Tony Gonzales, 72; 1950s, ‘60s Wrestler

Tony Gonzales, 72, former wrestler known as “the Mysterious Medic,” died March 4 of heart failure at his home in Alabama Port near Mobile, Ala.

Gonzales, who was making his living pumping gas, began his wrestling career in Texas in 1954, when he was hired by Jack Donovan and Buddy Colt.

He made his ring debut as a good-guy wrestler called “Yaqui Joe.”

But in 1961 he moved to Mobile and became the bad guy billed as “the Mysterious Medic” in white tights and a white doctor’s coat. He was one of the first to wear a mask in the ring.

The 5-foot-10, 245-pound wrestler inspired so much hatred that in 1962 a preacher turned wrestling fanatic jumped in the ring and stabbed him 17 times.

Gonzales was a world heavyweight champion and member of the Unified Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame.