Verne Gagne (born February 26 1926) is a former American professional wrestler, football player, pro wrestling trainer, and wrestling promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout the Midwest and Manitoba, Canada for many years. He remained in this position until 1991, when the company folded. His son Greg also wrestled professionally. He is a 10-time world champion, all which comes from holding the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, and holds the record for the most combined days as being a world champion. He is part of both the WWE Hall of Fame and the WCW Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

Pre-AWA career

Verne Gagne (born LaVerne Gagne) grew up on a farm in Corcoran, Minnesota. He left home at the age of 14 after his mother died. Verne went to Robbinsdale High School and excelled in football, baseball and wrestling, winning district, regional and state championships in high school wrestling, as well as being named to the All-State Football Team. In 1943, Verne was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota, where he was named to the All-Conference Team. After one year of college, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. Gagne chose to return to the University of Minnesota, where he enjoyed a successful amateur wrestling career that saw him capture two NCAA titles, as well as being an alternate for the U.S freestyle wrestling team at the 1948 Olympic Games; he later said that he might have wrestled in the Olympics, but his coaches had discovered that he had earned money winning a wrestling match at a carnival, thus putting his amateur standing in question.