Haystacks Calhoun

A massibe man billed at around 600 pounds, Haystacks Calhoun dressed in overalls and gave off the illusion of being a gigantic farmer. In the early days, before he was Haystacks, however, he was Country Boy Calhoun and this was how he toured Arizona.

There were times he carried a horseshoe chain around his neck and when provoked, would clunk the bad guys with it, to the delight of the crowd.

Yuma was an area where he served as a big draw, though he was seen in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Globe and other areas in the late 1950s.

It was not in Arizona that he reached his greatest high points. In the 1960s he was big in Japan, Washignton/Oregon and the eastern USA. Bruno Sammartino likewise gained fame by being the first man to lift him off his feet in the ring.

On the 1970s, Calhoun was big in the Michigan/Ohio area feuding with Killer Brooks, Sheik and Bill Miller.

Sadly, the very weight and appetite that made him such a draw contributed greatly to his declining health. Out of control diabetes did him in. He eventually passed away due to complications from the condition.