SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Dick 'The Bulldog' Brower
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REAL NAME: Richard Gland
DIED: September 15, 1997 at 64
AKA: Delaware Destroyer
From the believe it or not comes Bulldog Brower. Would you believe he
dropped out of chiropractic school
to become a wrestler? Would you believe he grossed $127,000 in 1962, working
mainly around Toronto?
Would you believe he started out AS A GOOD GUY?!?! He was quite open about
changing his style to
copy Milwaukee's legendary Dick 'The Bruiser' Afflis. He became a killer
heel, bend on mayhem,
destruction and getting tons of heat. But even that didn't last. Soon he was
so well known that he tagged
up with Whipper Billy Watson and other heroes of the day.
For a time, Brower was British Empire Champion.
Brower, a native of Delaware where he began his wrestling career in the late 1950s as the Delaware Destroyer, came to Toronto in 1961 from Calgary where he had worked alongside legendary promoter Stu Hart. Brower retired in the late 80s.
He died in September 1997 of complications following hip surgery. He had been ill with diabetes for a long time.
Memories
Oh yeah, Dick Brower. I broke him in here. He came out here when he was just a pup. Whipper Watson was out here working for me at the time and Whipper says 'Who's that kid that you just had in the opening match there? Is there any chance of me borrowing him when you're finished with him?' I sent him down to Toronto then, and Bulldog Brower became a superstar. He wrestled Whipper Watson about 500 times. Watson got rich wrestling him.
Stu Hart, from a Nov. 1997 interview with SLAM! Wrestling
"Another wrestler, Bulldog Brower, was equally helpful. In the concluding 30 seconds of each show, I was expected to thank the guest for his appearance and, on camera, I would present him with a carton of Buckingham cigarettes.
After Brower, who always played the role of the deep-dyed villain, had been responding to my questions with his customary ranting and raving, the time came to bid him a grateful adieu. While thanking him for his important contributions to Canadian culture, I handed him the carton of Buckingham cigarettes. As the camera focused on Brower's face, his eyes popped right out of his skull. He stood up, strode off the set,
threw the carton of cigarettes at me and roared, "I don't smoke! I'm an
athlete!"
The resultant mail left the impression that the television audience felt Bulldog Brower's performance was quite funny. The only ones who didn't appreciate the humour were the financial sponsors of the show -- the makers of Buckingham cigarettes."
-- legendary Canadian sports columnist Jim Coleman on his interview show on CBC on Friday nights in his book, Memoris of a Sporting Life, 1990, Key Porter Books
"I think Bulldog Brower is the greatest bore I've ever encountered."
-- Lord Athol Layton in an old newspaper article
The Bulldog in the Golden 60's era
He was the man I loved to hate watching wrestling in the 60's.
The 60's showed you didn't need all that smoke and fire they have now to
sell the sport. Some truly outstanding matches and rivalries. I could go
on and on. It would be nice to see a wrestling site for all the fans
from the 60's.
Does Pampero Ferpo ring anybody's bell?
fab_four
BROWER and Abdullah, Waldo von Erich and Big Bad John in a war with Mark Lewin and King Curtis, Spiros Arion and Sheik Waddy Ayoub in Sydney at
the Hordern Pavillion in a cage.......and the place was going berserk
.....the man could draw some heat...R.I.P
Dave & Sharon
Brower used to keep Lord Athol Layton in a tizzy with the famous microphone smash on CFTO-TV Wrestling. Far more entertaining than the CRAP out there today.
anonymous
Bulldog Brower is a wrestler I'll never forget! I was too young to
see him during his 1960's peak...but remember him while our local
station carried WWF in 1979 for a few months. The days of Ted
Dibiase, Tito Santana, Ivan Putski, et al as the faces against the
dastardly heels Iron Sheik, Pat Patterson, Nikoli Volkoff, and best
of all Bulldog Brower!!!
Everytime he fought a preliminary bum (jobber), the bum always left
on the stretcher. Brower and his manager Captain Lou Albano made a
demonic duo!!! I'll just describe one match that stood out in my
memory...
