Severely injured in a wagon accident as a young school boy, it seemed Jack Francis
VanBebber was destined to remain sickly and reclusive throughout his life. Inspired by a
high school coach and the accomplishments of amateur athletes in the Olympic games, he
overcame his handicap to excel as a wrestler.
VanBebber subsequently vanquished the nation’s finest wrestlers seven times, but
when he set out to conquer the world, he had to hitch-hike. At the 1932 Olympic Games in
Los Angeles, he became champion of the world in his weight class. | 
