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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.
Rufus Jones
James Alvin Godfrey was a popular African American pro wrestler, who competed under the ring name of ‘Rowdy Rufus Jones.’ He started his career in 1937, predating the television wrestling boon and wrestled all over the United States and Canada. Godfrey took a couple of years off to fight in World War II, but after his discharge, immediately resumed his career in places like the AWA, NWA and Pacific Northwest.
At one point in his career, Rufus Jones wrestled a bear named ‘Gorgeous Gus.’ Jones refused to step in the ring with the animal, until he was guaranteed his $150.00 pay day upfront. Jones’ final match was against Bill Melby in Ogden, Utah on November 14, 1951 where he lost via a disqualification.
On the early morning of November 17, 1951, Jones was driving his car to a show in Provo, Utah. His wife decided she didn’t want to take the trip with her husband and stayed behind in Ogden. While driving, Jones apparently fell asleep at the wheel and swerved into oncoming traffic. He crashed his vehicle head on with another driver and suffered multiple injuries including a severe skull fracture. Rufus Jones died on the way to the hospital. He was just 38 years old at the time of his death. James Godfrey was a trailblazer during his 14 year career and inspired fellow wrestler Carey Lloyd to take the name Rufus Jones as a homage to him.