IN MEMORY OF RAY GOLDEN APPOLLON
By Rey Davis
Sunday Guardian
November 2, 1997
Page 31
Heroes never die, it is said and while a gifted son of the wrestling soil, Ray Golden Appollon passed away on February 4th this year, his life and times stand as a testimony to a heroism that cries for perpetuity.
Wrestling has nose-dived in popularity in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean region since the explosive in-and-out ring scenes of the eighties.
Whether the sport regains a foothold in coming years is anybody's guess but memory of its good times, and good and bad guys will always live on.
Ray Golden Appollon, as he was popularly called, was born April 26, 1924. He was the son of Dr. C. L. Joseph, a prominent family doctor from Belmont.
After his studentship at St Mary's College, his father sent him to the United States to enter Howard University to study medicine, to follow in his footsteps.
Appollon obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree at Howard University, Washington D.C. but was unable to get into medical school because preference was given to those members of the United States Armed Services who were returning from World War II at the time.
Ray then went to Paris, France where he entered the Sorbonne University to continue his studies. It was here that he became drawn to wrestling and went on to become an internationally famous wrestler.
As an 'old boy' of St Mary's College, the school's Past Students Union will honour him with a place in their Hall of Fame.
It is certain that his memory will live on whether the proposal to establish a gym in his name at the St Dominic's Home for Children materializes or whether an individual effort initiated in the United States to start up a Charity in his name realizes continuity.
Ray Hollingsworth who has followed the life of Appollon alludes to the existence of two charities for children's homes in the United States, all in Appollon's name, which have had magnanimous support from the St Regis Hotel.
It is hoped that funds will come from other corporations, the public and friends so that the lives of the orphans can be made more comfortable and that one-day any one or all of them will attain the heights of glory in sport that Appollon arguably reached. Hollingsworth attests that the Ministry of Sport will assist in this project as the Honourable Prime Minister in dedicating the National Stadium to Hasely Crawford, vowed that it would never take 20 years to honour someone again.
He was a weight lifter and one of the strongest men in the world. And it was wrestling that opened up windows of the world for Ray. He fought in Europe, India, Lebanon, Africa, Trinidad, Saudi Arabia and Japan. His sojourn in "The Land of the Rising Sun" (Japan) was at the invitation of the Japanese Authorities for participation in a world international wrestling festival.
On the African and Asian continents he was treated more like a king than a wrestler. He was the houseguest of Jomo Kenyatta, the then president of Kenya who recently passed away. Ray was made an honorary Chief of Nigeria, one of the highest honours in the country where he was known as 'The African Lion'.
In 1963 former member of the Parliament of France and an aide of the then French President General Charles de Gaulle was so impressed by Ray's physical and intellectual brilliance that he gave him a letter promising financial aid to Trinidad and Tobago.
He successfully encouraged some of the best wrestlers in the world to Trinidad including the famous Harold Sakata, a star of James Bond fame and Victor Jovica.
Another famous personage, Mohammed Ali the great former heavyweight boxer was his close friend. As a renowned wrestler himself, wearing the accolade as world champion whether a winner or a rare loser, Appollon had fans yearning for his execution of his trademark head butts whenever he fought at home. Thunderbolt Williams, his son Fernando, Des The Artist and Ted Herbert who campaigned in Japan were some of his pupils.
A referee for the sport and Appollon's friend Melchior Taylor still holds the rein as an international wrestling authority.
A prophet is without honour in his own country, it has also been said and it is passing stage that Appollon, a wrestling prophet in his own right never received any significant honours or recognition in his own country. A City Day award by the Port of Spain Corporation by late Mayor Augustus Williams counts as one bright moment in time.
Appollon was married to Elaine Joseph and had two daughters, Wanda and Wendy. He also had another daughter and three sons, one in Austria where he wrestled.
In spite of his great strength and popularity, Appollon was one of the softest and gentlest of men worthy of the loudest bang of honour his native land can bestow.