To begin with@` there are no "real" Von Erichs. The Adkisson family has used the last name "Von Erich" for their wrestling personas for years.
The patriarch of the Adkisson/Von Erich clan is Jack Adkisson. He took the ring name Fritz Von Erich and wrestled in the 50's and 60's with a Nazi German gimmick@` complete with goose step and iron claw. Jack had six sons@` five of whom were involved with wrestling.
Waldo Von Erich was Bill Sheppard@` no relation to the Adkissons. He formed a successful tag team in the 60's with Fritz.
Kevin Von Erich began wrestling in the mid-70s. He rarely competed outside of his home state. His few trips out of Texas saw him compete in Japan@` and in St. Louis. Kevin is currently wrestling for Jim Crockett's NWA promotion in Dallas. Kevin is the only of Fritz's sons still alive.
David Von Erich (nicknamed "the Yellow Rose of Texas") began wrestling on June 28@` 1977. David was the most successful of the Von Erich boys in the late 70s and early 80s@` competing in St. Louis@` Japan and Florida@` as well as his home state of Texas. David was found dead in his hotel room in Japan on February 10@` 1984. His dreams of winning the NWA World title were never realized.
Kerry Von Erich achieved the most national fame of the Von Erich boys. His pinnacle came on May 6th@` 1984@` when he defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World title in Texas Stadium@` at a memorial card for David. This event made Fritz and Kerry the only father and son duo to hold World singles titles (Fritz had held the AWA title in 1963) Kerry lost the title back to Flair in Japan on May 24@` 1984.
Kerry's entire career was haunted by troubles stemming from drug use. On June 4@` 1986@` Kerry was involved in an automobile accident in which his right leg was severely damaged. It wasn't until after Kerry's death in 1993 that his family would confirm that he had lost his foot in the accident. He wrestled for the rest of his career with a prosthesis on his leg. He did not return to the ring full time until late 1987. On February 18@` 1993@` Kerry shot himself in the heart at his home in Sandy Shore@` TX. He was 33.
Mike Von Erich debuted in November@` 1983. Months later he was thrust in the role of being David's successor@` a role he never quite looked comfortable in. In 1985@` on a tour of Israel@` Mike suffered a shoulder separation on an exceptionally hard ring. During recovery@` Mike contracted toxic-shock syndrome. He recovered@` but he had lost much weight and strength during his layoff. He returned to the ring in July 1986. Mike died on April 13@` 1987@` at the age of 23@` of an intentional overdose of Placidyl (depressant/muscle relaxant).
Chris Von Erich@` the youngest of Fritz's sons@` began appearing at ringside for his brothers matches in the mid-80s. He was involved in a few angles. He finally made his wrestling debut in the late 80's. Chris died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on September 12@` 1991. Chris was 21.
In 1985@` Fritz brought in Kevin William Vaughn@` using the ring name Lance Von Erich@` and billed as a cousin of the Von Erich boys@` a son of Waldo. In reality@` he was no relation to either Fritz's family or Waldo. Fritz's plan of creating a new Von Erich eventually backfired@` after Lance left Fritz's promotion and Fritz admitted publicly that he actually wasn't related.
After his career ended@` Kevin spent much of his time with his family and his father@` watching the legend fade into shadow. Doris and Jack were divorced in July 1992@` a year before Kerry's death@` and Kevin could never figure out how Jack had withstood losing his family. Although Jack had lost so much@` he had still held onto his home in Denton County and a net worth estimated at more than $600@`000.
On July 25 of this year@` Jack suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with brain cancer. He knew he didn't have long to live@` and he welcomed death@` said he was anxious for the chance to see his sons again.
As always@` Kevin was there for his father@` even though Jack@` though never in much pain@` was "hard to be around@`" fluctuating between being moody and happy. Jack and Kevin rarely spoke about the many tragedies they had both experienced -they didn't have to.
On September 8@` Kevin and Jack were at Jack's house watching Monday Night RAW when@` during the fourth quarter@` Jack began suffering enough for him to call the nurse to administer morphine. Jack slept throughout the rest of the day@` then died quietly and quickly on Wednesday.
"He got out with no pain at all@` and you have to think that's a good thing@`" Kevin says. "I've visited people that were suffering so bad it would take me days to get over it. But see@` like@` I'm telling you all this sad stuff. I am sure you've got sad stuff too."
Now Kevin begins the task of collecting that sad stuff and showing it to the world. He and Mike's ex-wife are now assembling the family history and putting it on the Website@` which is located@` appropriately enough@` at.www.vonerich.com. There@` Kevin will provide pictures and bios of his brothers and father@` celebrating their place in pro-wrestling history--not the tragedies@` he hopes@` but as heroes. He will sell old videotapes of the brothers and Fritz; Jack had left behind hundreds of black-and-white reels and old wrestling films@` which Kevin one day hopes to market on the Website.
"Someone asked me if I wanted to do the Website as a way to keep my brothers@`" Kevin says. "I said@` `No@` not necessarily.' I just think it was a hell of a wrestling show@` and I'd like people to see it."
Kevin often says that when people first meet him these days@` they treat him as though he is "a ghost." There are those who wonder why he is not dead or how he kept from becoming another dead Von Erich. That is why he is willing@` though not necessarily happy@` to rehash the past one more time. If nothing else@` he@` maybe someone can learn something from his tragic story. Meanwhile@` he is still trying to figure it out for himself.
"I'm from the country@` and last winter@` there were persimmons growing on the trees@`" Kevin recalls. "Well@` persimmons drop off during the winter. They fall to the ground and rot. The wind was blowing hard on this one persimmon@` and it hadn't fallen off--and it was the dead of winter. I was thinking@``I'm like that persimmon. I'm not going to let go of the vine. The wind's@` it's killing me@` but I'm not going to let go.'
"I didn't have a choice. What was I supposed to do? Lay down and die? I'm a married man. I have kids. There were times when I thought@` `I can't stand any more of this.' But I think God strengthened me@` and I can take it. It's different now. I have everything a man could want. I have children@` I have a wife who takes care of my kids so I'm free to do the dad-like play catch and things like that. I think things couldn't be better for me."
Minutes later@` as if on cue@` the cellular phone next to him rings. It's his son. He has been sick in bed all day with a cold. He wants his dad to come.