I only saw halfway through the match, but Bulldog was working over
a poor jobber who was sitting in the middle of the ring as if he was
in extreme shock. Bulldog was "biting" into his forehead
splattering blood all over his face. Brower's mouth was caked with
red like a baby's mouth caked with pudding. Finally the referee
intervened and called the match. Bulldog and Capt Albano took off
for the dressing room thinking they scored a dirty victory. Well,
twas announced that Bulldog was disqualified for excess brutality.
NOT the end of the story here. The jobber still sat there in
catatonic shock when Bulldog pounced back into the ring to bite and
suck more blood off his forehead. Captain Lou Albano in feverish
frenzy ripped off his trademark Hawaiian shirt then snapped the
ripped shirt at any referees who dared try to interfere in this
mayhem. After some hairy moments, Bulldog with his "psychotic"
appetite sated took off to the dressing room for the rest of the
day. The jobber still sat there in shock and even more
bloodied...and was carried off on the stretcher sitting!
Jono Chapman
I met Bulldog Brower briefly a number of years ago. The WWF had scheduled a show at the Boys Club in my hometown, that was cancelled when we had an
election (it was a polling place.)
Evidently Vince (class guy that he is) never told Brower about the
cancellation. He was wandering around outside the Boys Club asking people
where the wrestling show was supposed to be. I really felt sorry for him.
Yankeemike
Bulldog Brower was one of my brothers' and my favorite wrestlers when we
were teenagers watching him wrestle out of Pedro Martinez's Cleveland
organization around 1970. He had such a great schtick as a paranoid
schizo, suffering from demons nobody could imagine as he took apart some
hapless victim. The best match I ever saw in person was when Bulldog
turned into a "good guy" winning the championship from Ernie "The Big
Cat" Ladd (Ernie, likewise, turned "bad" that night) in Utica, NY. The
climax of the match was when Bulldog body slammed Ladd (325 lb at the
time!) hard!!. My brothers and I were in the ringside seats ($3 at the
time!) and the bleachers shook! What a great night! The place was in
mayhem!
Peter L. Bocko
As a kid, and teenager I still remember one very important wraslin' lesson
from those days-----"YOU SEE THIS?--THIS IS BROWER POWER!"
Sobo44
Great to see so many fans with memories of Bulldog Brower. I remember him
all the way back to the early '60's in Toronto, when 3 local stations
(CBLT, CFTO and CHCH all had local cards televised every Saturday. Brower
had great TV battles with Tom "The Emperor" Jones and great battles at
Maple Leaf Gardens with the likes of Whipper Billy Watson and Raphael
Halpern (the Wrestling Rabbi).
ittleman
Gotta be one of my all-time favorites......Grew up in Rochester,N.Y. watching
the shows from on TV from Buffalo......remember the great Brower/Ladd
feud....and the commentary by Lord Alfred Hayes......and what a great interview
he was....saddened to just now read of his passing.....BROWER POWER
FOREVER!!!!!
Tony Richards, Columbia, S.C.
Bulldog Brower hit a pregnant woman with a shovel in a London, Ontario
show back in 1961, the police tried to arrest him, and he knocked all of
them on the floor and ran out of the building. One of the police
officers had his watch busted from the tussle with Bulldog Brower. They
had to barricade the police from the angry fans, who were upset that the
police didn't arrest Bulldog Brower.
Terry Dart
My dad Dick "the Bulldog Brower" was the greatest man who ever lived. I
just found this site, and I'm so happy to see people still remember
him. My father "Bulldog" raised 3 kids alone, and did his best to buy
us the best. But at his deathbed, there was not one fan, there was not
wrestling promoter who made a living off of my dad's sweat and blood.
They are a bunch of money hungry people. I miss my father so
much......
Marcie
The memories I have of "The Bulldog" was his fights he had with Johnny
Powers over the North American heavyweight championships. That's when
wresteling was wrestling
Karl Wortman, Akron, Ohio
My friends and I were a group of young teenagers growing up in Brooklyn, NY in
the mid 70's when the IWA began it's weekly midnight broadcast in our area.
Wrestlers such as Mil Mascaras, "Bulldog" Brower, and The Mighty Igor
captivated our young imaginations, and their characters and mannerisms became
a big topic of conversation among our group those wrestlers have made a
lasting impression on us to this day. We found such humor in the character of
Dick "The Bulldog" Brower, and he was well loved by our group of friends.
