Posted on by bdamage1
Robert Segedy
Gary Hart, real name Gary Williams, was born on January 24, 1942, in Evansville, Indiana. Hart grew up in Chicago and became a fan after watching Wrestling at the Marigold on the DuMont Network program, which was run by the legendary promoter, Fred Kohler. Hart had an uncle that was employed in a backstage position as a booker, so that was Hart’s entry point into the business.
Upon reaching the age of 18, Hart entered the business in 1960 on the very same show that he had grown up watching. When it was time for Hart to select a name, he chose the name Gary Hart, after a soldier named Hart Key, who had saved Gary’s uncle’s life when they both were in the Korean War together.
In the late 1960’s, Hart traveled to Australia to work for the Australian company World Championship Wrestling (no relation to WCW), which was under the leadership of US based promoter Jim Barnett. Later Hart would follow Barnett to Georgia Championship Wrestling, where he really learned more about the behind the scenes of the business.
Before the 60’s closed out Hart made the transition from active in-ring competition to work as an on-screen manager. In addition to his managerial duties, Hart would often participate as a tag team partner alongside his clients.
In early 1975 Hart was on a plane flown by wrestler Buddy Colt along with Bobby Shane and Austin Idol when the aircraft crashed off of Tampa Bay near the coast of Florida. Despite numerous broken bones and injuries to his eye and head, Hart was miraculously able to rescue Idol and Colt and swim them back to shore. Unfortunately, Hart could not locate Bobby Shane and he died as a result of the accident.
In 1976, Hart ended up working in the Texas territories for Big Time Wrestling, which eventually would be branded as World Class Championship Wrestling in 1982. Hart worked as both an on-screen manager as well as a booker. He managed several heel talents such as the One-Man Gang, Abdullah the Butcher, and The Great Kabuki. The years between 1983 and 1985 are widely considered to be the “Golden Years” of the promotion. Hart created the classic feud between the Von Erichs and the “Fabulous Freebirds.” As well as being an extraordinary talent on the mic, Hart possessed on of the most adapt minds in wrestling. Usually cast as a sardonic mastermind. Hart was often aligned with many memorable wrestlers including the Samoan Swat Team, “Gorgeous” Gino Hernandez, and Gentleman Chris Adams.
Following the WCCW’s golden era, Hart did double duty as a manager in the Georgia and the Mid-Atlantic regions of the NWA in 1983. After Al Perez lost the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship to Kerry Von Erich on March 6, 1988. Hart continued to manage Perez while he was in Jim Crockett Promotions and in 1989, he formed the J-Tex Corporation which consisted of Terry Funk, Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer, and the Great Muta. The group feuded mostly with Ric Flair and Sting, but Ole and Arn Anderson also teamed up with Flair and Sting to re-form a new grouping of the Four Horsemen.
Hart was a fascinating personality with a hint of a dark side that was certainly ahead of its time. He even wrote an amazing autobiography entitled My Life in Wrestling…With a Little Help From My Friends that is unfortunately out of print. Hart died on March 16, 2008, following a heart attack in Euless, Texas.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020. Also, the NWA Hall of Fame in 2016. The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014. Hart was inducted to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 2018.
david fullam
Gary was without doubt, one the greatest managers and bookers of all time.