Notable people · Athlete · Boxing
Luther McCarty
A heavyweight boxer billed as the white champion, McCarty grew up in Piqua and lived in Sidney from 1907. He died on May 24, 1913, in Calgary after a first-round knockout, and is buried in Piqua.
At a glance
- Born
- 1892-03-17
- Died
- 1913-05-24
- Known as
- Athlete, Boxing
Life story
Luther Quinter McCarty was born in March 1892; sources disagree on where in Nebraska. His mother died in 1893 and he and his sister were taken in by neighbors.
He grew up in Piqua and, from 1907, lived in Sidney, where he trained at the gym. At 16 he married Rhoda Wright in Sidney. He boxed from 1911 to 1913, a 6-foot-4 heavyweight with a long reach, and is ranked No. 10 on The Ring's list of 1910s American heavyweights.
He claimed the World White Heavyweight Championship on January 1, 1913, by beating Al Palzer. On May 24, 1913, he died in Calgary after a first-round knockout by Arthur Pelkey. Doctors first said heart failure; an autopsy found a spinal hemorrhage from a neck dislocation. He is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua.
Timeline
- 1892-03-17: Born (Nebraska; exact place disputed) (Nebraska) source
- 1907: Resides in Sidney, OH; marries Rhoda Wright at 16 (Sidney, OH) source
- 1911: Begins professional boxing career source
- 1913-01-01: Claims World White Heavyweight Championship by beating Al Palzer source
- 1913-05-24: Dies in Calgary after fight with Arthur Pelkey (Calgary, AB) source
What Luther is known for
- Claimed the World White Heavyweight Championship, January 1, 1913
- First recorded death of a boxing champion in the ring
Places in Ohio to see
- Forest Hill Cemetery (grave: 'The Champion Rests') (grave)
Piqua, Miami County ZIP 45356 (approximate) · Piqua · Miami County · official page
Ohio places
Where Luther McCarty was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Lived: Sidney, Shelby County ZIP 45365 · Sidney · Shelby County
- Lived: Piqua, Miami County ZIP 45356 · Piqua · Miami County
- Buried: Piqua (Forest Hill Cemetery), Miami County ZIP 45356 · Piqua · Miami County
Myths and corrections
- Disputed: Sources disagree on where McCarty was born in Nebraska: a farm near Lincoln, a ranch near McCook, Driftwood Creek, Wild Horse Canyon and Hitchcock County are all given. Doctors first blamed his death on heart failure, but an autopsy found a spinal hemorrhage.
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. Medium: the main facts were confirmed, but some details (often an address or ZIP code) were not.
- Wikipedia: Luther McCarty born 1892 Nebraska (disputed place); grew up Piqua; resided Sidney since 1907; boxing career; death Calgary; Forest Hill burial
