[SIZE=4]FRITZ VON ERICH[/SIZE]
Real Name: Jack Barton Adkisson
Birth Date: August 16, 1929
Jack Barton Adkisson was born in his family home in Jewett, Texas. He was over 15 lbs at birth and was always bigger than the rest of the kids his age. He later moved to Dallas to attend Crozier Technical High School. Crozier Tech was more of a trade school, but Jack found athletics to be his true calling. He was a great discus thrower and also excelled at football. He received a scholarship to Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he set discus records and was an offensive lineman for the football team. He later lost his scholarship when he decided to marry his high school sweetheart, Doris Smith. After college, Jack played a season of professional football for the Dallas Texans. He had to give up the sport due to injuries. He decided to try wrestling and soon found success when he took on the persona of Fritz Von Erich, a Nazi sympathizer. Jack would be better known as Fritz Von Erich for the rest of his life and even his sons would adopt the last name when they later joined him in the ring. Fritz's wrestling career took his family all over the country. Tragedy first struck the Von Erichs when Fritz, Doris, and their oldest son, Jack Jr., lived in Niagara Falls, NY. Jack Jr. (Jackie) was six years old and decided to walk to a friend's house a few doors down. Another neighbor had been doing work on his home and left some electrical wiring exposed. Jackie brushed against the wires and was immediately knocked unconscious. Jackie fell face first into a puddle of melting snow and drowned. Fritz felt a deep loss and became very angry. He took his anger out on his opponents in the ring. Even the crowd felt his anger when they were brave enough to boo his Nazi character. After his fourth son, Kerry, was born, Fritz became a kinder man and decided to settle his family in one place. The family moved back to Dallas, where Fritz established World Class Championship Wrestling. The promotion achieved great success when the Von Erich boys joined Fritz in the ring. He retired from wrestling in the early 80s, but maintained his ownership of WCCW. After the death of five of his six sons, Fritz decided to leave the wrestling business altogether and retired to his Denton County, TX ranch. He lived a quiet life out of the spotlight, maintaining his many real estate investments. In 1997 cancer was discovered in Fritz's body. Within a month the cancer had spread to his brain and he was given six weeks to live. He died peacefully, on his ranch, on September 10, 1997.
[SIZE=+1]KEVIN VON ERICH[/SIZE]
Real Name: Kevin Ross Adkisson
Birth Date: May 15, 1957
Kevin, like his brothers, excelled in many sports in college and high school. He received a football scholarship to North Texas State University(now University of North Texas)and played fullback until his junior season when he had to quit due to a knee injury. He soon realized that his plan of playing in the NFL would never be realized and he decided to join his father in the ring. Kevin wrestled for nearly 20 years. He retired in 1993 to spend more time with his wife and four children. Kevin and his family recently moved from the family ranch in Denton County, Texas, very close to the house where he and his brothers were raised. Kevin's family now resides on the north shore of the island of Kauai in Hawaii, where they run the family investment business. In his spare time he enjoys SCUBA diving, spearfishing and just spending time at the beach with his family. Kevin has been married for over 25 years. He has two daughters, Kristen and Jill, who are 26 and 22 years old. His two sons, Ross and Marshall, are 18 and 14. Kevin became a grandfather for the first time to Adeline Claire on September 22, 2004.
[SIZE=+1]DAVID VON ERICH[/SIZE]
Real Name: David Allen Adkisson
Birth Date: July 22, 1958
David Allen Adkisson was born July 22, 1958. David, as well as his brothers, had many fights growing up because of his fathers occupation. Having a wrestler as a father made the boys a t arget for bullies that wanted to say they beat up a wrestler's kid. This brought Kevin, David and Kerry closer together than most brothers and also helped them to develop the fighting skills that they would use in the ring later. David was always very tall for his age which did have its advantages. David became a great basketball player for Lake Dallas High School. He followed in his older brothers footsteps and received an athletic scholarship to North Texas State University for football and basketball. Following Davids college career he joined Kevin in the ring wrestling with his father in WCCW. Kerry soon joined them as well and they teamed up for many six man tag team matches. The most notable was against their rival the Fabulous Freebirds - a tag team consisting of Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts. David was very successful wrestling in one-on-one matches as well. He had great interview skills and the fans quickly fell in love with the Yellow Rose of Texas. Davids career took him all over the United States and Japan. In February of 1984, David traveled to Japan for a three week tour. Before leaving, he complained to Kevin that his stomach had been hurting and that hed been very tired lately. Kevin urged David not to go, but the fact that hed already committed coupled with his love for authentic sushi persuaded him to make the trip. After his match, David returned to his room where he later passed away in his sleep. The cause of death was severe gastroenteritis, which can be serious when left uncured. Davids body was flown back to Texas where he was buried alongside his brother Jackie and his uncle David, his namesake. The funeral procession at David's funeral stretched five miles across Dallas. David will always be remembered by his family for his sense of humor and redhead's temper. He was a wonderful brother, son, and uncle.