Dusty Rhodes Biography

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. known as Dusty Rhodes was an American professional wrestler who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance and World Wrestling Federation, later WWE, from 1945 until his death in 2015. Rhodes portrayed a heroic persona representing the American everyman, embodying the ideals of determination and perseverance in professional wrestling. He held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times and won multiple titles including the United States Heavyweight Championship and several world and tag team championships. After graduating from Albert Sidney Johnston High School in Austin, he played baseball and football at Sul Ross State University before transferring to West Texas State. In 1968, he began his professional wrestling career in the Kansas City territory, teaming with Dick Murdoch as The Texas Outlaws. In 1974, he shifted to a heroic role after turning on his tag team partner Pak Song and manager Gary Hart during a match in Florida. On August 21, 1979, he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Harley Race in a championship match.