Brower quickly became a favorite of my friend Scott, who always "defended"
"Bulldog's" illegal, rule breaking tactics, which Brower performed with such
glee. To this day, Scott and I give ourselves a laugh by signing our names on
e-mails to each other, Brower, or Mil, or some other IWA wrestler. I can pay
no higher compliment to Brower or any other entertainer, that Brower and his
cohorts in the IWA are still talked about and remembered fondly over 20 years
after they entered our lives and our imaginations. "......because it's The
Mighty Igor that's gonna be carried out on a stretcher.........not The
"Bulldog".
Bruce Edelstein
I remember the good ole days of Sydney pro wrestling -Flemington Market
Pavilion - BE THERE!
His name inspires me to refragment my memories of one of the most
amoral, evil and corrupt wrestlers that ever graced the squared circle -
This was not an ordinary "matman"
For example - my friends and I screaming in hysterical laughter as
Brower chased King Curtis around the ring until he got so dizzy that he
fell prey to the Hawaiian Spash.
Ah yes - Brower Power - he used to do go into these poses they were
called "Most Muscular" in wrestling parlance- he flexed himself so much
that his eyes bulged out of his head as if they would explode. My
friends and I at Caringbah High in Sydney in the late 70's used to
pretend we were him and smashed garbage cans on our heads- showing no
pain or fear. What an influence, what a wrestler!
I am shocked to find out that Bulldog Brower has gone. I met him when I
was a teenager in Sydney Australia, Through my sister and brother.I have
been surfing the internet to find a couple of wrestlers and Bulldog was
one of them. I cant believe this!! He came to Canberra in the 70's to
wrestle and I happened to be there. I started talking to him and he
remembered me. I took him to my family place which he knew very well. We
all went out and had a good time and caught up with things.Anyway I now
know where the Bulldog is. I feel Numb!!!!
Marcie if you read this. Your Dad was a great guy. He was so gentle, And
he was a gentlemen. There will never be another person like him.
I guess this end my search for Bulldog. I had plans to go to America
next year. And I wanted to see him once again. But I guess this will not
happen.
Helen, Australia Sydney
Many of us have memories of stars as we grew up watching wrestling in
the 60's that just stand out and never go away. Some of my memories
included "BROWER POWER" . It didn't matter if Brower was good guy or
heel I cheered the Bulldog. I remember my first live wrestling show and
the main event was The Golden Greek Chris Tolos facing the Wrath of Dick
"the Bulldog" Brower. Of course, Brower was able to milk the crowd with
the closed fist to Tolos' face that Brower conveniently managed to block
with his huge girth.
BROWER POWER will live for ever in this fan's heart and memories.
ruffy
Forget The Sheik, forget Killer Kowalski, Brower was without a doubt my favorite heel of all time! I never had the pleasure of seeing him work in person, but I have vivid memories of him on TV. The WWWF didn't use him to the fullest - WWWF heels in the 70s were used as clowns for the most part - but from what I've read he was quite a big deal in Canada. I envy all of you who saw him at Maple Leaf Gardens.
I was saddened to hear of his death, and felt obliged to add my two cents to this column.
Why isn't there more footage of Brower? I'd love to see some of those great old matches from the 60s and 70s.
Don Stradley
I remember the Hodern Pavilion as well in Sydney, around 1974.
The names of the wrestlers such as Spiros Arion, Mark Lewis, Sheik Waddi
Ayoub, Waldo Von Erich, King Curtis and Cyclone Negro. The Managers, Big Bad
John and Bobby Shane, These were great days and how real all this was. Who can
forget Abdullah the Butcher and his butchers axe and the brainbuster from
Killer Karl Kox. I note that the Butcher still wrestles and that some of these
guys have passed away.
They had great shows, the German (waldo), the executioner (Abdullah), the Hog
(a wrestler called Don Fargo) but we hear little about him.
What memories and Brower certainly played a part.
Mike (sydney)
I'm Cathy, "Bulldog's" youngest daughter, I'm so touched by this and
what everyone has said about my father. He would feel very touched by
all of your memories. Thank you, for keeping his memory alive for my
sister, myself, my brother, and his grandchildren.
