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Julius Strongbow

Nickname: Chief; The Cherokee Choker

Height: 6' 4"

Weight: 285 lbs.

From: Oklahoma

Birthday: Jan 22nd

Pro Debut: December 2, 1931

Aliases: Jules Strongbow [1st]

Feds Worked For: NWA, Ad Santel Promotions (CA), Al Haft Sports (OH), All Star Wrestling (NE), Allen Athletic Club (KY), American Wrestling Alliance (MA), Buffalo Sporting Club (NY), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Chicago Sports Club (IL), Daro, Inc. (CA), Eastern Sports Enterprises (NJ/NY/PA), Fred Kohler Enterprises (IL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Harry Light Wrestling Office (MI/Canada), Hollywood Booking Office (CA), International Wrestling (Canada), Jack Pfefer Promotions (CT/NJ/NY), Jack Washburn Promotions (UT), Jordan Promotions (AL), Los Angeles Booking Office (CA), Louisiana Wrestling Enterprises (LA), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Max Clayton Promotions (NE), Midwest Sports Enterprises (IL/IA/MI), Midwest Wrestling Association (IL/MO), Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club (MN), Mississippi Valley Sports Club (GA/MO/IN/OK,TN), MWA Ohio (OH), Nick Londes Sports Enterprises, Inc. (MI), NWA Hollywood (CA), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Promotions Eddie Quinn (Canada), R. Verne McCullough Promotions (UT), Ray Fabiani Sports (MI/NJ/OH/PA/VA/DC), San Francisco Booking Office (CA), Southwest Sports (TX), Tillicum Athletic Club (Canada), Tom Packs Sports Enterprises (MO), Upstate Athletic Club (NY), Western Athletic Club (WA), Willoughby Athletic Promotions (TX), Wichita Athletic Club (KS)

Career Highlights: -SWS Texas Champion

Affiliates: Reb Russell, Rudy LaDitzi, Dutch Heffner, Willie Davis, Tiny Roebuck, Karl Davis

Notable Feuds: Hardy Kruskamp, Vic Christy, Sammy Stein, Ed Meske, Terry McGinnis, Nick Lutze, Pat Fraley

Other Facts: -Real name was John Ralph Bilbo. He went by the nickname of "Buster"
-Husbans of pro wrestling promoter Romona Strongbow
-Sometimes billed as Jules Strongbow [1st]. He is not to be confused with Frank Hill, who competed as Jules Strongbow [2nd] in the WWWF in the 1970s and 1980s and also in WCCW.
-Born in De Queen AR, but raised in Shawnee, OK.
-Claimed to be full-blooded Cherokee Indian during his career. At best, he was 3/8 Cherokee.
-Prior to becoming a pro wrestler, he worked as a lumberman in Seminole County and lived in Oklahoma City.
-Lost his debut match against Ray Richards
-Was Primo Carnera's opponent in Carnera's debut
-Became matchmaker for the Los Angeles events at the Olympic Auditorium, a position he held for 38 years. He is best remembered today as a promoter, ringside commentator and booker for the Los Angeles area.
-On September 8, 1932, Strongbow threw his opponent, Dutch Heffner, out of the ring where Heffner landed in the lap of Groucho Marx's female guest, who was ringside. Over 20 years later, Strongbow would appear on Marx's TV show "You Bet Your Life", where he would claim that Groucho stood up after that incident and said "Mr. Strongbow, Mr. Heffner, I'd like you to meet my friend Miss Brown".
-Also refereed some matches in shows in Arkansas in 1935
-Appeared in the movies "Madcap Melee" and "Road to Zanzibar". He also appeared in an episode of "December Bride" in addition to the aforementioned "You Bet Your Life".
-Made honorary mayor of Sepulveda, CA on July 10, 1954.
-Passed away due to cancer on May 13, 1975 at the age of 69