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Eddie Roberts (boxer)

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Eddie Roberts
headshot of Eddie Roberts, published on December 16, 1928
Born
Edwin Lionel Rowland

Anacortes, Washington, US
Other names
  • K.O.
  • Knockout
  • Kayo
  • Tacoma Tagger
  • Tacoma Terror
  • Tacoma Terrier
  • Tacoma Tiger
  • Race Horse
Statistics
Weight class
Height
  • 5 ft 7 in[1]
  • 5 ft 10½ in [2]
Reach74 in (188 cm)[3]
Boxing record[4]
Total fights93
Wins62
Wins by KO24
Losses21
Draws10

Edward Robertson (born as Edwin Lionel Rowland) (January 20, 1903 – March 3, 1968), better known as Eddie Roberts, was an American Welterweight/Middleweight boxer, actor and a World War I, World War II and Korean War veteran who competed from 1922 to 1931. He held the title of Pacific Northwest Welterweight Champion and was a serious contender for the World Welterweight championship in 1926–1927.

Early life

[edit]

Eddie Roberts was born on January 20, 1903, in Anacortes, Washington to father Edwin Luther Rowland of Scotch-Irish parentage, the owner of a Livery and transport business and a City Marshal, and mother Mamie Kreamen of German parentage, a housewife.[5][6][7] The youngest of two brothers, he lived in Anacortes up until at least the age of 7,[8] reportedly he later grew up in Alameda.[9] His father passed away when Roberts was seven years old due to a broken neck in an automobile accident.[10][11][12] Roberts attended Whitney Primary School.[13][14][15] Roberts filled his draft registration card under a fake name on September 12, 1918, at the age of 15.[16][17] Roberts was a fireman on the USS Chicago, USS Milwaukee and the SS Saint Paul.[18] He joined the United States Navy on February 17, 1919 and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard after which being moved to the battleship USS Arkansas in Guantánamo Bay in 1920 at the latest and gaining the rank of fireman and afterwards water tender. On November 27, 1929, Roberts married Agnes Serene Anderson.[1][19][20][21][22][23]

Amateur career

[edit]

While serving on the USS Arkansas as a Master-at-arms, Roberts' boxing skills were noticed by his fellow sailors, who often engaged in friendly sparring matches with him. His impressive performance in these matches caught the attention of the ship's athletic director, who saw his potential as a competitive boxer. With the encouragement of his the athletic director, Roberts decided to join the Atlantic Squadron fistic competition. Roberts' decision to join the competition turned out to be a wise one, as he quickly rose through the ranks and eventually won the middleweight championship of the navy.[1][24]

Professional career

[edit]
Eddie Roberts vs Gene Cline, January 24, 1924

Roberts left the Navy and asked Jack Connors in late 1921 if Connors would be his coach (Connors was also the coach of future Welterweight World champion, Freddie Steele and briefly the coach of the future 15th governor of Washington Albert Rosellini),[25] Connors accepted,[26] Roberts left the Navy and had his professional debut on September 2, 1922, at the age of 19 in the Welterweight weight class with a win against Fred Kelly. Roberts' popularity and skill grew quickly, and by 1923, he was participating in main event fights like the one at the now Kaiser Convention Center against Oakland Jimmy Duffy.[9]

On March 6, 1924, Roberts became the Pacific Northwest Welterweight Champion after winning against Ted Krache in a round six points decision, 19 days later he lost the title to Bobby Harper but later regained it after winning against Harper on November 20, 1924. Roberts lost the title again 19 days later and never regained it.[27]

Roberts's knockout of Joe Dundee, December 4, 1926

The most notable event of Roberts's career was on December 4, 1926, where he fought against Joe Dundee and won in a first-round knockout after only 4 seconds earning him 400 dollars and a great deal of publicity. However, he lost the rematch in a ten-round unanimous decision a month later in front of over 18,000 spectators in Madison Square Garden. Dundee later became World Welterweight Champion.[27]

On March 22, 1927, Roberts won a bout against Olympic athlete Jack Zivic with a round twelve-points decision.[27]

On April 4, 1927, Roberts lost a bout against Olympic athlete Al Mello with a round-one knockout.[27]

At the end of 1927, Roberts was seventh place in the Welterweight division.[28]

On March 12, 1928, Roberts lost a bout against future Welterweight and Middleweight champion Young Corbett III with a round-nine knockout.[27]

On February 7, 1930, Roberts had a draw with Gorilla Jones after fighting for ten rounds.[29]

