Edwin Carnan served as one of the most influential figures in American professional wrestling during the late 1940s. For nearly a decade, Carnan was the face of professional wrestling in the American south, often trading victories with his fellow grapplers in order to draw the biggest crowds and build the legend of professional wrestling in the region.
Born and raised in the Lee County of South Carolina, Carnan has long been a fan of professional wrestling. At the age of seventeen, he began a successful northern travel schedule, wrestling in matches across the New England states. He also competed for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the areas of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.
Carnans outstanding in-ring abilities and charisma made him a fan favorite. In 1948, he was one of the first professional wrestlers to be enshrined in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. His reign as the face of Southern wrestling lasted until 1956, when he suffered a major spinal injury in the ring that forced him to call it a day.
In his career, Carnan captured several championship titles, including the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, the NWA Southern Tag Team Championships with partner Tiger Conway, and the Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship. In 1954, he defeated the legendary Lou Thesz to capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Carnan retired from professional wrestling in 1956 and moved back to his hometown in South Carolina. Here, he opened a successful insurance agency and served as the county sheriff from 1958 until his retirement in 1976. During his tenure, he worked hard to keep the area safe, especially during the civil rights movement.
Though no longer an active member of the wrestling industry, Carnans legacy lives on. His contributions to the American south and professional wrestling have been recognized both nationally and internationally. To this day, he is referred to as The King of the South and his in-ring excellence continues to inspire other professional grapplers.
Carnan was not only respected in his professional wrestling career, but also remembered fondly by those who knew him in life and throughout his retirement years. He was known as a kind and generous person, who was committed not only to his work, but also to his family and friends. Sadly, in 2006, Carnan succumbed to a stroke at the age of 87. But his legacy, and his immense contributions to the sport of professional wrestling, will never be forgotten.
