PRO WRESTLING: WWE Killer Bee B. Brian Blair to be honored during George Tragos/Lou Thesz Wrestling Hall of Fame Weekend

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum has announced its first honoree for the 2015 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Brian Blair, who had success in singles and tag team wrestling, has been selected as the 2015 recipient of the Lou Thesz Award. The Lou Thesz Award is given to an individual in wrestling who has taken the skills of the sport into the realm of public service. Blair is currently the president of the Cauliflower Alley Club, a non-profit fraternal organization, comprised of retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America. He also has more than 7,000 documented hours of community service with more than 20 different organizations.

“I am both honored and humbled to be recognized with the coveted Lou Thesz Award from the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo,” Blair said. “Lou Thesz is a legend and one of the toughest to ever step foot in a ring. July 10th cannot come soon enough for me.”

Blair, a very good amateur wrestler who got his professional start with Championship Wrestling from Florida, wrestled with several of the top pro wrestling companies in the United States, including the WWF (now WWE). He was best known as half of the Killer Bees tag team during the 1980s (along with 2013 Frank Gotch Award winner Jumpin Jim Brunzell). Blair has wrestled in more than 5,000 matches in 40 different countries with appearances in WrestleManias 2, 3, 4.

Following his professional wrestling career, Blair opened a Gold’s Gym in Tampa, with his wife, Toni. He sold the business to pursue politics in his native Florida, including four years of service as county commissioner (2004-08) in Hillsborough County.

The Hall of Fame is located inside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. The 2015 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame weekend will occur July 10-11.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will continue to release honorees into the 2015 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Class of 2015 includes three Distinguished Members (two living, one posthumous) along with recipients of the Lou Thesz Award, Jim Melby Award, Frank Gotch Award, and the George Tragos Award.

All-access passes to the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction weekend are available for $100. They can pre-ordered by contacting the Dan Gable Museum at dgmstaff@nwhof.org or by calling 319-233-0745.

This story was originally published October 19, 2014 at 2:19 AM.