Lester Pooley and George Wallace
Lester Pooley, older brother of Ben Henry Pooley of
Bagdad, Florida had more than 300 pro, and amateur fights. He lost only 9. He
fought as a 112-pound flyweight. It was said that he was, “Quick on his legs,
fast with his fists.” And “rugged, cunning, and tough.”
In 1935 he won the southeast AAU championship at
16 years old. While still an amateur he would use a false identity to fight
professional bouts. The sawmill in Bagdad had shut down so he fought against
professionals to support himself.
He defeated Joe Dan Trotman who later became a Judge
in DeFuniak Springs. He also knocked out Lew Jenkins, a future lightweight
world champ in a Bogalusa, Louisiana fight.
On Feb. 12, 1936 in a Golden Gloves semi-final bout in
Nashville, Tenn., he fought future Alabama Governor George C. Wallace and won
by unanimous decision.
Many years later at an airport press conference during
his presidential campaign Wallace said, “I’m sure glad to see this outpouring
of support for my campaign and I’m certainly glad to see my old friend Lester
Pooley. You know, Lester whipped me once in a Golden Gloves competition, and he
did a pretty good job of it. I’m glad to see he’s on my side now.”
On more than one occasion, Wallace asked Pooley to
join his staff as a bodyguard. Pooley always refused. He told the Governor he
had a drinking problem, “I might stay sober for a time, but if I took the
notion to get juiced-up, I’d do it.” I told him I might help him, but I believe
I’d hurt him.
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