The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-09-07

snow storm.
But that was just anoth-
err chapter in the industrious
life of Harry l.. (Poppa Dec)
Johnson a who has
drunk to the dregs from the
~ - 'Poppa Dec johnson
cup of experience This experience has been obtained in
every large city in the United States and Canada, and
many in Mexico and Cuba. He knows his way around.
But The Poppa has put those things behind. He is
national a reputaton Although he has been managing
fighters for many years. it his balyhoo and disposal
of fight tickets in large slabs that brought him to the at
This expertness in the disposal of tickets in large
numbers has made his fighters acceptable to promoters
for any card because Poppa Dee will take load OF tickets
and sell them his friends For the Roscoe TolesJimmy
Adamck fight held here in 1893 Poppa Dee sold 81 900
worth cardboards for the promoters thus assuring
II was this that attracted the attention of ia
cobs, and when the Joe LousBob Pastor champion
shin fight was slated for Detroit, Promoter Jacobs
sent fcp Johnson and gave him a job PopPa Dee
opened office at ST. Antoine and Beacon and when
the contestants stepped into the ring ne had dis
posed of $4,000 worth of tickets
While there many who complained that they
suffered earaches from his loud and bostrous yeng as
he went and down the avenues urging people TO pur
chase the cadboards these complaints bounced OIL john
sons hide like water off ducks back He had job TO
do and not worried about stepping on few toes IN
the performance of that job.
AS added attraction Poppa Dee decked himself out
in bellhops uniform and hired makesh band to fur
nsh the before he began his harangues on the cor
-.
After matching Johnny Winters the Jotng anitor from
Pontiac (Mich.) with Buddy Walker, Columbus favorte
son. Poppa Dee went into the town and showed the tight
fans how to stir up interest So well was his work done
that capacity crowd hand when Walker and
Winters squared off for the bout He duplicated the feat
in second encounter between the two gadators Few
weeks later and the fans are now clamorng Tor announcer
match.
Poppa Dee has also ventured into the grunt
and groan field. He manager of wrestler for
whiIe-Rough Rufus Jones. And all Of Mr. Jones
grunt exhibitions were we'll attended. The Poppa
had the boys and gals from ST. Antoine street turn
ing out in large numbers. !,
Johnson's coorful action around the ring the
cause of Jones winning bout against Bull Curry Rough
Rufus didn't want Poppa Dee his this partc-
uar night but Poppa didn't take no for an answer and
returned the to help his protege win the maj
Poppa had admonshed Jones to wrestle clean, but
Rough Rufus contemplate cusS in the ring was mas
posed toward anything clean and chased foppa out o.
the ring before the rumpus started Poppa returned LOT
the final fall and when Curry had Rufus on the verge OF
defeat jumped inside the ropes and slapped Bull VICIOUS
Angered at this assault from another source, Bull
turned Poppa and chased him up the aisle to take
punch his tormentor Before he could return 10 tne
ring the referee had counted the fatal ten
Back in 1928 Poppa Dee entered field that wa:
foreign to anything he had done beiSrese ere.
forna to New York. Nope he didn't win the race
but he from California to Oklahoma There his
tootses rebelled and refused to bulge another men.
So he turned his attention helping Sammy Robinson
and Phillip Granville, other eolored competitors
In the long grind.
He has managed large number of fighters incud-
ing Young Joe Cans Billy Evans. Chick Suggs, Johnny
Winters, and others He also knows his way around tne
track having broken several records in his gnt be-
fore Kentucky mob years in the distant past.
An extravagant spender, Poppa Dee likes to recall
the night in 1924 when he walked into the old Dream
land cabaret in Chicago and bought drink for the mouse
The bill above $500 but he satisfied with the IN
PRODUCTION accorded him from the center OF the moor as
the spotlight hurled bright shaft of light his mmacu
late tails Then there the time in ST. Louis Wnen ne
tossed $50 in change to members of chorus in nery
When not the road with fighter or at ing
sport event. Poppa Dee be found at ms sportsman
Barber shop Hastings To give the place the proper at
mosphere he has covered the walls with pictures OF prom
dof outstanding sport