Buddy Colt passes away at 85 years old
Ron Read, better known as Buddy Colt, one of the top heels of the early 70s, passed away today at the age of 85.
Colt was one of the major players in the building of the Omni at the top wrestling arena in the Southeast and was considered so valuable that when they created Georgia Championship Wrestling, he, Bill Watts and Jack Brisco were all given stock in the company. He was an even bigger star in Florida, during the hottest period in history in the mid-70s as a headliner.
His career basically ended when he was flying his private plane and crashed in the Tampa Bay. He was in the plane with Dennis McCord, who returned to wrestle as Austin Idol, Gary Hart, and Bobby Shane, who passed away.
He was a tough guy, with a strong judo background and also a bodybuilder. He was the level of wrestler that could have been considered for a world title run.
Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.