Retirement from boxing and acting career

[edit]

On August 19, 1931, at the age of 28, Roberts sustained two small fractures of the jaw, this occurred during his bout with Buddy Gorman. This incident was the catalyst that pushed Roberts into his retirement from boxing, aside from a few bouts here and there in the coming years.[30]

Roberts had started his acting career in 1929 when he starred in the film Follow the Leader where he played a gangster. Roberts later appeared in several movies (see below) and also a series of boxing commercials by Al Christie alongside Buster West and Tom Patricola.[31] In 1934 Roberts became an athletic instructor for Hecht-MacArthur Productions.[32]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Source
1930 Follow the Leader[33] Valet [31]
1930 Roadhouse Nights[34] [35]
1930 Model Women Mover Mike [36]
1931 Masquerade Cafe Customer [37][38]
1931 The Naggers at the Ringside Eddie Robberts [39]
1933 Broadway Brevities #18: World's Champ [40][41]
1933 Hizzoner Mayor's chauffeur [42]
1933 Million Dollar Melody The Tough Guy [42][38][43]
1933 The Good Bad Man Kidnapper [42]
1934 The Knife of the Party Bit Role [42]
1934 The Wrong Bottle Car salesman [44]
1934 Hotel Anchovy Suicidal Hotel Guest [45]
1934 Sea Sore Stewart [45]
1934 Hello Sailors Sailor [38]
1934 The Expectant Father Expectant Father In Waiting Room [46]
1935 Mr. Widget Person asking for a lighter [45]
1936 The Screen Test [47]
1937 Freshies Chauffeur [45]
1937 On Such a Night [48]
1937 Some Blondes Are Dangerous Rattler O'Keefe [49][50][51]
1937 Submarine D-1[1] Pharmacist's Mate (uncredited) [52]
1937 Love on Toast [2] [48]

Additional info and life after boxing career

[edit]

In 1932 Roberts was the owner if a Nightclub near San Francisco after his retirement from boxing, in 1935 he sold it.[53][54][55][56]

In 1933, Roberts was working as a bartender in San Francisco.[57]

In late 1933, Roberts was a bartender aboard the Dollar Liner SS President Hoover in the Trans-Pacific trade.[58]

In 1936–1937, Roberts was the owner of a night club/cocktail lounge/tavern on Mason Street in San Francisco.[59]

In 1940, Roberts was working as a bartender in a hotel lounge in Redding.

Roberts loved to hunt and fish and planned to build an outing resort in California.[60]

In 1942 at the age of 39, Roberts lived in San Francisco and enlisted in the Navy on July 16, 1942. He was reassigned the rank of water tender and fought in World War II until June 22, 1945, serving first on the USS Bache, USS Houston, starting December 20, 1943, and the USS Mobile starting October 17, 1944.[20][61][62][63][64][65][66]

In 1947, Roberts was a bartender in San Francisco[67]

In 1950, Roberts was again working as a bartender in Seattle.[68]

Between 1950 and early 1953, Roberts fought in the Korean War on the USNS David C. Shanks,[69] SS Brazil Victory,[70] SS Otis L. Hall[71] as a watertender, on the American SS Fairisle as a deck engineer[72] and on the SS Royal Oak[72] and SS Mankato Victory as an oiler.[72]

On July 19, 1954, Roberts married Colletta M. Johnson in San Francisco.[73]

In 1955, Roberts was working on the SS Young America as an oiler.[74]

In 1957, Roberts was living in Nome, Alaska as a bartender.[75][76][77]

Edward Roberts died on March 3, 1968, in Alameda at the age of 65. and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery under his fake name and birth date.[63]

Style of play

[edit]

Roberts was a counter fighter with a strong short left hook[26] who refused to play aggressively until his opponent was weakened.[1]

Jack Conners in reference to Roberts's toughness told the Oakland Tribune "He had the toughest skin i ever saw on a fighter. No cauliflower ears, no cut lips or flattened nose".[78]

Personal life

[edit]

Roberts changed his name from Edward Lionel Rowland to Eddie/Edward Roberts for "fighting purposes" based on the character "Kid" Roberts by H. C. Witwer.[1][60][79]

Roberts was married multiple times but had no children.[1]

Professional boxing record

[edit]

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[27] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

