Leavitt, Frank Simmons: Difference between revisions
Remove Research notes URLs (review list retained offline) |
RB Archive enrichment: Full chronological regen from SI; DOB/DOD; NYC birthplace |
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|first=Frank | |first=Frank | ||
|middle=S. | |middle=S. | ||
|alias=Man Mountain Dean | |alias=Man Mountain Dean; Frank Simmons Leavitt | ||
|birth_year=1891 | |birth_year=1891 | ||
|death_year=1953 | |death_year=1953 | ||
|class_rank=First Sergeant | |class_rank=First Sergeant | ||
|photo=Leavitt, Frank S.jpg | |photo=Leavitt, Frank S.jpg | ||
|birth_date=30 June 1891 | |||
|death_date=29 May 1953 | |||
|rank_final=First Sergeant | |||
|nativity=United States | |||
|birth_place=New York City | |||
}} | }} | ||
<div class="soldier-lead"> | <div class="soldier-lead"> | ||
'''Frank S. Leavitt''' (1891 | '''Frank S. Leavitt''' (30 June 1891 – 29 May 1953), known as '''Man Mountain Dean''', was a professional wrestler and Camp Ritchie hand-to-hand combat instructor who trained Ritchie Boys before overseas deployment. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
'''Frank S. Leavitt''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]). | '''Frank S. Leavitt''' — First Sergeant; known as "Man Mountain Dean". Summary from a Notable Ritchie Boys slide ([https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM source]). | ||
Frank Simmons Leavitt was born on 30 June 1891 in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. Exceptionally large from childhood, he entered the Army before World War I (after arranging a Bowery stranger to sign enlistment papers in place of his father, which clouds some early age records). He served multiple hitchs under Gen. John J. Pershing, including Mexican-border duty and combat in France. | |||
After the war he played college and professional football, then became a celebrated professional wrestler—first as Soldier Leavitt, later as Man Mountain Dean—and appeared in films and stunt work. In World War II he returned to uniform as a first sergeant and hand-to-hand combat instructor at Camp Ritchie, where Ritchie Boys remembered the shorn, 320-pound celebrity teaching close combat and American slang. | |||
He died on 29 May 1953. | |||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
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* Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import | * Listed on Notable Ritchie Boys slides; no ASN found in the class roster import | ||
* Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( ) | * Portrait and summary from Notable Ritchie Boys slides ( ) | ||
* No ASN in Classes 1–31 roster import; page originates from Notable Ritchie Boys slides plus Sports Illustrated (June 2022) profile. | |||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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| row_source || notable_slides_manual | | row_source || notable_slides_manual | ||
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== Timeline == | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed soldier-timeline"> | |||
<div class="soldier-timeline-body"> | |||
* 30 June 1891 — Born in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City. | |||
* Pre–World War I / WWI — Multiple Army enlistments under Pershing; France. | |||
* 1920s–1930s — Football; professional wrestling as Man Mountain Dean; film work. | |||
* WWII — First sergeant / hand-to-hand instructor, Camp Ritchie. | |||
* 29 May 1953 — Died. | |||
</div> | |||
</div><div style="clear: both;"></div> | |||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
* Sports Illustrated, June 2022 — “Uncle Slam’s Secret Army” profile of Man Mountain Dean / Frank Leavitt at Camp Ritchie (RB Archive PDF) | |||
* [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM Notable Ritchie Boys slides] | * [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EWiegWT3PMxAFXS7MZLxFFLMZg0265GK5_Axp_XnzWM Notable Ritchie Boys slides] | ||