Karl Sarpolis

Karl Sarpolis (August 31, 1897 – May 28, 1967) was a professional wrestler and wrestling promoter in Texas.

Sarpolis was born in Newport, Pennsylvania to Lithuanian immigrants. He had a love for music and could play several instruments. During enrolment at the University of Chicago, he made money performing in a band. He also played football for coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.

After serving in World War I, he attended medical school at Rush College and in 1926 earned a medical degree from Loyola, following in his brother's footsteps.

He was recruited into wrestling by Jack Pfefer in 1926, who recommended that he emphasize his Lithuanian heritage. He wrestled Jim Londos in San Francisco on July 12, 1932. The match had an attendance of over 10,000. In 1933, he claimed the undisputed championship of Lithuania by winning a tournament in Cleveland.

During the Great Depression, Sarpolis would book in Dallas for Ed McLemore. He occasionally refereed and filled in for injured wrestlers and filled in for wrestelrs who missed bookings. His nickname was “Doc”, and he purchased one-third of the Texas Wrestling Agency with Sigel and Burke. The group would book grapplers into Dallas, San Antonio, and other cities in Texas. In April 1953, he sold his stake and jumped to McLemore’s anti-NWA outfit.

In 1955, Sarpolis and Dory Funk bought out Dory Detton in Amarillo for approximately $75,000. The West Texas territory had the Funk family as its headliners. Once known for junior heavyweights, the new ownership transformed Amarillo into an area featuring grapplers of all shapes and sizes.

Although Funk was considered as a potential replacement for Pat O’Connor as NWA world heavyweight champion, not long after the NWA made Buddy Rogers champion instead, the Amarillo office chose to recognize Gene Kiniski as champion instead. Sarpolis continued to pay membership dues and In August 1962 was elected president of the NWA. He became the first president to recognize a champion other than the NWA titleholder. Even after Lou Thesz defeated Rogers for the NWA title in Toronto, Sarpolis continued to recognize Kiniski and then Dory Funk, Jr. as champion.

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