Joe McHugh (announcer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joseph P. McHugh (April 30, 1904 – January 31, 1993) was an American ring announcer. He announced boxing and wrestling matches in Allentown, Pennsylvania from the 1920s through the 1980s and gained national exposure on WWWF/WWF programming in the 70s and 80s.

Early life[]

McHugh was born on April 30, 1904 in Allentown.[1] He was one of six sons born to Owen E. and Bridget (Brown) McHugh.[1][2] One of his brothers was Terry McHugh, a boxer who fought bantamweight champion Pete Herman in 1919.[1] He grew up on Gordon Street in the Irish section of Allentown's Sixth Ward. He graduated from Allentown Catholic High.[1]

Early career[]

When he was 16 years old, McHugh went into vaudeville. He performed across the United States as a comedian and an emcee. After vaudeville, McHugh worked as an entertainment promoter in Lehigh Valley clubs. He was part owner of Club Rio, a nightclub located in South Whitehall Township.[3] He also worked as a sales associate for Roy Eichelberger Roofing and Siding in Allentown until 1976.[1] McHugh was married to Barbara M. Gorman.[2] They had one daughter, also named Barbara.[1] During World War II, McHugh served in the United States Army.[2]

Ring announcing[]

By 1929, McHugh was a licensed ring announcer.[1] He announced boxing and wrestling matches primarily in the Allentown area during the city's heyday as a fight town as well as other arenas along the east coast.[3] He announced fights featuring a number of notable boxers, including Rocky Marciano, Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, and Jack Sharkey.[1] In 1977, ‘’Sports Illustrated’’ described McHugh as a “Living Legend of the Ring”.[4]

In 1964, McHugh began announcing World Wide Wrestling Federation matches in Allentown.[3] In 1977, the WWWF (later known as the WWF) began holding television tapings at the Allentown Fairgrounds’s Agricultural Hall, which gave McHugh nationwide exposure.[1] The WWF stopped taping in Allentown in 1984, but McHugh continued to announce regional wrestling shows until his death on January 31, 1993.[3][2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Shope, Dan (April 29, 1984). "Joe McHugh - - Celebrates 80th Birthday Tomorrow . . . Believes in Mind Over Age". The Morning Call. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ring Announcer Joe McHugh Dies at 88". The Morning Call. February 1, 1993. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Blangger, Tim (July 22, 1991). "Ring Announcer McHugh, 87, Far From On The Ropes". The Morning Call.
  4. ^ Kennedy, Ray (February 21, 1977). "Amateur Night on the Americus Plan". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
Retrieved from ""