Sgt. Roy Haldeman

SGT. ROY HALDEMAN was a professional wrestler who was based in Camden, New Jersey in the 1930s. He is known to have wrestled in Camden and Philadelphia, Ohio, upstate New York and Washington D.C. He appears to have been born Leroy Reid Haldeman on July 24, 1909 to Leroy Stanley Haldeman and the former Minnie Reid. He married Anna ELizabeth Saxton on August 18, 1934 in East Camden. Roy Haldeman was still wrestling as late as November of 1939. Last a resident of Pennsauken, New Jersey, Roy Haldeman passed away on May 5, 1976.

Scehnectady Gazette - January 23, 1932

GARDNER WILL MEET BANASKI IN ALBANY MIX

ALBANY, Jan. 22.—Carroll 'Pink " Gardner, Schenectady county sheriff-wrestler, ma y well claim being a victim of circumstances.

Gardner, who will meet Joe Banaski of Chicago at the Tenth Infantry armory Tuesday night, was on the verge of winning the light heavyweight title on a dozen occasions but he always fell a bit short of his goal.

He has beaten many champions, but never when the title was at stake. His most recent victory was over Marion Mynster, who defeated Banaski for the title last July.

Although his duties as sheriff are numerous, Gardner does not forsake
training routine, and at present he he in good condition, Tuesday's bout will be the eighth against Banaski, a former Albanian. He won two bouts, lost four and was held to a draw in one.

Gardner was middleweight champion of the world in 1921 and 1922. When elected sheriff last November he intended to retire from the ring, but the call of the mat was too strong Hence he will appear in Albany for the first time since he assumed office Januar y 1.

Ray Haldeman, former merchant marine, will meet Steve Budynas of
Schenectady in a semi-final to the Gardner-Banaski affair. Joe Campbell. Schenectady, will oppose Joe Montana, Columbus, O., and Mike
Mazurki, Cohoes, will meet Cyclone Reese, New York.

Albany Evening News - January 25, 1932

Gardner, Banaski Are Old Rivals
Meeting of Wrestlers in Albany Will Be Seventh for them

When Carroll (Pink) Gardner, Schenectady, and Joe Banaski, Chicago, meet tomorrow night in the feature wrestling bout in the Tenth Infantry Armory, it will be the seventh time time they have been opponents on the mat. Records show Banaski won four of the bouts, lost one and earned a draw in the other.

With the exception of the Mike Mazurki-Cyclone Rees battle, the
remainder of tomorrow's card will bring together light heavyweights.

Ray Haldeman. Camden, N. J. will clash with Steve Budynas, Schenectady, and Joe Montana, Columbus, Ohio, will meet Joe Campbell, Schenectady.

Scehnectay Gazette - January 26, 1932

GARDNER WILL MEET BANASKI IN ALBANY MIX

Two colorful light heavyweight wrestlers, Carroll "Pink' Gardner
of Schenectady and Joe Banaski of Chicago, will meet tonight at Albany at the 10th Infantry armory in a bout tha t may have an important bearing on the championship.

For this reason the two ar e expected to wage a hard fought battle. Gardner will attempt to record his third victory against the former Albanian in eight starts. Banaski has won four bouts. One battle went to a draw.

Friends of Banaski who knew him when he boxed in the amateur ranks unde r the Y. M. C. A. colors 10 years ago. will be among the spectators.
Gardner's recent victory over Marion Mynster. who defeated Banaski for
"the title last July, is an indication that the two are evenly matched. Mynster lost the crown recently to Kilonis.

Ray Haldeman of Camden. N. J., o ne of the very few wrestlers who use
the thrilling "spinning" body scissors, will meet Steve Budynas, Schenectady light heavyweight, in the semi-fina1.

Joe Campbell, also of Schenectady, will, oppose Joe Montana of
Columbus. Ohio, and Mike Mazurki of Cohoes will clash with Cyclone
Rees of New York in other bouts.

Troy Times - February 13, 1932

Kilonis Victor in Dorp Mat Bout

John Kilonis of Manchester, N. H., defeated Marion Mynster of
Charlestown, W. V., with a body slam to win another chance at
"Pink" Gardner's light-heavyweight title, in the feature bout at Schenectady last night. The affair was a listless exhibition with Mynster doing most of the work for 30 minutes of the 46 required to settle the argument.

Carl Van Wurden, Canadian titleholder, won over Ray Haldeman of Camden, N.J. with a body slam after 19 minutes of more or less
rough going, and Joe Campbell of Schenectady took the opener over Joe Gates of Utica with an airplane spin in 23 minutes.