For the person.. Lord "whatever"... you obviously did NOT know my father,
he was the least boring person in the world.!!!!
Cathy,, his daughter!
Bulldog Brower was one of the great old-time heels that made me want to get
into the wrestling business. In the old Carolinas based IWA I have a dim
memory of the child-like Mighty Igor holding his puppy and being presented
with a birthday cake on one of the broadcasts. Bulldog Brower ran out and
Pearl Harbored Igor, smashing his face into the birthday cake and then
perpetrating the nastiest of deeds (one that would surely cause the animal
rights crowd to go berserk these days), by strangling Igor's puppy. The feud
went on forever. "Brower Power" indeed! It's a shame they don't make them
like that anymore.
James Vandenberg, WCW
Cathy, Marcie, and Rich from what the family tells me bulldog is the
greatest person they ever knew. I would like to tell you that I think
Dude AKA Crazy dog really misses you a lot. I look through the wrestling
photos that our uncle gave to me all the time. Bulldog will always be in
our memories no matter what people say about him. Family are the only
people that really know what he was like.
your cousin, Jesse Gland
I remember Bulldog Brower in the days when he was in the ICW. He had some
great matches with Johnny Powers, Mighty Igor, and Tex McKenzie. I can
remember the ring guy coming to get Bulldogs jacket and after grabbing the
jacket he stood on the ring apron. Bad mistake, Bulldog came running over and
blindsided the guy and knocked him in to the first row. He was a great
wrestler and i for one and very glad to have been fortunate to see him
wrestle. He was one of my very favorite.
Bugg30431
I have fond memories of the Havoc he used to cause at Brisbane's Festival hall, Against such greats as Mark Lewin, King Curtis, Killer Karl Kox.
The Bull dog was on of the all time greats who made time to come to Australia.
He was the first man to Body slam the 600lb Haystacks Calhoon, in Melbourne's Festival hall.
A sadly missed Great.
Bruce
The Bulldog was the best in the game,not only was he a good show men but
he also had a big heart.I love watching him going up against likes of
Johnny Powers for the North American Championship which he held for a
while but he would just beat to death guys like Powers, Ladd, Haystacks,
The Love Bros,Crusher Verde, and even watch him beat the outlaws (dusty
Rhodes,dick Murdoch) . i was at channel 43 in Cleveland there is were
they filmed the wrestling for the week . and I got to talk to him ,he
was the nicest guy in the while world and i will never forget what he
told me to stay in school and learn what you can. he took three min. of
his time to talk to me and i will never forget him ,GOD BLESS THE
BULLDOG.......
Timothy Honrine
Marcie,Cathy and Richie..
We were very sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. We remember all of you from North Carolina, and from what I remember "Bulldog" took
excellent care of his family, which wouldn't be easy since he raised
them alone. Early this year our dad passed away at an early age. All
that they put into it is ultimately forgotten. Sad business it is
sometimes. We heard that some of you live in Canada. We're up here as
well please email us some time. We had no idea what happened to you all!
Any how your dad was and always will be remembered as a great wrestler.
Take care.....Paige and Alison Terry (Kurt Von Hess's daughters)
When I was growing up in Rochester NY I waited every week to watch "Dick Brower's Power Hour. I had three heroes (Billy Red Lyons, Ilio DiPaulo and Tony Marino) and two fears...either The Baron would put his CLAW on one of my heroes or two
of them would be teamed up and forced to face the dreaded Gallagher brothers. Why couldn't anyone see they cheated! Fortunately they usually escaped such evil matches and the four of us were safe until next weeks power hour! But looking back I know if that darn Baron had ever put his CLAW on Billy, then I'd just have been forced to call the police.
Shake it easy, David S. Wilson - dswilson
I consider Bulldog Brower the greatest wrestler to watch of all time. I
loved to watch him wrestle in the 1970s on television. He would bodyslam his
opponent sometimes 50 times in a row each time with the ref only getting a
two count. He also would choke his opponent repeatedly with the ref only
getting a two count never getting disqualified. I liked when his victim was
getting carried out on a stretcher he would throw him off and start body
slamming or choking all over again. Why can't they bring back a psychopath
like him again to the wrestling circuit. Not even George The Animal Steele or
Bugsy McGraw could compare to the Bulldog.I guess there can never be anyone to
replace him.
