……..

It has just been confirmed to me that Bob Orton, Sr has passed away.

RIP     ROBERT ORTON, SR.   7/21/1929 - 7/17/2006

Bob held many championships and I feel he was terribly underrated: 

Bob tag teamed with The Great Scott and Buddy "Nature Boy" Rogers a lot in NY and they were a great tag team..

National Wrestling Alliance

2-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Florida version) (with Eddie Graham

1-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (Central States version)

6-time NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion

3-time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (with Dennis Hall, Hiro Matsuda and Bob Orton, Jr)

2-time NWA Central States Champion

1-time NWA North American Tag-Team Champion (with Buddy Austin)

1-time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion

1-time NWA Southwest Champion

2-Time AWA Midwest Heavyweight Champion

3-Time AWA Midwest Tag Team Champion (with Mike DiBiase once and "Mad Dog" Maurice Vachon twice)

Bob married Rita on Jan. 22, 1950.  Bob had three children, two sons and his daughter (who he was very close with), Randall (Barry O), Bob and Rhonda.  Bob's grandson Randy is a current WWE superstar. It would have been great for Bob Sr. to see his grandson Randy go against the incredible Hulk Hogan. 

Orton, who currently lived in Las Vegas, stayed in touch with many wrestling friends over the years. Bob appeared at the CAC Reunion in 2004. Bob had a bad hip and bad back, but refused surgery.  Here is photo;

Bob made his last public appearance before the fans at Sports World in MA on April 30, 2005 with his son and grandson.  Sports World made a collage of the three of them that was awesome. I have one and will treasure it forever.

I will have much more in my snail Newsletter Wrestling Chatterbox.  Seeing how I ran his Fan Club in the 60's, I should be able to find a lot more to add through old photo's and Fan Club Bulletins..

Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Orton family, friends and fans.  I should have some funeral arrangements soon.

Thanks to Mike Informer, SLAM has already put up a page on Bob SLAM! Sports - Wrestling - Bob Orton Sr. dead at 76

The WWE has posted the passing of Bob http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/ortonsrpasses