10 Things You Didn't Know About 'Mean' Gene Okerlund
"Longfellow couldn't have said it better".
Even in death, Gene Okerlund remains the definitive stick man in pro wrestling history.
There's really no debate on this subject. Everyone who has followed since, from Sean Mooney and Todd Pettengill to Tom Phillips and Renee Young, has carried a little bit of Gene's remarkable professionalism and rapport with talent in their own performances. It was for the best, because nobody could top Okerlund.
Sad news filtered out on Wednesday afternoon that 'Mean' Gene had passed away peacefully in his Sarasota, Florida home. He was 76 years young, and still making appearances for WWE as recently as Raw's 25th anniversary bash last January. Then, all too soon (as it often is with such things), he was gone.
Tributes have poured in from all corners, and rightly so. Okerlund touched a lot of people with his trademark voice and subtle gusto. This article is a tribute in itself. It aims to give a sneak peek into the man's life and career to those who might not be lucky enough to recall it from childhood, and it should stir dewy-eyed fondness in those who do.
Rest in peace, sir, and thanks for the memories...