Don Owen Don Owen ( 1912 – 2002 ) was an American promoter . For several decades , he owned and operated the highly successful Pacific Northwest Wrestling ( PNW ) under his parent company , Don Owen Sports , which was based out of Portland , Oregon . Career history . Born in Eugene , Oregon to boxing / wrestling promoter Herb Owen , Don and his brother Elton began working in the family business in the mid 1920s , selling popcorn and drinks to the audience . Early on , Don and Elton even stepped into the ring on occasion to box or wrestle . In time , Don moved more and more into the promoting side , eventually taking over completely after his father died in 1951 . His career as a promoter spanned over 60 years throughout the heyday of territorial pro wrestling . Owen was an early member of the National Wrestling Alliance . Under management of Don Owen Sports , Pacific Northwest Wrestling became one of the leaders of the National Wrestling Alliance , the chief reason being Don Owen ' s reputation as the best payoff promoter in the wrestling business . Owen was known for dealing fairly with all his wrestlers , paying them exactly what he promised and never trying to stiff them , a mentality not shared with the vast majority of his fellow promoters . Because of this , every major star in the 1960s and ' 70s wished to wrestle in the Northwest . Among those who wrestled and / or got their start under Don Owen ' s management are Stan Stasiak , Dizzy Hogan , Curt Hennig , Mad Dog Vachon , Nick Bockwinkel , Jesse Ventura , Roddy Piper , Billy Jack Haynes , Omar Atlas , Shag Thomas , Dutch Savage , Lonnie " Moondog " Mayne , Jimmy Snuka , and George Wagner ( in the years before he attained international fame as Gorgeous George ) . Portland Wrestling . In 1952 , Don Owen negotiated a deal with pioneering Portland TV station KPTV to become the very first wrestling show seen on TV in the city . " Portland Wrestling " ( later known as " Big Time Wrestling " ) continued as a weekly program until the show ended production in December 1991 , possibly setting a record as the longest lasting wrestling show in the history of American television . In 1968 , Owen bought and renovated a bowling alley which eventually became the Portland Sports Arena and the new home of PNW . The company held strong throughout the 1970s despite competition from " outlaw promotions , " and in 1976 , Dutch Savage bought into Don Owen Sports and began promoting PNW cards in the state of Washington . By the 1980s , professional wrestling had seen a revival on behalf of Vince McMahon ' s World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . However , McMahon had accomplished this by successfully driving the old wrestling " territories " like PNW out of existence . That same decade , the formation of World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) , WWF ' s future chief competitor , would also contribute to the disintegration of territorial wrestling . Finally , in July 1992 , facing increasing health problems from age , overwhelming competition from WWF and WCW , and unrelenting problems from an overzealous Oregon State Athletic Commission , Don Owen was forced to shut down PNW ' s operations . He sold the entire company , minus the Sports Arena , to promoter Sandy Barr . The Portland Sports Arena was sold to a local church . Owen then lived out a quiet retirement until his death in 2002 . Legacy . Don Owen is regarded as one of the most honest and beloved wrestling promoters of the 20th century . His professionalism was outstanding among territorial wrestling promoters and helped give PNW an intimate , " mom and pop " quality . Owen remained one of the most recognizable figures of Oregon years after his retirement and was fondly remembered by wrestling stars he helped push in their early careers . One particular star , Roddy Piper , even returned to Oregon on February 18 , 1995 , presenting Owen with a lifetime achievement plaque . Personal life . Owen was married with two sons , Barry and Mark . Mark is married with two children . Barry worked for his father ' s wrestling promotion from a young age and took over uncle Elton ' s duties after his retirement in 1982 .