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Bios

Ed Francis

Nickname: Gentleman

From: Chicago, IL

Aliases: Bobby Lyons, Ed Francis, Edmund Francis, Daffy Daniels

Feds Worked For: TSW, AWA, NWA, Al Haft Sports (IL/OH), All Star Wrestling (NE), Big Time Wrestling (Canada), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Clark Sports, Inc. (IL), Eastern Sports Enterprises (CT/NJ/NY), International Wrestling (Canada), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Harry Light Wrestling Office (OH), Louisiana Wrestling Enterprises (LA), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Manhattan Wrestling Enterprises (MD/NJ/NY/PA/DC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), Midwest Wrestling Association (OH), Mike London Sports (AZ/NM), Northwest Wrestling Promotions (Canada), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR), Provincial Sports Association (Canada), San Francisco (CA), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Sylvio Samson Promotions (Canada), Terminal Athletic Club (OH), Tri-States Sports (WA)

Finisher: Sleeperhold

Signature Moves: Dropkick

Career Highlights: -AWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Billy Robinson)
-MWA Junior Heavyweight Champion (2x)
-NWA Calgary Canadian Champion
-NWA Hawaii Champion (5x)
-NWA Hawaii Tag Team Champion (4x; 2 w/ Pedro Morales, 1 each w/ Billy Robinson and Ripper Collins)
-NWA Ohio Champion
-NWA Ohio Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Leon Graham and Ray Stevens)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Champion (5x)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (6x; 2/ w/ Bill Savage, 1 each w/ Henry Lenz, Tony Borne, Herb Freeman, and Ed Sullivan)
-NWA Texas Champion
-NWA (Tri-State) World Junior Heavyweight Champion
-NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Champion
-NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Junior Heavyweight Champion
-TSW Arkansas Junior Heavyweight Champion
-TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion

Affiliates: Billy Robinson, Ray Stevens, Leon Graham, Al Ventres, Pedro Morales, Ripper Collins, Bill Savage, Henry Lenz, Tony Borne, Herb Freeman, Ed Sullivan, Bill Francis

Notable Feuds: Lou Thesz, Kurt Von Poppenheim, Frankie Talaber, Tony Borne, Bill Savage, Luigi Macera, Soldat Gorky, Shag Thomas, Norman Lowndes, Jonathan Boyd, Luther Lindsay

Other Facts: -Real name was Edmund Charles Francis
-Born in Columbus, OH but grew up in Chicago, IL
-Father pro wrestlers Billy Francis & Russ Francis. Russ went on to gain much more fame as an NFL Football player.
-As Edmund Francis, he used the nickname "Sir"
-Purchased the rights to promote wrestling in Hawaii in 1961. By 1966, wrestling was so popular in Hawaii that he had to place "Sold Out" ads in the local newspapers. He sold the promotional rights in Hawaii to Peter Maivia in 1979 and retired.
-Hosted "50th State Big Time Wrestling" with Lord TallyHo Blears
-Worked as a sports agent for his son Russ during Russ' NFL career
-Passed away on November 18, 2016