Title...
Proclamation honoring the Honorable John DeFazio, the Honorable Charles Martoni and Bill Cardille for being inducted into Pittsburgh's Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
Body...
WHEREAS, on March 29, 2014, "Jumpin" Johnny DeFazio, "Cannonball" Chuck Martoni and "Chilly" Bill Cardille were inducted into Pittsburgh's Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Hall of Fame Class of 2014; and
WHEREAS, one of Pittsburgh's original high-flyers, powerhouse "Jumpin' Johnny" is a four-time World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) World Junior Heavyweight Champion. He has the distinction of being only the second person to hold that title, when he bested Paul DeGalles. He would win that championship three more times and one tag team championship before retiring in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Martoni, who wrestled as "Cannonball" and "The Masked Marvel" entertained Pittsburgh audiences in "90 minutes of unorganized mayhem, featuring the greatest wrestlers in the world." Dr. Martoni wrestled Frank "Carnegie Cop" Holtz, Pedro Morales and many others before retiring from wrestling in 1971; and
WHEREAS, "Chilly" Bill Cardille was the first voice ever heard on WIIC-TV, Channel 11, and only the second person to announce "Studio Wrestling" starting in 1961. He quickly became a Saturday Night institution broadcasting studio wrestling until it went off the air in 1974. Bill would also entertain generations with "Chiller Theater" and help raise millions of dollars for Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Allegheny County Council does hereby congratulate the Honorable John P. DeFazio, the Honorable Charles J. Martoni and Bill Cardille for being inducted into the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame Class of 2014. We thank each of them for inspiring countless fans through their hard work, determination and Pittsburgh savvy.