Marva Scott | |
---|---|
Birth name | Marva Aniece Wingo |
Born | Decatur, Georgia, U.S.[1] | November 21, 1937
Died | August 15, 2003 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.[2] | (aged 65)
Cause of death | Cancer |
Spouse(s) | Clesson H. Goodwin[2] |
Children | 4[2] |
Relatives | Babs Wingo Ethel Johnson |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Marva Scott Marva Wingo Martha Scott Marva Johnson Mary Scott African Black Cat |
Billed from | Detroit, Michigan[3] |
Debut | 1954 |
Retired | 1979 |
Marva Aniece Goodwin (née Wingo; November 21, 1937 - August 15, 2003), better known by the ring name Marva Scott,[4] was among the first Black female professional wrestlers in the United States.[2] She began wrestling in the early 1950s and her first reported match happened in 1954.[5] With her older sisters, Babs Wingo and Ethel Johnson, she was part of the first Black trio sister team.[6] Marva Scott was posthumously inducted into the Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2023.[1]
Scott began her career in the early 1950s at the age of 16.[7] She was promoted as Babs Wingo's sister, often in tag team bouts against Ethel Johnson.[3]
At one point, Scott became a bleach blonde while wrestling as "The African Black Cat".[3] Scott also tag-teamed with her sister Ethel, and together, they became tag team champions.[1]
Wrestling historian Jim Melby called Scott one of the great "teenage sensations" during the "Golden Age of Wrestling" ranking her among the top six female wrestlers of the era.[3]
Scott retired in 1979.[8] WWE named Marva 51 of the best wrestlers of all time in April 2021.[9]
Scott was born Marva Aniece Wingo in Decatur, Georgia, to Gladys Chase and Clifford Wingo[2] on November 21, 1937.[10] Scott’s sisters, Babs Wingo and Ethel Johnson, were also professional wrestlers.[1]
Scott was married to Clesson H. Goodwin and had four children.[11] Following her retirement, Scott was employed at the Training Institute of Central Ohio.[2]
Scott died of cancer on August 15, 2003, in Columbus, Ohio.[2]
General
Specific