Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1915-07-18
DR.. ROLLER QUITS
MAT TO SATISFY
GREAT AMBITION
From Boyhood, His Aim
Has Been to Become Ply
sician-Sports Helped.

New York, uly 17.-Dr. Benjamin
r. Roller, American champion
wrestler, is about to retire from pro-
fessional sports in order to devote
himself to his duties as a physician.
This Illinois farmers son has had a
remarkable caresL He paid for his
education by his own efforts, encour-
aged by his mother.
While ass listing his father about the
farm, the idea of becoming paysi-
clan was constantly in his mind. lie
went to the preparatory school of De
Paum university after his mother, a
cultivated woman, had helped him to
prepare for his entrance examination.
He pulled nails in a dry. goods
store to get money to buy a new suit
of clothes. They Paid him fifteen
cents an hour. He started gym
nasium class, and that began his
career in athletics, first as foot
ball player, then as a wrestler.
After his graduation from De Pauw
he went to the University of Penn
sylvania to take 4 course in meii-
cine. He was six footer, weighing
over 200 pounds, but at that a rum
in family of six. Being without
money he soon b. gan to play profess
sional football, In 1898 he organized
team that won many victories for
the Pittsburgh A. G. Two years
later he was with the Duquesne
Country and Athletic club A num-
Der OF his games were with team
known as the Athletics managed by
Connie Mack.
Roller cap aimed his team and won
the championship of the university
but never played ON tae va. sity be-
Cause oil the feur-year rule. Upon his
graduation he received high honors,
winning several prizes in medicine.
After leaving college he was assis-
| tant to Dr.. Barron Cooke, profess
sional in the medical school, helping
to write text book
He then decided to accept a place
as professor Of physiology in the
University Of Washington. In addi-
| ton he was supervisor of athletics in
| the university and an adviser to the
Seattle A. G. Aftcr two years he de-
cfded to open an office. He speculat-
ed in land and was piling up wealth
| when the panic of 1907 ended.
ust at this time the Vancouver A.
c. opened its new clubhouse. Roller
was invited to wresle with Jack
Carkeek That bout started him On
his wrestling career. H. won two
falls in seventeen minutes, and re-
ceived $1,000. AS DR.. Roller puts it,
the prospect of making nearly 500
minute was enticing. His next bout
| was With Frank Gotch. 1t was a
| handicap match, Gotch agreeing to
throw him twice in an hour Dr.
| Roller did not impress Gotch as
| being formidable, and the champion
did not train for the match. Not
only did Gotch fail to throw Roller,
but he admitted that he was nearly
thrown himself Roller received $4.-
900 for this exhibition.
After this bout he decided 10 take
up wrestling for five years so that
he could see the world. But he never
gave up his ambition for medical
career. He studied under noted zen
Of Europe and this country, paying
his expenses by wrestling.
During the last fifteen years DR..
Roller has defeated most of tic
noted wrestlers in this country:
Farmer Burns. Fred Beel Jess
Westergard. Henry Oderman, Gus
Sehcenlein (Americus), Charles
Kid Cutler, Ed Lewis, and Joe
Stecher, Gotch's pupil.