Peach2man
I met Dick "The Bulldog" Brower at the old Sydney (Australia) Stadium during
the mid 1960s.
Not only was he a great wrestler, he was a great guy. Despite his "bad guy"
image, he always took time to talk with the fans. Others who fall into this
category were Jay "The Alaskan" York & "King" Curtis Iaukea...2 really nice
guys.
I was saddened to hear of the death of The Bulldog...I'll never forget him.
Colin Duff, Sydney, Australia
I remember Dick saying he would rather break bones than fix them.
Dick was one of the toughest wrestlers that I have ever seen and definitely was an icon of the 60's style wrestling.
It is nice to see that Dick was really a nice guy and that his ring persona was not the way he really was.
R.D.(Rick) Hawkins
My fondest memory as a kid watching Bulldog Brower during the 1970's was
when he would shout in the microphone that the reason he was such a great
champion was "Conditioning! Conditioning! Conditioning!" Then he'd slap
his big belly, glare at the announcer and stalk off to the dressing room.
At that moment, I knew I could eat as much as I wanted and still be a great
athlete! Modern wrestling needs more Bulldogs!
Don Templeman, Cleveland Ohio
Marcie, Cathy & Richie
Dick the Bulldog Brower is an icon. I first started watching wrestling in
the 60's as a boy. Over 30 years later, your dad still is one of the top
villians of all time. I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. When I was a
young boy, my dad and I loved watching the Bulldog. I was reading with
interest the other E-mails and was surprised nobody mentioned your dad's wars
with the living legend Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Title. I'll never
forget the Brower Lock, your dad's version of Bruno's backbreaker. If people
were in awe of your dad in the 70's, they should have seen him in the 60's.
He was the original badass!
Mike Azzara
I remember seeing Bulldog Brower in the mid 70's in a small promotion in West Virginia called the Continental Wrestling Congress. This promotion was based out of New York they wrestled on July 15 at 8:30 at the Fairmont National Guard Armory in Fairmont West Virginia (exact year ? 1976?). They had the first ever 16 man battle royal to the area. a girls tag team match with Kim Liiwana of Hawaii, and Janice Jay of Cleveland v. the masked lil' Cannonball, and BJ Williams of Ohio.
Brower who was billed as the world champion was managed by the Great Scott wrestled Rocky Rossetti. The Plowboy billed as "the man with the worlds strongest neck!" was on the card and said to have been seen recently on ABC's Wide World of Sports. Israel's champ Dov Abrams, Mexico stand out Mr. Diabolic, a world tag team match with between Handsome Pete Metay and Wild Buck Slattery v. the Peurto Rican bros. George Jorge and Jose Espanda filled out the card. Tickets were only $5 dollars ringside $4 grandstand, and kids under 12 $3.
I remember Brower as a real power house. At the time they weren't playing up the crazy gimmick as much as in the WWWF. I vividly remember the huge chest, the Brower Power and the bulging piercing blue eyes. He was a legend. 25 years later I still remember him. His matches with Mighty Igor, Bruno, Johnny Powers, big John Valentine as well as teaming with the Sheik in Detroit still stand out in my mind. Whether it was the young Bulldog Brower with the crew cut I read about in Wrestling Revue Magazine, a trimmed down version and completely psychotic in the WWWF attacking Putski with a hammer, or the new improved permed hair and menacing champion heel of later years he was still a legend. Viva the Bulldog!!! Though Don Kent was near and dear to my heart and Bob Brown, Bill Garner, and Davey Boy Smith all laid claim to the name, there was only one Bulldog and that was the man who wielded Brower Power!!!!!!!!
John Mozuke
I still remember BullDog wrestling in the WWF when he was a contender for Bob
Backlund's title. Me and my friends would roll on the ground laughing
hysterically as he paced around yelling "Backlund, Backlund" over and over
again like a complete mental case. Bulldog's memories will last a lifetime.
