Bob Orton
A tough, traveling wrestler from the territorial era who founded a dynasty that would dominate American sports entertainment for generations.
1929–2006 (age 77)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: July 21·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bob Orton Sr., known as 'The Big O,' was a cornerstone of the gritty, regional wrestling circuit that predated national television. Hailing from Kansas, he carved out a reputation as a formidable and respected grappler across the Midwest and beyond, working for promotions like the AWA and Stampede Wrestling. His style was that of a classic, no-nonsense heavyweight, built on fundamental technique and sheer toughness. While his in-ring accomplishments were solid, his most enduring legacy is the family he spawned. He trained both his sons, Barry and Bob Jr., the latter becoming a famous villain in the WWF during the 1980s. That lineage culminated in his grandson, Randy Orton, a third-generation superstar who became one of the most recognizable faces in WWE history, ensuring the Orton name would resonate with fans long after the territory days faded.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bob was born in 1929, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bob Was Born
The biggest hits of 1929
#1 Movie
The Broadway Melody
Best Picture
The Broadway Melody
Bob's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1929Born
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1934Started school
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1942Became a teenager
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Could drive
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1947Could vote
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Turned 21
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1959Turned 30
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 40
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 50
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 60
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 70
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2006Died at 77
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Patriarch of the multi-generational Orton wrestling family, including his grandson, WWE superstar Randy Orton.
- Wrestled for over three decades across major regional territories like the AWA and NWA Central States.
- Trained his sons, Bob Orton Jr. and Barry Orton, who both had successful professional wrestling careers.
Did You Know?
He served in the United States Navy before becoming a professional wrestler.
His son, Bob Orton Jr., famously wore a cast on his arm as a weapon during his WWF run with Roddy Piper.
He was the older brother of wrestler 'Easy' Ed Orton.
“This business is about respect, and you earn it in the ring.”
