The Omaha World Herald, on September 21, 1917, stated that "Vladek" Zbyszko was part of
the Maine contingent of the national army in Myer, Massachusetts, assigned to the 303d Heavy
Artillery unit.  He had gone unnoticed because he was using his real last name, Cyganiewiez.



Wladek Zbyszko married 17 year old Winifred Stark on June 30, 1928 in New Jersey.  Stark
was known as "Vila Milli," and was a showgirl in New York City.





The August 29, 1930 edition of the Los Angeles Times reported that Zbyszko's wife Winifred
wanted a divorce, but atht he was in Old Orchard, Maine "with a chorus girl." The article stated
that Zbyszko "imposed secrecy upon her" after their 1928 marriage, and that Zbyszko broke "a
date with an Italian girlfriend to marry her," revealed to her on Winifred's wedding day.



Pete Lightnee wrote an article on Zbyszko in the Sunday, September 19, 1943 edition of the
Wichita Eagle.  He mentioned that eight months earlier, Zbyszko was severely injured in a car
accident in Florence, Kansas.  Zbyszko was quoted as saying, "Every rib I had was caved in,
my lungs were like Swiss cheese." He's since regained his health and was on the comeback
trail.  He admitted to being 50 and said his brother Stanislaus was 63.  No one was quite sure
of either of their ages.  Wladek, before the accident, weighed around 280 pounds, and now
was about 225.  A photo of the new and improved Zbyszko was included in the paper.

He explained:  "Stanislaus and I have a farm near Savannah, and he's getting me back in
shape to be a champion.  I've taken off 30 or 40 pounds since the wreck.  I'm in the best shape
in years.  I'm ready for any of them now.  I'm practically a new man."

"The war may make wrestling a universal sport for the soldiers are using it in their training.  
The Germans were good wrestlers and they're tough fighters.  The French lost because they
neglected training, the Germans and the Japs didn't.  I've wrestled the Japs jiu-jitsu, but the
American catch-as-catch-can is better.  We're too aggressive for them.  But don't expect
Germany to be easy.  It was different in 1918.  Then, Germany had been a rich nation.  The
people under the kaiser were used to the best.  But under Hitler they were taught to be lean
and hungry.  Hitler told them it would take 40 years.  They are used to privations and they
won't give up till you beat them."






On November 30, 1964, St. Joseph promoter Gust Karras sent a letter to Jack Pfefer at the
Hotel Bostonian in Boston, telling him that Wladek Zbyszko had recently fallen and broken his
hip.  He was going to be in the hospital for two months, and reportedly, one leg was shorter
than the other.  The Zbyszko's were said to have lost their farm, but the new owner allowed
Stanislaus to stay.









Research by Tim Hornbaker
Wladek Zbyszko Wrestling History
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