A very sad fan
Keith Dougherty
I remember seeing Bulldog Brower as a kid in Johnstown, PA against Bruno
Sammartino, Tony Marino (The Batman) and once against Terrible Ted the
wrestling bear. A great heel and a comical guy to watch. I also remember
on the old IWA TV show , Brower strangling Mighty Igor with his own
kielbasa. Later when I broke into pro wrestling in the early 80's I got a
chance to work with him. Still a great brawler and great on the stick.
Gregory Mosorjak
I used to live just down the street from Dick in the 60's. I was really
into wrestling then. He used to drive me with him to the Gardens in Toronto,
and take me in the side door where I met the other wrestlers. The Sheik was
a really nice guy and gave me his autograph.
My father used to sell televisions in Newmarket, and one night
Dick came down to buy a new BIG heavy set. I sat on the stairs in awe
watching every move he made as he sat and had a coffee with my dad. When
he was ready to leave, my dad said..."You'd better be polite to Dick, or
he'll throw you across town." Then Dick picked me up like a feather and
tossed me in the air. I never laughed so hard. Then he carried the TV by
himself to his white Cadillac. Those were the days!
D.B.
Saw Bulldog the first night he wrestled at Maple Leaf Gardens. I t had to take 10 people to remove him
from the "squared circle'. He was a great, great entertainer, but most of all he was a terrific person and
a great father.
Children--you have been blessed with a terrific father--keep those memories flowing.
Csharpe
In Nov. 1970 in Madison Square Garden Brower took on Bruno Sammartino for the
WWWF title. The match ended when the ref stopped the contest due to excessive
bleeding on Brower's forehead. Suddenly a fan runs in the ring. I ask myself --
Is this part of the show? I got my answer quickly as Brower himself put a
butterfly suplex on the fan and threw him out of the ring! I always found
Bulldog very entertaining. In fact in 1975, in an ICW show I bought a Brower
Power T-shirt. I gave it to my nephew (then 6 years old). My nephew never
became a wrestling fan but he remembers the name Brower Power! Thanks for the
memories, Bulldog.
Jackpesserilo
I was a rookie ref here in NC when Johnny Powers and / or Pedro Martinez
tried to revive the IWA. I was lucky to get booked and amazed by talent
there. One was Dick Brower renewing his endless fuedwith Igor. When asked
the finish Brower said "I dunno, we'll think something up when we get
out there." He lost by DQ for hitting me (thus saving the belt -- That
was the finish every night and it always popped.) The second night he gave
me the nickname I proudly still boast of...Blind and Stupid...the
qualities of a decent ref. RIP Dick, I"ll never forget how kind you were to
me and will always regret not having the chance to tell you how much
working with you meant to me.
Dave Routh
Hello all. Just wanted to say thanks for all the positive, sometimes
"CRAZY" things my dad did with his career. I cannot even think of how
many matches I have seen. I come to this site often and read what
people say, it really puts a good feeling in my heart. My dad really
liked to put on a show and always asked my opinion when the match was
over, I guess it mattered to him what I thought. He is in heaven I know,
because he found God, he is at peace and pain free. Years of being so
physical, really can take a toll. He always still had some corney joke
to tell every time I would speak to him on the phone, he could really
tell a joke! Thank you everyone for the great memories!
Marcie.....
I was a great Fan of Bulldog. Me and my friends used to cheer him on when
he went to Jack Witchis Arena in Mass. He and Ted Dibiase used to have
those grueling matches. It saddened me when he passed away I could not
believe it. I remember when he wrestled Ivan Putski in Worcester, MA.
The great Ivan Putski was pinned that night. I knew right then and there
that the old Bulldog was back. I did not hear Ivan Putski yell Polish
Power that night.
To the Family and son of The Bulldog I want to thank you for making
those few years of seeing him wrestle and enjoyment. Me and my friends
who yelled Brower power will really miss him.
His Loyal Fan, Doug
What greater gift can a person give another than a lifelong love affair. Growing up in Parma, Ohio in the late 1960's, I was fortunate to be
able to head to the WUAB 43 studios Saturday morning for the wrestling tapings. After all these years, I still can't believe how many free
shows I saw. All the greats of that era: Ernie Ladd, Johnny Powers, Moose Cholak, Luis Martinez, Chief White Owl, the Sheik, Eric the
Red, Oscar "the Crusher" Verde, Wild Bill and Flying Fred Curry, Dominic Denucci,
Hans Schmidt, Kurt Von Hess and Karl Von Schots, Johnny Valentine and of course, the scariest wrestler of them all...Dick "The Bulldog"
Brower. It's been over 30 years, but in my mind's eye I can still see his huge girth, his eyes bulging out and looking to the ceiling and his
delivering a forearm smash that would have crushed a normal man's chest. Brower was a heel's heel...scary to a 9 year old kid...who still
thought wrestling was real.
