Cream of the Crop #14: The Referees — Before They Wore the Stripes

Cream of the Crop #14: The Referees — Before They Wore the Stripes THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO ENFORCE THE RULES… BUT SOMETIMES THEY STOLE THE SHOW! A wrestling referee isn't supposed to be the star. He doesn't sell the tickets, win the championships, or headline the card. But in Portland Wrestling, the man wearing the striped shirt might have spent years doing all three! For the 14th and final episode of The Cream of the Crop, host Frank Culbertson turns the spotlight on four remarkable men who went from wrestling inside the ring to trying to maintain order in it. Shag Thomas. Dandy Sandy Barr. Wild Bill Savage. Luke Brown. Four accomplished wrestlers. Four fascinating careers. And two men who became as recognizable to Portland fans as the wrestlers they officiated! SHAG THOMAS — THE REFEREE WHO FOUGHT BACK! Before becoming one of Portland's most beloved referees, Shag Thomas was a legitimate wrestling star. A World War II veteran and former Ohio State football player who signed with the Green Bay Packers, Shag entered professional wrestling in 1954. His Northwest accomplishments included: 2 Northwest Heavyweight Championships 16 Northwest Tag Team Championships Four tag title reigns alongside Luther Lindsay Memorable rivalries with Tony Borne and other territory legends But retirement didn't mean Shag was finished fighting! When an arrogant villain made the mistake of tearing off Shag's referee shirt, the former champion had a response fans never forgot. Up on his tiptoes… and HEADBUTT! Sometimes Shag even put the wrestling tights back on to settle the score! DANDY SANDY BARR — MUCH MORE THAN A REFEREE! Few individuals were more closely connected to Portland Wrestling than Sandy Barr. Beginning his career in 1956, Sandy became a fixture in the Northwest as a wrestler, referee, trainer, and eventually promoter. From his colorful striped shirts to his unforgettable presence in the ring, Sandy helped define Portland Wrestling for generations of fans. But his contributions extended far beyond officiating. Wrestled at the Portland Sports Arena across multiple decades Promoted memorable Thanksgiving night wrestling cards in Salem Trained wrestlers including Art Barr, Jesse Barr, Princess Victoria, and Velvet McIntyre Helped carry Northwest professional wrestling forward after Don Owen retired Sandy Barr wasn't simply part of Portland Wrestling. He helped keep it alive! WILD BILL SAVAGE — A CHAMPION BEFORE THE STRIPES! Before becoming Portland's regular referee, Wild Bill Savage was one of the territory's most accomplished wrestlers. A six-time Northwest Heavyweight Champion and six-time Northwest Tag Team Champion, Savage also challenged for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. And just like Shag Thomas, retirement didn't always stick! Discover how the Royal Kangaroos helped bring Wild Bill back into the ring. LUKE BROWN — THE QUIET PROFESSIONAL! Before becoming a Northwest referee, Luke Brown traveled the wrestling world as one-half of The Kentuckians, alongside Grizzly Smith. He also teamed with longtime friend Dutch Savage and wrestled in Portland under the mask as The Masked Mauler. Later, Luke returned to the territory as a ring truck driver and referee. Unlike some of his fellow officials, Luke preferred to stay out of the spotlight and simply do his job. THE FINAL BELL FOR THE CREAM OF THE CROP After 14 episodes celebrating Portland Wrestling's main eventers, money draws, and territory legends, The Cream of the Crop comes to a close. But this episode also celebrates a much larger journey. From One-Match Wonders and Portland Wrestling Obscurities to Northwest Favorites, Mid-Card Chronicles, The Attraction Archive, and The Cream of the Crop, we've explored the remarkable people who made Portland Wrestling unforgettable. Hundreds of wrestlers. Thousands of matches. Decades of Saturday nights. And stories that deserve to be remembered. To everyone who has listened, followed, and shared these episodes: THANK YOU! And don't go anywhere! A BRAND-NEW MINI PODCAST SERIES IS COMING SOON! We're keeping the details under wraps for now, but another fascinating chapter of wrestling history is on the way. Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube so you don't miss the announcement! The Cream of the Crop is based on Mike Rodgers' The Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers, available on Amazon, with additional historical material from his other wrestling history books. THE LEGENDS. THE MONEY DRAWS. THE MAIN EVENTERS. THE CREAM OF THE CROP!