Jack Brisco, one of the professional wrestling’s greatest champions, was born Freddy Joe Brisco on September 21, 1941 in Blackwell, Oklahoma, one of six children. Jack played football, wrestled and ran track in high school. He won the Oklahoma State wrestling championship as a heavyweight his sophomore through senior year. From there Jack went to Okalahoma State on a wrestling scholarship, and also played football for the college. He was twice Big Eight champion, twice All-American and National Collegiate champion in 1965.

Jack went straight from the amateur mat to the pro ring in 1965, when longtime Oklahoma promoter Leroy McGuirk broke him into the business. "I was trained by a great old-timer named Trech Phillips," recalls Jack. In the late 1960s, Jack relocated to Florida to work for Eddie Graham. The Sunshine State and the young Native American fell in love with each other, and he has never left. Through the late 1960s and early 1970s Brisco held every title there was to hold in the south, some on numerous occasions: the Southern Heavyweight title, Florida TV championship, Florida Tag Team championship, Florida Heavyweight championship and others.

The early 70s brought about one of wrestling's greatest feuds: the Briscos vs. the Funks. Both as singles and tags, the feud ran wild all over the wrestling world both in the U.S. and abroad. Nowhere, though, was there more heat for the Texas boys vs. the Oklahoma boys than in Florida and, of course, the Lone Star state, home of the Funks. "Both those Indians were fantastic to work with," recalls Terry Funk.

Jack said, "We had some fantastic matches with the Funks. I would have to say (Dory Funk) Jr. was my favorite guy to work with over the years. We did so many 60-minute broadways all over. I couldn't even guess how many. We always kept the crowds coming and we both always gave them our best."

1973 saw the NWA World Heavyweight championship belt being strapped around Jack's waist. It happened in Houston in a two-out-three falls match against then champion Harley Race. Not only did it elevate Jack’s status to that of the top wrestler in the business, it forced him to change the way he performed in the ring. "Brisco was the best babyface of his era. Winning the strap made him have to totally change,” said Harley Race. “Back then the champ went from territory to territory, defending against the top babyface. I don't really think he had ever been a heel before, but he made the change and was one of the best of the NWA champs."

Brisco lost his title to Shohei “Giant” Baba in Japan, but regained the belt during the same tour, making him a 2-time champion. After two years of grueling travel all over the world, Brisco came home to Florida and dropped the title to Terry Funk in Miami. Jack said, "Man…was I beat. By the time it was over, I just wanted to go home and relax. Two years without a break was enough." In 1976 the former World champion married the woman he has now been with for over thirty years, Jan.

The remainder of the 70s and first half of the 80s saw Jack wrestling primarily across Florida, Georgia, the Mid-Atlantic and St. Louis. Several more titles were added to his resume. Jack and Jerry had a great run as NWA World Tag Team champs and defended them on the very first Starcade in 1983.

With the big WWF takeover of 1984 came a brief run up north for the Brisco brothers. At a point where he was still at the top of his game, Jack decided he had enough. On a snowy day, he boarded a plane for home and essentially said goodbye to the wrestling business.

When asked what he has been doing since he quit wrestling in 1985, Jack's stock response has been, "being allergic to work. I have been fortunate between wrestling and the body shop I haven't had to do too much for the last several years."

When asked about his long-time rival receiving the Lou Thesz Award, Terry Funk (this year’s Iron Mike Mazurki Award winner) said, "Jack deserves to be honored. He was always great to work with. Never was selfish in a match. He always gave you a lot and was much more concerned with giving the fans a great performance than he was about looking good himself. He was a total professional."

"Receiving the Lou Thesz award is unbelievable to me,” said Brisco. “Growing up, Lou was one of my idols, and when I started wrestling I tried to carry myself in the ring like I saw Lou do it. He was always a hero, a role model for me. To think he actually chose me as a recipient for the award is mind blowing to me. I feel very humble and flattered."