Arnold Skaaland
Arnold Skaaland (January 21, 1925 – March 13, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. Following a stint in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, Skaaland began wrestling in 1946 under his real name. Given the nickname “Golden Boy,” he became a part of the World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1963, and in 1967, won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship with Spiros Arion. In 1978, Skaaland retired from in-ring competition and transitioned into a manager; unlike normal managers, he managed faces instead of heels. Skaaland's most notable clients include Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. He later became a road agent for the WWF once he stopped managing, and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Early life Skaaland served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After a short-lived attempt to make a living through boxing, he decided to become a professional wrestler. Professional wrestling career Early career (1946–1963) Skaaland debuted in 1946 as "Arnold Skaaland". Though competing under his real name, he was billed early in his career as hailing from Norway. Performing throughout the northeastern United States, Skaaland gained the nickname "The Golden Boy" and was