06.11.2007, 09:37
United Press International
2 July 1979
Wrestling Star Chris Taylor dies
story city, iowa -- chris taylor, the two-time ncaa heavyweight wrestling champion and olympic bronze medalist from dowagiac, mich., who later became a professional wrestler, died at his home saturday night, he was 29.
the 395 pound wrestler had suffered from a variety of illnesses and retired from the professional ranks in 1977 for health reasons. he died of natural causes, the the exact cause of death was not immediately determined, said story county medical examiner donald w. powers.
a story city rescue unit was called to the taylor home butmedics were unable to revive him, powers said.
services were pending at stevens funeral home in ames. burial will be in dowagiac.
taylor had wrestled at iowa state university in ames for two years after transferring from muskegon mich. junior college.
while at isu, taylor wrestled at 400 pounds, compiling an 87-0 record -- 80 of the matches won by falls -- and winning the ncaa heavyweight wrestling title in 1972 and 1973.
in 1972, taylor won a bronze medal in the heavyweight freestyle competition at the olympics in muncih.
after competing at iowa state, taylor signed a five year professional wretsling contract for an estimated $100,000 a year.
dr. harold nichols, a veteran iowa state wrestling coach, said taylor recently underwent tests in iowa city. taylor had been hospitalized at the university of iowa hospitals seven weeks in the spring of 1978 while doctors treid to diagnose a liver ailment.
taylor is survived by his wife, lynn, and three year old daughter jennifer.
2 July 1979
Wrestling Star Chris Taylor dies
story city, iowa -- chris taylor, the two-time ncaa heavyweight wrestling champion and olympic bronze medalist from dowagiac, mich., who later became a professional wrestler, died at his home saturday night, he was 29.
the 395 pound wrestler had suffered from a variety of illnesses and retired from the professional ranks in 1977 for health reasons. he died of natural causes, the the exact cause of death was not immediately determined, said story county medical examiner donald w. powers.
a story city rescue unit was called to the taylor home butmedics were unable to revive him, powers said.
services were pending at stevens funeral home in ames. burial will be in dowagiac.
taylor had wrestled at iowa state university in ames for two years after transferring from muskegon mich. junior college.
while at isu, taylor wrestled at 400 pounds, compiling an 87-0 record -- 80 of the matches won by falls -- and winning the ncaa heavyweight wrestling title in 1972 and 1973.
in 1972, taylor won a bronze medal in the heavyweight freestyle competition at the olympics in muncih.
after competing at iowa state, taylor signed a five year professional wretsling contract for an estimated $100,000 a year.
dr. harold nichols, a veteran iowa state wrestling coach, said taylor recently underwent tests in iowa city. taylor had been hospitalized at the university of iowa hospitals seven weeks in the spring of 1978 while doctors treid to diagnose a liver ailment.
taylor is survived by his wife, lynn, and three year old daughter jennifer.