Editor’s note: Portions of this article are reprinted with permission from the Ocala Gazette and the article’s author, Susan Smiley-Height.
Dory Funk, Jr., a legendary figure in the Amarillo ring and in boxing rings around the world, celebrated his 85th birthday on Tuesday, February 3, at his home in Ocala, Florida.
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The Ocala Gazette published an article in its most recent issue ahead of his birthday milestone, chronicling the wrestling champ’s career and family roots in the ring.
Celebrating with him is his devoted partner Marty, who will celebrate his 40th wedding anniversary on February 21st.
Amarillo wrestling icon Dory Funk, Jr. celebrates his 85th birthday at home in Florida.
Dory Funk, Jr., with deep Amarillo roots, a disciplined WT football player
Funk Jr. grew up in Amarillo and played football at West Texas State University in the early 1960s. He is a product of tough WT coach Joe Kerbel, who developed a winning culture and integrated the team. Funk Jr.’s family’s influence in the Amarillo wrestling community greatly helped create a pipeline for WT football players to enter professional wrestling.
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According to a report by Global News on August 1, 2025, WT alumnus Bill Neeley and his grandson Justin Neeley wrote a book, “Touchdowns and Dunks: Champion Athletes from West Texas,” about eight future WWE Hall of Famers whose paths to the squared circle began with football shoes and no-nonsense coaching. At the heart of the story is Kerber, a former Oklahoma linebacker and World War II Marine who changed the lives of WT football and those who played for him.
In celebration of Circle of Life’s 85th anniversary, Dory Funk, Jr. is continuing the family tradition of wrestling.
“Cobell treated us like Marines in basic training,” Dory Fink Jr. said in the book. “That mentality never really left us – we brought it into the ring.”
Terry Funk, Jr. and Dory Funk, Jr. are also the sons of promoter Dory Funk, Sr., who ran the Amarillo wrestling territory and was always looking for raw materials to turn into wrestling gold. A mural by artist JEKS covers the walls of a building in downtown Amarillo that is home to Terry Funk, a member of the Funk family.
In this file photo, Amarillo’s own Terry Funk mural by artist JEKS is on display at the fourth annual Hoodoo Music Festival in downtown Amarillo.
His brother Terry also had a stellar career. Terry, known for his “hardcore” wrestling style, passed away in 2023.
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Related columns from Jon Mark Beilue: Funk is a wrestler and performer with a big heart who is Texas Panhandle to his core
Dorie Sr. is now retired and the couple no longer runs the Funkin Music Academy, where he taught a long list of contemporary wrestling stars, but the dynamic duo still attract a crowd wherever they go.
Earlier this month, while attending a convention in Jacksonville, Florida, Little Dolly was featured on Jax Channel 4’s “Going Ringside,” and his family was also featured on YouTube’s “Dave Knows Wrestling,” which is described as “a deep dive into the history of the legendary Funk family and their impact on the wrestling industry.”
Last April, Dory Funk, Sr. was inducted into the WWE Wrestling Hall of Fame along with sons Dory Jr. and Terry.
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During a recent interview with the Ocala Gazette at home, Dory Jr. wore his father’s WWE Hall of Fame diamond ring (about the size of an egg) and proudly talked about his early years learning life lessons from his father on a ranch in Texas. Junior’s own Hall of Fame ring — along with his National Wrestling Alliance World Wrestling Heavyweight Championship belt — are currently on display in Japan, but he does have a replica belt sitting on a nearby table at his home in Ocala.
“His belt was the last belt made of real gold and weighed 10 ounces,” Marti said of the belt on display in Japan.
According to Dolly’s website, his father was more than just a wrestling legend, “he was the iron-willed foundation of one of the sport’s greatest dynasties.” A World War II Navy veteran and talented amateur wrestler, Funk Sr. left his own legacy both in and out of the ring. As a performer, he was feared for his tenacity and respected for his skill.
The site notes that as a promoter in Amarillo, he helped shape the future of professional wrestling and was a noted mentor to some of the biggest names in the industry.
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Like a chip from the old days, Little Dory cemented his place in wrestling history not only for his accomplishments in the ring, but for his work as a promotional innovator and his legacy as a respected coach and teacher.
He’ll be quick to tell you that taking care of your body is an absolute must for a professional wrestler, along with mastering the tactics that translate into magic when a skilled wrestler enters the ring.
“And you have to have good instincts,” he added.
A young Dory Funk, Jr. made an impact on the wrestling world after playing for WT in the early 1960s.
