Thomas Edwin Drake[2] (December 5, 1930 – February 2, 2017) was an American attorney, professional wrestler, politician, and member of the athletic staff of legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He was a Democratic member of the Alabama House of Representatives, serving as Speaker from 1983 to 1987. He was a resident of Vinemont, Alabama; his wife of over 55 years, Christine Mckoy Drake – also an attorney, stateswoman and former member of the Alabama Board of Education – predeceased him on September 26, 2011, following a long battle with brain cancer.
Drake was born in Falkville, Alabama. Raised in the Great Depression after his father died when Drake was only six years old, he attended public schools in Cullman County. Obtaining an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after high school, he both wrestled and played football for the Chattanooga "Mocs". He was subsequently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but his career with them ended when he was drafted by the United States Army. After an honorable discharge, he went on to become the first head wrestling coach at the University of Alabama and was a member of the athletic staff, which included Head Coach "Bear" Bryant and future coach Gene Stallings.
Paul "Bear" Bryant and his athletic staff at the University of Alabama. Head wrestling coach Tom Drake is pictured back row, second from right.
Pivotal in his success was the acclaim and notoriety he achieved as a wrestler. Along the way, Drake wrestled or partnered with many of the sport's greatest legends, including Gorgeous George, Lou Thesz, Bearcat Brown, Tojo Yamamoto and Len Rossi. Sometimes wrestling as the "Cullman Comet", Drake wrestled professionally until 1978, eventually being inducted into the International Wrestlers Hall of Fame in 2001. His signature wrestling move was the "dropkick".
In 1960, Drake entered law school at the University of Alabama. He continued to wrestle in order to support Chris and daughter Mary. While still a student, he successfully campaigned for a seat in the Alabama Legislature, defeating 11 opponents without a run-off. In that position, he represented Cullman County for 32 years. While a member of the House of Representatives, he was elected to consecutive terms as the Speaker of the House under then-Governor George Wallace.[3]
Coming from a long line of lawyers on his mother's side of the family, Drake practiced personal injury law and general civil law for over 48 years, handling many high-profile cases in the North Alabama area. His grandfather, Jasper Newton "Butler" Powell, an attorney as well, was sought out for assistance in jury selection by both the prosecution and defense in the infamous Scottsboro Boys trial. Two of Drake's children are lawyers and continue to practice law in North and Central Alabama.
Invited to be a contestant on the popular 1970s game show What's My Line?, the celebrity panel was challenged to guess Drake's "other" occupation, after being informed he was both an attorney, farmer and legislator. Eventually, they correctly guessed it was professional wrestling.
^"Ventura given Museum's top honour". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. August 4, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
"Tom Drake – The Cullman Comet", by Charles F. Carr; The Alabama Lawyer, May 2006 edition
External links
Tom Drake's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
January 20, 2023
drake, wrestler, thomas, edwin, drake, december, 1930, february, 2017, american, attorney, professional, wrestler, politician, member, athletic, staff, legendary, football, coach, paul, bear, bryant, democratic, member, alabama, house, representatives, serving. Thomas Edwin Drake 2 December 5 1930 February 2 2017 was an American attorney professional wrestler politician and member of the athletic staff of legendary football coach Paul Bear Bryant He was a Democratic member of the Alabama House of Representatives serving as Speaker from 1983 to 1987 He was a resident of Vinemont Alabama his wife of over 55 years Christine Mckoy Drake also an attorney stateswoman and former member of the Alabama Board of Education predeceased him on September 26 2011 following a long battle with brain cancer Tom DrakeBornThomas Edwin Drake United States 1930 12 05 December 5 1930Falkville AlabamaDiedFebruary 2 2017 2017 02 02 aged 86 Cullman Alabama United StatesAlma materUniversity of AlabamaSpouse s Christine Mckoy Drake Professional wrestling careerRing name s Cullman Comet 1 Tom Drake 1 Debut1954 1 Retired1978 1 Contents 1 Career 2 Championships and accomplishments 3 References 4 External linksCareer EditDrake was born in Falkville Alabama Raised in the Great Depression after his father died when Drake was only six years old he attended public schools in Cullman County Obtaining an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after high school he both wrestled and played football for the Chattanooga Mocs He was subsequently drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers but his career with them ended when he was drafted by the United States Army After an honorable discharge he went on to become the first head wrestling coach at the University of Alabama and was a member of the athletic staff which included Head Coach Bear Bryant and future coach Gene Stallings Paul Bear Bryant and his athletic staff at the University of Alabama Head wrestling coach Tom Drake is pictured back row second from right Pivotal in his success was the acclaim and notoriety he achieved as a wrestler Along the way Drake wrestled or partnered with many of the sport s greatest legends including Gorgeous George Lou Thesz Bearcat Brown Tojo Yamamoto and Len Rossi Sometimes wrestling as the Cullman Comet Drake wrestled professionally until 1978 eventually being inducted into the International Wrestlers Hall of Fame in 2001 His signature wrestling move was the dropkick In 1960 Drake entered law school at the University of Alabama He continued to wrestle in order to support Chris and daughter Mary While still a student he successfully campaigned for a seat in the Alabama Legislature defeating 11 opponents without a run off In that position he represented Cullman County for 32 years While a member of the House of Representatives he was elected to consecutive terms as the Speaker of the House under then Governor George Wallace 3 Coming from a long line of lawyers on his mother s side of the family Drake practiced personal injury law and general civil law for over 48 years handling many high profile cases in the North Alabama area His grandfather Jasper Newton Butler Powell an attorney as well was sought out for assistance in jury selection by both the prosecution and defense in the infamous Scottsboro Boys trial Two of Drake s children are lawyers and continue to practice law in North and Central Alabama Invited to be a contestant on the popular 1970s game show What s My Line the celebrity panel was challenged to guess Drake s other occupation after being informed he was both an attorney farmer and legislator Eventually they correctly guessed it was professional wrestling In 2008 he was the recipient of the Senator Hugh Farley Award at the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Drake resided in Vinemont Alabama Drake died on February 2 2017 4 He was 86 Championships and accomplishments EditCauliflower Alley Club Iron Mike Mazurki Award 1997 5 George Tragos Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2001 6 Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Senator Hugh Farley Award 2008 Significant Sig Award 2016 References Edit a b c d Kreikenbohm Philip Tom Drake Cagematch net Retrieved December 6 2021 Thomas Drake Obituary Moss Service Funeral Home Cullman AL Retrieved 3 February 2017 Roster of the Members of the Alabama House of Representatives Former House Speaker Tom Drake dies The Cullman Times February 2 2017 Honorees Cauliflower Alley Club Retrieved September 27 2020 Ventura given Museum s top honour Slam Wrestling Canadian Online Explorer August 4 2003 Retrieved November 6 2018 Tom Drake The Cullman Comet by Charles F Carr The Alabama Lawyer May 2006 editionExternal links EditTom Drake s profile at Cagematch net Wrestlingdata com Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tom Drake wrestler amp oldid 1127889634, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
