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?Freebird? Buddy Roberts (11/28/2012)

Posted: Dec 1st 2012 By: mikeiles

He began life as Dale Hey, a young boy in Vancouver, British Columbia fascinated with the wild action of pro wrestling. And on November 28, 2012 that life drew to a close for the man who became known far and wide as Buddy Roberts, the smallest but definitely the scrappiest member of The Fabulous Freebirds.

Born in Vancouver 65 years ago, young Dale translated his fascination into action, training under the guidance of Red McNulty who would not long after become ?The Russian Bear? Ivan Koloff. He debuted in 1965, paying his dues over the next five years with stints in the AWA as Buddy Smith, Stampede Wrestling as Dale Hayes and in other territories, and developing a tearaway style and a rock-solid ring ability.

The year 1970 was pivotal for Dale: he became Buddy Roberts, and allied with veteran Jerry Brown to form the original ?Hollywood Blondes?, under the management of old Minneapolis friend John ?Red? Sutton, renamed Sir Oliver Humperdink. The trio tore it up in the Tri-State area, then spent the next seven years as major players in Montreal, the Canadian maritimes, California, Florida, Memphis, and the Mid-Atlantic areas. The team had run its course by 1977, and Roberts went solo, with a short run in Southwest Championship Wrestling as Dale Valentine, ?brother? to the fabled Johnny, among other stops. Tag team opportunity arose again in 1979, when flamboyant Michael Hayes and bulldozing Terry ?Bam Bam? Gordy hooked up with Buddy to become the three-man gang ?The Fabulous Freebirds?. The group caught fire fast, drawing incredible heat wherever they appeared: Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, the UWF, AWA, WCW and WWF. Astute observers note that Buddy Roberts provided the real ring savvy for the trio well into the ?80?s, and it?s arguable that they wouldn?t have achieved the success they did without his veteran presence.

Roberts took on managerial duties in WCCW in 1988 when the promotion brought in the Samoan Swat Team, Samu and Fatu, the son and nephew respectively of Afa Anoa?i.

Buddy closed off his career by 1990, and took up residence in Chicago with his family. In later years he battled throat cancer as tenaciously as he?d wrestled, and won that match as well. He was honored by CAC in 2003 with the Men?s Wrestling Award.

Perhaps Buddy?s final personal appearance was at the August 2010 NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, together with Jerry Brown and Sir Oliver, his friends of 40 years, not long before Hump?s death.

The Cauliflower Alley Club extends its condolences to the family and friends of Buddy Roberts.