Rufus R Jones, a charismatic babyface who found success in southern promotions.
Rufus R Jones Death – Heart Attack
1933-1993 (Age 60)
Rufus R Jones exemplified how personality could trump wrestling skills. He proved a top draw in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and other territories.
This charismatic wrestler would wow fans with his real-life boxing skills and action-packed matches.
Carey L. Lloyd was born on July 4, 1933, his date of birth being a harbinger of the fireworks he would bring to the squared circle.
As noted in the book The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons, Lloyd was a Golden Gloves boxer with an exemplary record and his build and musculature made him a natural for wrestling.
Reporter Mike Mooneyham would write of Rufus’ famed career, remembering how Jones referred to himself as “The King of Wrestling” and that the R. in Rufus R stood for “guts.”
Rufus utilized the running shoulder tackle and the head butt to win many a match. Seemingly unstoppable, Jones was nicknamed “Freight Train” Jones.
A big man who was known more for his colorful promos and bigger-than-life personality than his wrestling talent, Jones knew how to win over the fans—even if his promoter didn’t always understand him.
Mike Mooneyham’s obituary on Jones contains an apropos anecdote from promoter Jim Crockett Jr concerning “Freight Train”:
“During the late ’70s and early ’80s, he was really hot. He had one of the most unique styles of interviews. The first time I heard him do an interview, he was talking about a watermelon in his pocket, and I didn’t quite understand what he was talking about. But I later found out it was just a slang term that I had never heard, and I’ll never forget, that meant having a lot of money.”
In a world where “one of a kind” is often overused, Rufus fit that description to a tee.
A Mid-Atlantic Mainstay
Best-known for his time in the Mid-Atlantic area, Rufus would hold many championships there. The titles would include the Mid-Atlantic Championship, the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship, the Television Championship, and the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
“The Freight Train” would battle Minnesota Wrecking Crew’s Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson in tag matches. Rufus also would scrap with wrestlers Greg Valentine, Blackjack Mulligan, and Ric Flair in the region.
However, Jones would also win championships elsewhere. Rufus would win several championships in Central States Wrestling. He also captured titles in Georgia Championship Wrestling and Southeastern Championship Wrestling.
A Lasting Legacy
Rufus would leave a lasting impression on his fans as well as a legacy to the wrestling industry. Jones befriended Kenneth Johnson, who became famous in the WWF as manager Slick.
Johnson “adopted” Rufus and his wife Brooksie as his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had three daughters. The couple would open a restaurant after Jones’ retirement from the squared circle.
The Death of Rufus R. Jones
On November 13, 1993 the train finally stopped running when Jones suffered a fatal heart attack while hunting. He was 60 years old.
What are your favorite memories of Rufus R. Jones? Let us know in the comments below.
What do you think about Rufus R Jones’ career? Let us know in the comments below.
Other wrestlers who died in 1993 include Andre the Giant, Dino Bravo, DJ Peterson, and Kerry Von Erich,