Columbus Ohio - March and April, 1932

Columbus, Ohio:  Thursday, March 24, 1932 (The Auditorium) … Everette Marshall b. Pat McLary (11:07) … Walter Podolak b. Suylemin Bey (less than 3-minutes) … Paddy Mack b. Fred Moran (DQ) (18:00) … Bob Montgomery and Glen Wade drew … Sergeant Ray Halderman b. Charlie Santon (decision) … (promoter: Al Haft) … (referee:  Chob Sisson) … (3,500 fans)
Notes:  Marshall was outweighed by 29 pounds in his match.  McLary weighed 250 to Marshall’s 221.

Columbus, Ohio:  Wednesday, March 30, 1932 (The Auditorium) … MWA World Heavyweight champion John Pesek b. Walter Podolak (32:44) … Karl Davis b. Al Baffert (decision) … Fred Moran b. Bob Gearhart (21:00) (Gearhart substituted for Ray Carpenter, who was sick) … Ray Halderman and John Kilonis drew (30:00) … Robin Reed b. Roughhouse Packer (25:23) … (promoter:  Al Haft) … (referees:  Chob Sissons, Ed Beardsley) … (4,500 fans)

Notes:  Pesek was billed as a “claimant of the world’s heavyweight wrestling championship.” Walter Podolak was said to be a protégé of Stanislaus Zbyszko.  The show was sponsored by the Democratic Glee Club.  With his win, Davis earned a match with Joe Savoldi.
Columbus, Ohio:  Thursday, April 28, 1932 (The Auditorium) …
MWA World Light Heavyweight champion Pinky Gardner b. Marion Mynster (39:22) … Glen Wade b. Sailor Arnold (18:40) (airplane spin) … Gordon Arquette and Robin Reed drew (30:00) … Bob Atlas and Sergeant Roy Haldeman drew (30:00) … (promoter:  Al Haft) … (less than 2,500 fans)
Notes:  Robin Reed was said to be “one of the most scientific and popular boys ever to appear in Columbus.”  Haldeman was from Philadelphia.

Camden Courier-Post - June 3, 1932

…continued…

Cleveland Plain Dealer - August 23, 1932

Camden Courier-Post - February 12, 1936

 

Philadelphia Inquirer - October 14, 1935

Camden, New Jersey: Monday, October 14, 1935
(Convention Hall) … World Light Heavyweight Champion Charley “Midget” Fischer b. Pinky Gardner (2/3) … Ernie “Dutch” Heffner b. “Hillbilly” Casey Berger (DQ) (26:03) (Berger attacked Hefner after the match, nearly inciting a riot) … Eddie Kopper b. Roy Haldeman
(13:33) … Joe Gayon and Clete Kauffman drew (30:00) … (promoter: Charley Grip) … (matchmaker: Jack Pfefer) … (referee: Billy Martino) … (2,500 fans)

Note: The Philadelphia Inquirer stated that Fischer was the “undisputed light heavyweight wrestling champion of the world.”.

THE MORNING HERALD GLOVERSVILLE AND JOHNSTOWN, N. Y Januar 28, 1932

STAR MATMEN LINED UP FOR CENTER CARD
Kilonis, Light Heavy Champ, to Meet Roy Haldeman in Headliner
GARDNER VS MONTANA
Schenectady County Sheriff Matched with Ohioan; Two More Bouts

John Kllonis, former Glove Cities wrestler and present holder
of the world's light heavyweight championship, and Roy Haldeman
of Camden, N. J., will headline the four-bout all-professional card Wednesday night, February 3, at the Jewish Community Center gym.

This announcement was made yesterday by Bert Kennedy of the
Fulton County Athletic association, under the auspices of which the
program will be staged.

In a feature performance of equal attraction, "Pink" Gardner,
Schenectady county sheriff and as outstanding contender for Kilonis' title, will meet Joe Montana of Columbus, O.

Kilonis and Haldeman, who weigh 176 pounds each, will wrestle
to a finish, one fall deciding the winner.

Gardner, who weighs 180, and Montana, weighing 185, will wrestle 46 minutes, the judges to pick the winner.

A 30-mlnute bout has been arranged between Joe Campbell of
Schenectady sad Tom Dennenbaum of Mount Pleasant, and this
event should furnish thrills aplenty for the fans.

The fourth match will bring together Tony Moretto of Schenectady and Frank Krause of Albany, both in the 160-165 pound class.

The match is scheduled for 20 minutes and it will be fast
Kennedy, co-operating with Gardner, has obtained a license for the
show, and officials will be sent here for the card by the New York State Commission. Everything win be strictly official. If the first show is a success, others will be arranged.

All profit from the event will be turned over to the Welfare Fund
off the Center to help those is need.

Seating capacity of the Center gym is about 800, and fans will be
assured of being able to see all bouts easily. Advance sale of
tickets indicate that local fans are eager for the return of wrestling
as a major sport.