One-of-a-Kind Wrestler

This is a photo from the Ric Flair biography, To Be The Man. Look closely at the photo (on page 28 of the book) to see a young R. Bruce Tharpe standing at ringside as Flair prepares to remove his robe.

This photo was taken in 1983 in Tampa, Florida. Tharpe was the ring announcer.

After an absence of over 25 years, it was a touching scene in 2008 to see old friends Bruce Tharpe and Ric Flair reunite in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I refereed and announced many matches involving Ric Flair. I have traveled many miles with Ric Flair and have shared dressing rooms with him from Miami, Florida to Tokyo, Japan," Tharpe said. "In his prime, 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair was the best wrestler in the world, and possibly the best of all time. He is truly a one-of-a-kind wrestler."