He’s been called the most influential professional wrestler who ever lived. With his bleached blond hair, muscular physique, tie-dyed outfits and poetic interview style, Superstar Billy Graham had a direct impact on future stars like Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
What fans didn’t know was that the real-life Eldridge Wayne Coleman, a Phoenix native, was also fond of sending inspirational books – particularly As a Man Thinketh, a 1902 guide to positive thinking -- to friends in need.
His nephew Shane Schuch remembered his uncle bringing him a volume of lyrics by Bob Dylan, Coleman’s favorite singer.
“He was a behemoth but so gentle,” recalled Schuch, “He encouraged me to get into illustration, music, writing. You always knew he loved you.”
Coleman, 79, died May 17th of sepsis and multiple organ failure after months of health challenges.
Following a private viewing, a public funeral will be held Thursday, June 1st at 12 PM PST at the Full Life Church, 532 West Ray Road, Chandler. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s website.
Before he’d taken on a wrestling persona, Coleman was a “superstar” in track and field and shot put at North High School.
In 1959, he competed in the Golden Gloves and eventually boxed in Madison Square Garden – the one in New York, not Phoenix.
He won the West Coast division of the Mr. Teenage America bodybuilding contest in 1961.
As a teen, he became intrigued by the ministry, bending steel to demonstrate the strength of his convictions and learning the cadence he’d use in his wrestling interviews.
“His spiritual journey was vital to him,” said Joe Jackson, a former defensive end with the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, who worked with Coleman in Athletes International Ministries (AIM).
The ex-champion particularly enjoyed doing prison outreach and speaking to high school students about values and choices.
After playing football in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and trying out for the NFL, Coleman was trained for pro wrestling by the legendary Stu Hart in Calgary, and named himself after his favorite preacher, Rev. Billy Graham.
He dethroned Bruno Sammartino for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (now WWE) Heavyweight Championship in 1977, dropping the title almost a year later to Bob Backlund.
In 2004, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
But the steroids he used to enhance his already extraordinary form caused long-term health damage and he was forced to undergo a liver transplant in 2002.
A gifted artist, Coleman was instructed to only use acrylic paints after the operation. “It wasn’t just the chemicals in the oils,” his wife, Valerie Coleman noted. “He did not have the patience to wait for oil to dry.”
He also spent hours poring over books on archeology, history and, one of his favorite topics, the human brain.
His interest in astronomy led to him naming his daughter Capella Flaherty after a star in 1972. His son Joseph Miluso was born in 1975.
As his health declined in recent months, Capella, visited her father’s bedside and played him a number of Dylan songs, even though she personally disliked the singer’s voice.
“That was love,” joked Valerie.
He leaves behind four grandchildren: Caitlyn and Michael Flaherty and Joey and Anthony Miluso.
Coleman married Valerie in 1978. Although she was the daughter of two professional wrestlers, what truly bonded them was their strong Christian faith.
It was that faith that sustained both as the onetime titlist battled health problems, defying the odds by living more than 20 years since transplant.
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