Frank Gotch Marries

(This post is an excerpt from my new book, Gotch vs. Zbyszko: The Quest for Redemption, published on February 2, 2022.)

The most important event affecting the future of Frank Gotch’s career occurred on January 11, 1911. Gotch married the former Gladys Oestrich at her parent’s home in Humboldt, Iowa.

Mrs. Gotch preferred that Frank retire from the ring which he had been hinting at since he defeated Hackenschmidt for the world championship in 1908.

Gotch told Gladys he was retiring prior to their engagement but a potential big money rematch with Georg Hackenschmidt in 1911 changed his mind. (Gotch’s manager Emil) Klank had been trying to lure Hackenschmidt back to the United States for a rematch since 1908. Hackenschmidt refused until late in 1910.

Hackenschmidt rehabbed a chronic knee injury since the 1908 match. It hindered his training. Hackenschmidt trained other wrestlers but did not wrestle professionally in 1909 or 1910. In 1910, Hackenschmidt started to feel like he could train enough to regain his world class conditioning and wrestling skills.

Gotch returning to the ring surprised Gladys. She told newspaper reporters that Frank told her he was retiring and had not informed her he changed his mind.

The reporter asked Gladys if she would end the engagement if Gotch wrestled professionally again. “No, I would not want to say that, but I cannot say definitely until I talk things over with him. He promised me – but I guess I’d better see Frank.”

Gladys Gotch accepted Frank Gotch wrestling for another two years, but she preferred he stay home. Galdys’ wishes weighed on Frank Gotch and affected how willing he was to train and wrestle in the twilight of his career.

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Source: Topeka State Journal, December 29, 1910, p. 5

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