Eddie Graham, according to his 1945 Social Security Application, was born "Edward Gossett" on
January 15, 1930 in Dayton, Tennessee.  His parents were Jess and Velma Louise Gossett.  He
lived at 113 East H Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was currently unemployed.






Time-Line:

1942                              Gossett began working at age 12; and would later drop out of high
school.
1942-’47                        Gossett worked out and wrestled at the Chattanooga YMCA.
1944                              Gossett met Cowboy Luttrall, who trained him.
1947                              Gossett made his professional debut at 17 years old.
1949                              Eddie Gossett met Lucille “Lucy” in Nashville.
December 24, 1950       Eddie Gossett married Lucille “Lucy.” She was around 16 years old.
Early 1951                     Gossett was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Camp
                              Carson, Colorado.
September 1951            Gossett was released when the Army learned he was blind in one eye.


In 1951, Eddie’s parents Jess and Velma Gossett moved from Chattanooga to Tampa.

In March 1958, Gossett, as "Rip Rogers," was working the Western Texas-Colorado circuit.

On Monday, May 26, 1958 at Fort Worth, Texas (Northside Coliseum), Rip Rogers lost a loser-
leaves-town match to Pepper Gomez.  Rogers left the territory and went to the Northeast, where
he'd debut as "Eddie Graham."

In June 1958, Eddie Gossett began using the name “Eddie Graham,” a tag team partner of Dr.
Jerry Graham.  Gossett was billed as Graham’s brother from Arizona in the Capitol Wrestling
Corporation territory.


On July 21, 1961, Clarance Luttrall opened Deep South Sports, Inc.
On December 14, 1961, Luttrall opened up Championship Wrestling from Florida, Inc.  He also
started the wrestling television program entitled “Championship Wrestling from” Florida with
Gordon Solie as the host.


On October 8, 1968, while preparing for a match, Graham was severely injured in the dressing
room of the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory when a 75-pound steel window crashed crashed down
onto his head.  He suffered torn retinas in both eyes and needed more than 300-stitches.  
Graham would later undergo surgery in Houston to repair his eye damage, but he would never
be the same.  He had already been blind in one eye since birth.  

In September 1969, Jess Gossett, Eddie’s father, passed away in Lutz, Florida.

On September 2, 1970, Luttrall announced his retirement, effective immediately, in the
Wednesday edition of the Tampa Tribune.  He sold Deep South Sports, Inc. to Eddie Graham.  
He had been hospitalized and sick for a number of weeks, and would be unable to continue with
his promotions.

The Florida office consisted of Eddie Chassie, Jery Prater, Reba Miller, and Chet Thorpe.
Eddie Graham Wrestling History