Looking back on it...I realize the entertaining wrestlers, like The Bulldog, are what whetted my appetite for pro-wrestling. Today I am a 45
pastor (with a PHD) and my
love for wrestling hasn't diminished.
Thank you Bulldog for providing me with years of great memories and a love for a "sport" that has filled me with wonderful memories
throughout my life. You have no idea how much your work affected the lives of all wrestling fans.
And to Marcie and the rest of the family...thank you for sharing your Dad with us. As a Christian, take comfort in knowing that this
separation from him is not forever...just for know. God bless you all.
tjn
I'm awfully saddened to hear of Bulldog Brower's passing. I was an
avid fan of the WWF back in the late 70's, early 80's as well as a lot of
friends at school. The others were big fans of Bob Backlund and Ivan
Putski-- but somehow I could never get behind the wrestlers everyone else
liked. A group of us ended up going to our first live show in Worcester
MA, the night Bulldog headlined against Ivan Putski. My friends all bet me
a dollar that Putski would win, and I remember even now how my heart
thudded when I accepted the bet. Bulldog Brower pinned Ivan Putski that
night, and I was still hollering "Brower Power" when the house lights came
up. (I've yet to collect on that bet, though.)
I grew to love the Bulldog more and more every time I saw him rip
through some poor preliminary sap on TV-- to the extent that after a while
they started pitting him against two at a time, and he still ripped them
apart without breaking a sweat. I seem to remember his blue jacket with
"The One-Man Riot" sewn on the back.
Anyway-- just a few weeks after that night in Worcester Bulldog
Brower again highlighted against Putski. This time on the WWF's Saturday
afternoon TV broadcast. Putski charged the ropes to deliver his infamous
"Polish Hammer," and Lou Albano scooped Putski's ankle, sending him
crashing to the canvas primed for a pin. And Bulldog Brower beat Putski
again!
My friends and parents all thought I was crazy for cheering. They
thought I was more crazy when I insisted, even after watching the
slow--motion replay-- that Putski had simply stepped on Albano's hand and
tripped.
I've been searching web browsers for references of Bulldog Brower
for a long time, and today was the first real success I had. If you can
call it a success. I guess I had it in the back of my head to someday be
able to tell him how much he helped me discover the joy in running apart
from the crowd-- how much he helped me identify and seize that which was
unique about my own self.
Consider me crazy if you need to-- but Bulldog Brower helped me
become the person I am today. I wish I could have learned more about the
person behind the persona, but be assured-- his memory will live on
forever.
Paul McMahon
Oh how I remember watching Bulldog Brower all those years. It had special meaning for me, because I always felt that I
was somehow part of his family and even all through high school, college and in a few places I have lived, I was referred
to as Bulldog because my last name was Brower. I had always hoped that maybe he was an Uncle a few times removed.
I always thought of it as an honour and "Brower Power" is a good thing!
To his real family, my deepest regards on the loss of your Dad because I know it is a devastating thing, but remember
that hundreds of thousands of people remember the man not just for what he appeared to be on TV, but his kind and
gentle nature in real life.
Unfortunately, most people did not know of your Dad's illness or of his death or the fans would have been there. We only
hear of a former wrestler's demise nowadays if it has some seamy or tragic side that the news can exploit like the von
Erichs, Rude or Pillman.
Brower Power forever!
Bob Brower
I used to see Brower wrestle Ron Miller, Larry O'Dea, King Curtis, even Andre the Giant at Flemington Market pavilion
back in the 70's. As a young teenager, I was in awe of this guy, a truly scary man in his wrestling persona. Great stuff!