Dory Jr. was born on February 3, 1941. His professional wrestling career began in 1963, after spending his college football career at what was then West Texas State University. Marty met Dolly at a wrestling match in Jacksonville in 1980. She was not keen on the sport and only participated as a favor to her friends.
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“I sat in my chair and screamed,” she recalled.
“That was September, and then we went back in October. And I chased him until he caught me,” she said with a laugh.
As time went on, Dory Jr.’s accomplishments became more extensive, including his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and holding the CWA World Heavyweight Championship, WWC World Heavyweight Championship, and NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the second-longest reigning title of all time.
Dory Jr. made his debut for All Japan Professional Wrestling in 1973 and went on to have a long career with the organization. On August 24, 2024, Dolly teamed up with old friend Osamu Nishimura for his final professional match. The wrestlingheadlines.com description of the event states that it was a double Hell Current Blast death match at the FMW-E Terry Funk Memorial Arena and the Onita 50th Anniversary Memorial Arena at Fujitsu Kawasaki Stadium.
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“The 83-year-old teamed up with Osamu Nishimura to defeat Atsushi Onita and Raijin Yaguchi. During the match, Dolly was hit by an exploding baseball bat, but managed to seal the victory by spinning on his toes in just over 13 minutes,” the post explained.
“He walked out in glory,” Marty said with a smile, gently touching the strong arm of her husband and hero.
When asked about some of the highlights of his storied career, Dory Jr. said in his most Texas drawl: “Well, winning the world title, of course. And my first fight.”
“All the promoters I work with have great relationships with wrestling fans, and the promotion that comes out first gets everyone interested in going to the show. The fans in Texas are great, great, and so is Florida. And Japan,” he added.
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When asked what advice he had for young wrestlers just starting out, he first whispered, “Never give up.” Then, louder, “Never give up!” Then, loud and powerful, “Never give up!”
Throughout her career, Dolly appeared in a variety of media, including print and television. Marty had “thousands of magazines from Japan” that included photos of her husband. She also owns the highly collectible comic book “Hulk vs. Everybody!” published in July 1972. “A panel on page three reads: “Got it! This is how Dory Funk Jr. always starts a ‘rasslin’ match… If it’s good enough for the champ, then it’s good enough for old Benjamin Green!”
“Who knew Stan Lee was a fan of Dolly Funk,” Marty said with a laugh.
In 2022, Dory Jr. wrote about his story in his book, The Last of the Great Breed: The True Story of a Professional Wrestling Career. The cover photo, of Dolly wearing a black cowboy hat and holding a whip that appears to be breathing fire from her fist, was created by Dave Schlenker, a well-known and longtime writer, editor and photographer in Ocala.
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The two developed a friendship over the years, and little Dolly appeared in the pages of the Ocala Star-Banner, where Schlenk worked for a long time. A man known for supporting local causes and being a bit of a risk-taker, Schlenk went head-to-head with Dory Jr. on Nov. 24, 2012, at a contest/fundraiser for the Marion County Literacy Council at Funkin Conservatory.
In a column published on November 8, 2012, Schlenk stated that he was encouraged to “beat up” Dolly to raise the stakes.
“After all, we would fight and the bloodthirsty fans would scream something of their own. Frankly, Funk is a very nice guy. I would feel guilty for hurting him. After all, he’s 500 years old and needs a good Schlenk whipping to realize it’s finally time to leave the ring and buy a golf cart in the village,” Schlenk wrote.
“I’m telling you right now, Funk is a punk! His feet stink, and he’s too tall, and from what I’ve heard, he hates puppies. His time has passed. There’s a new legend in town, and his feet don’t smell that bad anymore. I’m talking about me! You listen Got me, Fink? Are you listening, Ebenezer? Even though I don’t have anything against you, it’s all personal, CAPS, and for newspaper columnists, it’s truly personal,” he continued.
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Susan Smiley-Hite of the Ocala Gazette wrote: “As someone who was in the crowd that night, I can tell you that these two did have a great fight in the ring. Who won? Who cares? It was a night of fun, and it was a good night.”
A few days ago, when The Gazette asked him what he thought of Dolly now, Schlenk texted: “I’ve always loved the dichotomy of little Dolly Funk. The guy used to almost crush them with his spinning toes and throw them out of the ring. There was barbed wire and blood. But he was the sweetest, gentlest person. Just an icon whether it was in Ocala or in the pro wrestling world.”
And in Amarillo, the memory of the Funk family wrestling dynasty lives on.
This article originally appeared in the Amarillo Globe News: From WT Football to Wrestling World Stage, Dory Funk, Jr. Turns 85
