Dick Murdoch

One of the many professional wrestlers who used his "Texas" background to make a name for himself, Murdoch was one of roughest and meanest of grapplers. He was adept at both singles and tag-team action, gaining a bit of fame as a longtime partner of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Murdoch switched often from heel to good guy in different wrestling organizations, winning several minor titles. He finally won a "major" title in 1984, when teamed with Adrian Adonis. They won the WWF World Tag-Team title by beating "The Soul Patrol" of Rocky Johnson (father of "The Rock" Rocky Maivia) and Tony Atlas. The duo (heels) held the WWF title for nearly a year, finally losing it to fellow Texan Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. Murdoch left the organization later and wrestled sporadically in different leagues, before retiring in the early 1990s. He died of a massive heart attack on his ranch in Texas, on June 15, 1996. He was 49.