[edit]
93 fights 62 wins 21 losses
By knockout 24 6
By decision 37 13
By disqualification 1 2
Draws 10
[edit]
  • Eddie Roberts (in chronological order)
  • Eddie Roberts in his boxing outfit March 19, 1922
    Eddie Roberts in his boxing outfit March 19, 1922
  • Eddie Roberts vs Gene Cline January 24, 1924
    Eddie Roberts vs Gene Cline January 24, 1924
  • Picture of Roberts in his boxing outfit February 16, 1924
    Picture of Roberts in his boxing outfit February 16, 1924
  • Eddie Roberts wearing his boxing outfit. March 22, 1924
    Eddie Roberts wearing his boxing outfit. March 22, 1924
  • Roberts's knockout of Joe Dundee December 4, 1926
    Roberts's knockout of Joe Dundee December 4, 1926
  • Roberts's knockout of Joe Dundee December 4, 1926
    Roberts's knockout of Joe Dundee December 4, 1926
  • 2 pictures of Eddie Roberts (boxer). one of him in a suit and another of him with his boxing equipement on. December 22, 1926
    2 pictures of Eddie Roberts (boxer). one of him in a suit and another of him with his boxing equipement on. December 22, 1926
  • headshot of Eddie Roberts, published on December 16, 1928
    headshot of Eddie Roberts, published on December 16, 1928
  • Frame from the movie short 'Hotel Anchovy' showcasing Eddie Roberts. April 13, 1934
    Frame from the movie short 'Hotel Anchovy' showcasing Eddie Roberts. April 13, 1934
  • Frame from the movie short 'Sea Sore' showcasing Eddie Roberts. April 20, 1934
    Frame from the movie short 'Sea Sore' showcasing Eddie Roberts. April 20, 1934
[edit]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "Edwin L Rowland Migration • Oregon Passenger and Crew Lists, 1888-1956". FamilySearch.
  3. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1924-12-08). "The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, December 08, 1924, Image 18". p. 17. ISSN 2159-5577. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  4. ^ "Boxing record for Eddie Roberts". BoxRec.
  5. ^ "Eddie Roberts boxer". fightsrec.com. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  6. ^ "Anacortes American 22 January 1903 — Washington Digital Newspapers". washingtondigitalnewspapers.org. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  7. ^ "Department of Health, Delayed Birth Records - Edwin - Rowland - Mamie - Et Al". Washington State Archives, Digital Archives. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  8. ^ "1910 United States Federal Census". Ancestry.com.
  9. ^ a b "Oakland Tribune 14 November 1923, page Page 20". Retrieved 2022-12-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (1910-08-24). "The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, August 24, 1910, Image 10". ISSN 2159-5577. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  11. ^ "Edwin L Rowland in the Washington, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1851-1970". Ancestry.com.
  12. ^ "Edwin L. Rowland Death • Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960". FamilySearch.
  13. ^ "Anacortes American 3 December 1908 — Washington Digital Newspapers". washingtondigitalnewspapers.org. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  14. ^ "Anacortes American 28 January 1909 — Washington Digital Newspapers". washingtondigitalnewspapers.org. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  15. ^ "Anacortes American 17 June 1909 — Washington Digital Newspapers". washingtondigitalnewspapers.org. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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  20. ^ a b Humanities, National Endowment for the (1942-09-03). "The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, September 03, 1942, Image 15". p. 15. ISSN 2158-4729. Retrieved 2022-12-30.
  21. ^ Roberts, Edwin Lionel. "Edwin Lionel Roberts". ancestry.
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  25. ^ ROSELLINI (cl). University of Washington Press. 1997. ISBN 978-0-295-80286-2.
  26. ^ a b "The Waco News-Tribune 31 Dec 1926, page Page 7". Retrieved 2022-12-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "BoxRec: Eddie Roberts". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2022-12-29.
  28. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1927-12-24: Vol 80 Iss 108. 1927-12-24.
  29. ^ Ashe, Arthur (1993). A hard road to glory--boxing : the African-American athlete in boxing. New York: Amistad. ISBN 978-1-56743-036-3.
  30. ^ "The Fresno Morning Republican 22 August 1931, page 9". Retrieved 2022-12-29 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/51054/images/News-TE-AM_GL.1937_10_20-0024?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=OYM144&_phstart=successSource&pId=491606040&rcstate=News-TE-AM_GL.1937_10_20-0024:624,2579,710,2600;337,1863,396,1888;408,1863,503,1888;226,2292,314,2317;96,2488,162,2513;550,2579,612,2600. Retrieved 2023-03-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ^ The Film Daily (January 1935). The Film Daily (Jan-Mar 1935). Wid's Films and Film Folk.
