William Harrison Dempsey, also know as Jack Dempsey, was born on June 24, 1895, in the Mormon village of Manassa, Colorado. Starting at a young age, he had to learn how to care for his struggling family through working as a farm hand, miner, and a cowboy. It was during this first ten years of his life that his brother, Bernie Dempsey, a prizefighter, began giving him lessons in boxing. William went on to move with his family to Provo, Utah, where he dropped out of the eighth grade to work as a shoe-shiner and continue training with his older brother. By the age of 17, Dempsey had grown into a skilled boxer, & he made the decision to quit his job and begin fighting.
From 1911-1916, Dempsey traveled across america, blazing through mining towns, saloons, coal-mining towns, back allies, lumberjack camps, and numerous hick towns in order to pick up any fight that he could. During this time he went by the name, "Kid Blackie". Possessing speed, toughness, and one-punch knockout power, Dempsey quickly started racking up a series of knockouts.
At the same time, William's older brother Bernie was still prizefighting, under the name "Jack Dempsey", after the great 19th century boxer Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey. It was on one night in 1914 that Bernie became ill, and Will had to step in. He fought that night, winning by a large margin, and as a result, keeping the name of Jack Dempsey forever.
Jack Dempsey went on to become one of the greatest boxers of all time, and was a huge cultural figure to the world.
During this time he was married four times. Once to Maxine Gates (1916-1919), then to Estelle Taylor (1925-1930), Hannah Williams (1933-1943) and Deanna Piatelli (1958-1983). He had two children with Williams, Joan and Barbara, and adopted a daughter with Piatelli.
On May 31, 1983, Jack Dempsey passed away from heart failure.
From 1911-1916, Dempsey traveled across america, blazing through mining towns, saloons, coal-mining towns, back allies, lumberjack camps, and numerous hick towns in order to pick up any fight that he could. During this time he went by the name, "Kid Blackie". Possessing speed, toughness, and one-punch knockout power, Dempsey quickly started racking up a series of knockouts.
At the same time, William's older brother Bernie was still prizefighting, under the name "Jack Dempsey", after the great 19th century boxer Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey. It was on one night in 1914 that Bernie became ill, and Will had to step in. He fought that night, winning by a large margin, and as a result, keeping the name of Jack Dempsey forever.
Jack Dempsey went on to become one of the greatest boxers of all time, and was a huge cultural figure to the world.
During this time he was married four times. Once to Maxine Gates (1916-1919), then to Estelle Taylor (1925-1930), Hannah Williams (1933-1943) and Deanna Piatelli (1958-1983). He had two children with Williams, Joan and Barbara, and adopted a daughter with Piatelli.
On May 31, 1983, Jack Dempsey passed away from heart failure.