Bulldog Brower
A barrel-chested brawler whose fearsome 'Bulldog' persona and tag-team success made him a cornerstone of Southern wrestling in the 1960s and 70s.
1933–1997 (age 64)·American professional wrestler·Birthday: September 17·The Silent Generation
Biography
Dick Brower built his wrestling identity not on technical grace, but on sheer, unrelenting aggression. Adopting the 'Bulldog' moniker, he presented himself as a tough, no-nonsense fighter from the American heartland. He found his greatest success in the territorial era, particularly in the Southeastern promotions like Georgia and the Gulf Coast. Brower excelled in the tag-team format, forming memorable and often championship-winning partnerships with veterans like Lester Welch and the mysterious Mr. Kleen. His matches were physical affairs, full of power moves and brawling that resonated with audiences seeking visceral excitement. While never a national headline superstar, Brower's consistent, rugged performances made him a reliable and respected figure in the ring for over two decades, a true journeyman of the squared circle.
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.
Bulldog was born in 1933, 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 Bulldog Was Born
The biggest hits of 1933
#1 Movie
King Kong
Best Picture
Cavalcade
Bulldog's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1933Born
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1938Started school
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1946Became a teenager
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1949Could drive
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1951Could vote
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1954Turned 21
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1963Turned 30
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 40
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 50
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 60
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1997Died at 64
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Held multiple NWA regional tag team championships across the Southeastern United States with various partners.
- Formed a highly successful and popular tag team with Lester Welch, known as The Kentuckians in some territories.
- Was a main event performer for promoter Nick Gulas in the NWA Mid-America territory throughout the 1960s.
Did You Know?
His son, Bob Brower, followed him into professional wrestling, competing in the 1980s and 1990s.
Before wrestling, he served in the United States Marine Corps.
He was a talented amateur wrestler in high school and college, which formed the foundation for his professional style.
“I don't wrestle for the applause; I'm here to fight.”
