In Memorium

Wrestling lost a good friend and legend on May 13th - Miss Penny Banner.

Penny Banner was a friend to all at the Cauliflower Alley Club where I first met her in 2002. We compared back ailments and I wiggled my broken nose for her to her delight. When a group formed around Penny, the same question always came up. "What was it like to date Elvis Presley," Penny would respond as if it were the first time it had been asked of her, with dignity, charm and grace.

Her loss should make us all wonder why such a rare embodiment of kindness and good will should ever be removed from this earth. Penny passed away on my 60th birthday. I will never forget you.

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Pro Wrestling lost another legend on June 23rd - Tulsa's own - Oni Wiki Wiki

Oni Wiki Wiki would visit our practices back in 1997. I would coax him to get into the ring to work with our guys and share his vast ring knowledge with them. Try as I might, he would never agree to it. Instead, he would sit down with me and we would talk for hours, watching the boys practicing. I told him how I would get up early in the morning to gather flowers to make leis for my young daughter's hulau (hula school) run by Miss Leilani Pratt while we were living in Hawaii Kai. He enjoyed hearing about that and would tell me stories about his days in his native Hawaii. The Wikster was a true Kayfabe warrior. Aloha bruddha!

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May 5, 2007 - Beatrice J. “Aunt Bea” Joiner passed away after a brief illness. She was 73 years old.

Oklahoma professional wrestling fans and wrestlers will miss her. She was an icon for Oklahoma Professional Wrestling as well as for Ray Downey’s World Wrestling Empire and Cowboy Bill Watt’s Mid South Wrestling. “Aunt Bea was the consummate wrestling fan, always in attendance, always at ringside, always sitting in row 1, seat A, and always giving the cheaters, the big mouths and the bad guys a severe tongue lashing with language that on occasion would have made a sailor blush.

The Original Renegade, The Great Bolo, Ledge, The Texas Outlaws Bobby Burns and Dan Wilder contended with her disapproval and verbal guidance during their matches for years. Bea’s antics were always in good fun, however, and she was and is always, a member of the OPW wrestling family, the grandmother of professional wrestler Ian St. James of Generation X and an honorary aunt to us all.

Aunt Bea Joiner was honored for her loyalty and friendship by being given a lifetime free box seat at ringside. It was a leather love seat! She and her constant sidekick, Uncle Howell Joiner, were always admitted through the back door, not the main entrance, 30 minutes before tickets went on sale so that Bea could get herself settled in, visit with the wrestlers and then get ready for a wild night of wrestling action!

Funeral services were held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday morning, May 9, 2007 at The Frankoma Road Church of God, 8500 Frankoma Road in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Retired professional wrestling promotors Ray Downey of the World Wrestling Empire, Sarah Harmon Foster of Steel Rage Professional wrestling and Pete Maguire of Oklahoma Pro Wrestling attended and paid their last respects. Also in attendence from the professional wrestling industry were wrestlers Ian St. James, Tom Jones, Miss Leather, Dexter "Hardtimes" Hardaway, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Funk, Mr. and Mrs. Luc LaPointe, Tenacious Tim Rockwell and the Texas Outlaws, Bone Crusher Bobby Burns and Dirty Dan Wilder.

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"Let's go smoke one!"

A cigar, that is! This is how Doc Barnes greeted us at each office visit. This was not medical advice but a metaphor. For men, smoking cigars together is a ritual of bonding and celebration.

Doc was the official OPW physician. He gave us our physical exams for our wrestling licenses. He mended and tended to us when we were injured.

Men light up cigars to celebrate a wedding, a good meal, boxing match or a personal victory. When Doc said it, I think he meant that it's good to see you, let's celebrate that we are together. Let's celebrate because life is good.

I don't know if Doc actually smoked cigars, but one Valentine's day I stopped by the office and gave him one with some matches and a card which said, "I really appreciate how you and Ann take care of us. Naturally, I didn't give Ann a cigar but a plant. Doc chuckled and said that I had the gifts mixed up!

You acknowledged our friendship with a smile every time I would rest my hand on your shoulder, giving it a couple of pats as you turned to read my chart.

When a man is a friend it is easy and natural to come up with nicknames for him. You were Dr. Barnstorm, Dr. Barnstein, Rapid Ronnie, Doc, Docky, Docko and Dr. Ronnie Handsome. You called me Peedo and Peedola.

If we are but tiny drops of water in the vast ocean of life, then you are a giant wave. The ocean of spirit has drawn you back into itself for a time, giving you rest, preparing you to rise again as a magnificent new wave. You will soar again on clouds of high.

Your sudden exit from this ephemeral world is a terrible shock and loss. Our hearts ache and no prescription can be written to lessen it.

One day we will surely be together again ..... and you and I will sit down with a cold one and smoke a couple of long, fat Cubans, Doc! Bet on it!

. . . Pete Maguire - July 9, 2006