  33. ^ Ginger Rogers 4th movie, "Follow the Leader", full movie, retrieved 2023-11-17
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  36. ^ The Film Daily (January 1931). The Film Daily (Jan-Jun 1931). New York: Wid's Films and Film Folks.
  37. ^ The Film Daily (June 1930). The Film Daily (Jul-Dec 1930). New York: Wid's Films and Film Folks.
  38. ^ a b c Webb, Graham (2020-07-10). Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3926-0.
  39. ^ The Film Daily (January 1931). The Film Daily (Jan-Jun 1931). New York: Wid's Films and Film Folks.
  40. ^ "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle 10 Nov 1932, page 22". Retrieved 2023-06-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Liebman, Roy (2015-05-20). Vitaphone Films: A Catalogue of the Features and Shorts. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0936-2.
  42. ^ a b c d The Film Daily (October 1933). The Film Daily (Oct-Dec 1933). Wid's Films and Film Folk.
  43. ^ White, Jack (1933-10-27), Million Dollar Melody (Musical, Short), Lillian Roth, Eddie Craven, Eddie Roberts, Jack White, Educational Films Corporation of America, retrieved 2023-11-08
  44. ^ The Film Daily (April 1934). The Film Daily (Apr-Jun 1934). Wid's Films and Film Folk.
  45. ^ a b c d Webb, Graham (2020-07-10). Encyclopedia of American Short Films, 1926-1959. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-3926-0.
  46. ^ Motion picture daily. New York: Motion picture daily.
  47. ^ The Film Daily (September 1936). The Film Daily (Sep-Dec 1936). New York, Wid's Films and Film Folks.
  48. ^ a b The Film Daily (1938). The film daily year book of motion pictures (1938). New York: The Film Daily.
  49. ^ Quigley Publishing Co. (1937). Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1937). New York, N.Y.: Quigley Pub. Co.
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  51. ^ The Film Daily (January 1938). The Film Daily (Jan-Mar 1938). Wid's Films and Film Folk.
  52. ^ Institute, American Film (1993). The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States: Film entries, A - L. F. Feature films 3. 1931-1940. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-07908-3.
  53. ^ "Reno Gazette-Journal 08 Mar 1932, page Page 9". Retrieved 2023-03-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ "Calexico Chronicle 19 February 1935 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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  56. ^ "The Butte Daily Post 19 Mar 1932, Sat · Page 6".
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  61. ^ "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947". ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
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  65. ^ ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1143/images/32859_242832-00102?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=OYM104&_phstart=successSource&pId=30295343. Retrieved 2023-03-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  66. ^ "Join Ancestry®". ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  67. ^ "The News Tribune 23 Oct 1947, Thu · Page 22".
  68. ^ "Edwin L Rowland Census • United States 1950 Census". FamilySearch.
  69. ^ "Washington, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1965". ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  70. ^ "Edwin L Rowland Migration • Oregon Passenger and Crew Lists, 1888-1956". FamilySearch.
  71. ^ "Edwin L Rowland Migration • Oregon Passenger and Crew Lists, 1888-1956". FamilySearch.
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  73. ^ ""California, San Francisco County Records, 1824-1997," database with images, FamilySearch Marriages > Marriage Certificate Index (Grooms), Vol. 43, L-Z, 1918 > image 155 of 349; San Francisco Public Library, California". FamilySearch.
  74. ^ "Oregon, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1888-1963". ancestry.com. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  75. ^ "Eddy Rowland in entry for Gertrude May Rowland, "Alaska, Vital Records, 1816-2005"". FamilySearch.
  76. ^ "The Nome nugget. [volume] (Nome, Alaska) 1938-????, March 18, 1957, Image 6". National Endowment for the Humanities. 1957-03-18. p. 6. ISSN 0745-9106. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  77. ^ "The Nome nugget. [volume] (Nome, Alaska) 1938-????, July 12, 1957, Image 6". National Endowment for the Humanities. 1957-07-12. p. 6. ISSN 0745-9106. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  78. ^ ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8049/images/1933_02_05_0033?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=OYM140&_phstart=successSource&pId=489231393&rcstate=1933_02_05_0033:37,4617,156,4650;67,4650,197,4683;1074,3108,1221,3141;50,4042,172,4075;328,4042,467,4075;71,4354,183,4387. Retrieved 2023-03-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  79. ^ "Oakland Tribune 27 September 1937 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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