Tiger Conway

Plasse Dennis Bradford Conway (August 4, 1932–November 13, 2006) was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Tiger Conway. He is often referred to as Tiger Conway Sr. because his son later used the same name and became Tiger Conway Jr. Due to racial segregation in wrestling, he was forced to compete against only other African Americans for much of his career.
==Career==
Conway was born on August 4, 1932, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He grew up living on a plantation with his parents and moved to Houston, Texas in 1947, where he worked in a hotel. At the hotel, he met wrestler Danny McShain, who helped him get involved in wrestling.
In the 1950s, when Conway made his debut, professional wrestling was segregated and people competed against others of their own race. Conway was forced to wrestle on the "chitterling circuit", named after the innards of pigs that slave owners refused to eat and gave to their slaves instead. Conway won his only title, the Texas Negro Championship, in his first professional match.
By the 1960s, Conway was permitted to compete against Caucasians. In a match against Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon, Vachon broke Conway's kneecap. Later in his career, Conway formed a tag team with his son, who competed as Tiger Conway, Jr.
==Personal life==
Conway was a member of the Cauliflower Alley Club, an organization for retired wrestlers and boxers. After his retirement from wrestling, he operated a fence-building business and was a member of the Christian Alliance for Humanitarian Aid, Inc. board of directors.
Conway married Inita Conway, and they remained married until his death 56 years later. In November 2006, Conway suffered a stroke and brain aneurysm. He died on November 13, 2006 in Houston.
==Championships and accomplishments==
*NWA Southwest Sports
**NWA Texas Negro Championship (1 time)
==External links==
* Profile
* Tiger Conway Sr. biography at Online World of Wrestling
Category:American wrestlers
Category:1932 births
Category:1955 debuts
Category:2006 deaths
Category:National Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:Wrestlers who have died