Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.
Jack Donovan
Jack Dunnavant was an amateur wrestler from the University of Florida, when he was scouted by promoter Paul Jones to give pro wrestling a try. He began his career in 1955, under the tutelage of ‘Gorgeous George’ and that is when he developed his ‘Dandy’ Jack Donovan character. Dunnavant dyed his hair blonde and became a heel mostly in the southeastern territories like Florida, Alabama and Tennessee. Dandy Jack also wrestled in Oklahoma where he faced Danny Hodge…which caused a huge riot.
Dandy Jack teamed with the future Buddy Colt and won several tag team titles. Donovan was also a victim in a very real locker room attack by Jerry Jarrett, Jackie Fargo and Tojo Yamamoto which was documented here. Jack Donovan eventually retired from pro wrestling in 1977, after a 22 year career in the business.
After his wrestling career ended, Dunnavant started a successful painting company in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama. He successfully battled heart ailments and survived a battle with cancer. Sadly, however, in 2004…while working on a painting job…Dunnavant fell off a ladder and died from his injuries. Jack Dunnavant was 76 years old at the time of his death.