Greetings.
I was saddened to hear the news this week that my old friend, the King – Harley Race has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, but am relieved and overjoyed that such is not the case.
It seems like it was only yesterday when I first met Harley – back in 1973, when he was the reigning NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and was making his first title defense in Calgary for my dad at the Calgary Stampede against another legend, Archie “the Stomper” Gouldie.
Harley and Archie had an awesome match and afterwards Harley took my dad, myself and several of my brothers out to dinner and regaled us with stories of his career and having overcome adversity to make it to the top. He made great impression on all of us and that would mark the beginning of a great friendship with The Hart’s that has remained strong over the years.
Harley, whose own father had died when he was young, seemed to have a special affinity for my dad and came to love and respect him, almost like the father he never had. I might add that my dad also became a surrogate father of sorts to a number of other notable wrestlers over the years, including Abdullah the Butcher, Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Neidhart, Brian Pillman and the aforementioned Archie Gouldie – all of whom, would also become legends in our business.
Because of his special bond with my dad, Harley became like a big brother to the Hart family. At that time, my brothers Keith and I were just launching our careers and Harley, who was one of the biggest stars in the business at the time, was a source of invaluable advice and guidance to us about the wrestling business.
Over the years, Harley would make several trips to Calgary, where he also mentored many of our up and coming young wrestlers, including the British Bulldogs, Chris Benoit, Rick Martel and Japanese stars such as Jushin Liger, Hiro Hase and Shinya Hashimoto.
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Beyond the things he imparted to us about wrestling, Harley also taught us important lessons that would serve us well in the long and winding journey that we call life.
After the tragic deaths of my friend and tag team partner Brian Pillman, my brother Owen, and my brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith, Harley was extremely supportive and would call me and others in our family to keep our spirits up and to just be there for us, which meant a great deal.
I remember after my mother passed away in 2001, after her funeral, Harley took a week off his wrestling duties in the WWE to hang out with my grief stricken father– which made a huge impression on my dad and to everyone else in the family.
In reflecting back on Harley, he truly epitomizes that classic Frank Sinatra song “My Way”, in that he ”took the blows” – “saw it through, without exemption” – and, ultimately, did it his own, inimitable way. He truly is an American original, the likes of which we’re not likely to see again.
I’ve been fortunate to cross paths in this business with an incredible myriad of diverse and wonderful people, but none finer than my friend – the King, Harley Race.
I’d like to commend and congratulate him for an incredible life, well lived and for truly being “one of the boys” in the finest sense of the word.
Thanks for the memories Harley and for always being there for all of us.
Love and deepest respect from the Hart family.