Sara Scarcella
Marcie, I am like a lot of other fans of your father. I was unaware of your
father's passing at the time. I would probably still be unaware if not for the net. I
idolized your father. Thus my e-mail name - browerpower7@aol.com. I have spent much
time locating and buying videos, magazines, pictures, programs, etc., with your
father. I would like to build a sort of Bulldog Brower library. I would appreciate
any help you can give to help me with this if you approve. once again, I am very sorry,
and long live Browerpower!!!!!!
BrowerPower
I remember the wars he and Abdullah The Butcher, Waldo Von Erich
and the rest of his cronies raged with The People's Army, Mark Lewin, King Curtis, Spiros Arion. These wars where the heart and soul of Australian wrestling in Melbourne and Sydney for years.
Sad to hear his passing I loved the bulldog.
Greg Kelly, Melbourne, Australia
Bulldog Brower, I still remember the chills I would get as I loved every second he battered some opponent. How many times as I watched
him in the IWA did I cheer for him to destroy Johnny Powers or Mighty Igor? I lost count. I had the honor of watching him wrestle live on
two separate occasions, once in the role of "heel" and once during his fairly brief "babyface" stint. I approached him once to get an
autograph, and he barked for me to "get away". Even as a kid I loved it, had he signed that autograph out in the open it would have destroyed
him as a heel. Plus a family friend who worked the wrestling events later told me he had had several tires on his car slashed so I imagine he
was more than a little peeved. But the Bulldog was, is and always will be my favorite wrestler. To his family, I learned of his death only
recently and am, though late, sorry for your loss. He was one of last true men in wrestling that gave all no matter where he was wrestling.
Brower Power!
vipes
Dick "The Bulldog" Brower... I was never really a big fan of wrestling... I can say, however, that
Dick "The Bulldog" Brower takes me back to a simpler time when life was
just..............better...
I would wait for wrestling to come on television, to see guys like Black
Jack Mulligan, Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Moralise, and most of all, BULLDOG
BROWER, take to the ring and amaze me with their show.
Zebco push button fishing reels, Converse All Star Sneakers, Grand Funk
Railroad, and BULLDOG BROWER...
I'm so sad to hear of his passing... He was a great American.
God bless him, God bless his family...
Cap'n Fred.
It was interesting to see John Mozuke recall so much about the Fairmont W.
Virginia show including the ticket prices. I don't remember any of that and
I was in the main event.
What I do remember is what a gentleman Bulldog Brower was. He was also
pretty humorous in the dressing room; he had some great stories. He also
really seemed to love his son (Bullpup).
When we worked together that night, he sold the heck out of me. I could tell
that I gained his respect 30 seconds into the match. He even told me, as he
was choking me, "say kid, you're not bad for a greenie."
In closing I was so impressed with his style, I copied it for over 20 years.
However, Dick was the original and by far the best.
Don Neimeth, aka Rocky Rossetti and Crazy Don Rock
Dick the Bulldog Brower terrified me when I was young. I saw him at a
baseball stadium in Hamilton Ont. He had a fenced in match with Yukon Eric.
He pulled Yukon's boot off and beat him on the head with it. After Yukon was
bleeding Yukon started beating Brower with it. Those two were big time.
Brian Fazakas
My dad is a retired pro wrestler (wrestled under the names Duke Taylor,
Duke Torino and Duke "Pitbull" Snyder) and knew Dick Brower for many,
many years. Dad still misses him terribly. A story Dad told me: Dick had
wrestled on the same card with him, but was having problems with his
blood sugar and could not return home to Delaware that night. Dad
offered Dick the use of his couch. When Dick woke up the next morning,
he saw one of my brothers with one of my dolls. He called my brother
over, took the toy from him, said "This is what you do with a doll," and
pulled its head off. We still laugh about it today. Rest in peace, Mr.
Brower.
Jeanie Schneider
I haven't been on this site for a few years, I just wanted to say thanks
for keeping his memory alive for my brother and sister, and the four
grandchildren, Tiffini, who now has made him a great grandfather with a
beautiful little girl who just turned a year a day after Valentine's
Day, Neveah Angel Susan Braunoehler, and I'm now a grandmother, my son
Erich who will be 16 in June, my niece Aleia who is in University on a
basketball scholarship, and my nephew Mason who is 12. Keep his memory
alive everyone, he will never leave mine.
Cathy, cbraunoehler@gmail.com
