act of arson by a rival wrestling promoter. It was quickly rebuilt at the same location as a rectangular venue (with an octagonal seating configuration similar to the original), and reopened on September 22 of that year, billed at the time as The Million-Dollar Sportatorium. The arena also held boxing events and concerts featuring up-and-coming rock stars (including, most notably, an early performance by Bruce Springsteen in 1974 ) over the years, very much in the same manner as its Los Angeles counterpart, the Grand Olympic Auditorium , did during this time frame. In early 1966 , McLemore's promotion was taken over by wrestler Jack Adkisson, who was known in the ring as Fritz Von Erich. Adkisson's promotion, which became known in the early 1980s as World Class Championship Wrestling and featured his sons as its main stars, was the most famous and successful wrestling federation to run regularly at the Dallas Sportatorium. Obituary The Odessa American Statesman Friday, January 10, 1969 Heart Attack Kills Promoter Dallas (AP)-A second heart attack claimed the life of Ed McLemore, long time wrestling promoter Thursday. Rosary was set for tonight in the Crane Funeral Chapel here. For 30 years, McLemore promoted wrestling in Dallas, which is believed to be the longest period for any one city in the nation. McLemore also promoted the Saturday night "Big D Jamboree," featuring country and western music. The program originated from the Sportatorium, a wrestling areana he owned. He booked wrestling talent all over Texas and survived several wrestling wars. A Dallas native, McLemore suffered a heart attack last February and remained away from his office for more than six months. Famed singing and movie star Elvis Presley once credited McLemore for providing the impetus for his fame by hiring him for the "Big D Jamboree." Presley once worked for McLemore for about $75 nightly. Funeral services were scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Hill Cemetery. Survivors include his widow, Rose; three daughters, Mrs. William GRIFFITH of Midland; Mrs. Jean BULLINGTON and Mrs. George BAUM of Dallas; two brothers, Robert McLemore of Dallas and Patrick McLemore of San Antonio; and 13 grandchildren. (Courtesty of Melba Gene McLemore) Name: Edward Eugene Mclemore, Jr. Death Date: 09 Jan 1969 Death Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas Gender: Male Race: White Death Age: 63 years Estimated Birth Date: Birth Date: 03 Jul 1905 Birthplace: Dallas, Texas Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Father's Name: Edward E. Mclemore, Sr. Father's Birthplace: Mother's Name: Margaret Butler Mother's Birthplace: Occupation: Sports Promoter, Wrest. Place of Residence: Highland Park, Dallas, Texas Cemetery: Calvary Hill Cemetery Burial Place: Dallas, Texas Burial Date: 11 Jan 1969 Additional Relatives: X Film Number: 2137258 Digital Film Number: 4030478 Image Number: 1378 Reference Number: cn 1842 Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976 (Research):Census Information: Texas, Dallas, Dallas City Block 1012 Enumerated 11 April 1930 by Aloysius W. Galton ED 57-41 SD 10 Sheet 16A Stamped 41 Reiger Ave 4811-5-5 McLemore, Margaret B Hd O $10,000 F W 52 Wd 24 Texas Irelan d Missouri None McLemore, Pat J Son M W 22 S Tx Tx Tx Salesman Insurance Butler, William J Brother M W 50 Brother M W Tx Tx Mo Shipping Clerk Groceries Butler, Urline A Sister F W 51 S Tx Tx Mo Telephone Operator Hospital Markum, Clovis Roomer F W 30 S Tx Tx Tx Secretary Chamber of Commerce Roelscher, Clarence Roomer M W 20 S Tx Tx Tx Time Keeper Gin Manufacturer 4811-5-6 McLemore, Edward E Head Son M W 24 M20 Tx Tx Tx Salesman Fences McLemore, Rose L Wife F W 24 M20 Ill Ind Ill McLemore, Rose M Dtr F W 3 S Tx Tx Ill McLemore, Robert H Son M w 20 S Tx Tx Tx McLemore, John D Son M W 16 S Tx Tx Tx The Texas Death Records Index shows him as Single in 1969. If this record is for the same individual, it is either in error, or he was divorced, as Rose didn't die until 1987.
  Person ID	I25183	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	13 May 2018

  
  

  Father	Edward Eugene McLemore, Sr.,   b. 16 Sep 1874, Texas d. 10 Jan 1914, Texas (Age 39 years)
  Mother	Margaret Butler,   b. 16 Jul 1876, Texas d. 2 Jan 1961 (Age 84 years)
  Family ID	F8378	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Rose Ann Lawlor,   b. 19 Jul 1905, Illinois d. 10 Dec 1987, Dallas County, Texas (Age 82 years)
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F8370	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2006

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 3 Jul 1905 - Texas Death - 9 Jan 1969 - Dallas County, Texas  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Documents

  McLemore Sportatorium, 1953-2003, Dallas Texas Home of both weekly wrestling shows and the Big D Jamboree, a country music showcase. The arena also held boxing events and concerts featuring up-and-coming rock stars (including, most notably, an early performance by Bruce Springsteen in 1974). In early 1966, McLemore's promotion was taken over by wrestler Jack Adkisson , who was known in the ring as Fritz Von Erich. Adkisson's promotion, which became known in the early 1980s as World Class Championship Wrestling and featured his sons (the Von Erich brothers) as its main stars, was the most famous and successful wrestling federation to run regularly at the Dallas Sportatorium.

  
  

• Sources

  [S481] 1910 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006, (For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. T624, 1,178 rolls. This database is an index to the head of households enumerated in the 1910 United States Federal Census, the Thirteenth Census of the United States. In addition, each indexed name is linked to actual images of the 1910 Federal Census. The information recorded in the census includes: name, relationship to head of family, age at last birthday, sex, color or race, whether single, married, widowed, or divorced, birthplace, birthplace of father and mother, and more.), Texas, Dallas, Dallas Ward 6, ED 50 Justice Precinct 1 Enumerated 23 Apr 1910 by Stephen Benson SD 5 ED 50 Sheet 13A Stamped 248 Reiger Ave 223-242-262 (Reliability: 3). [S33] FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, (http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), Memorial ID 75247149 (Reliability: 3). [S334] Rootsweb, Texas Death Records, 1964 thru 1998.