Ida Mae Martinez
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Ida Mae Martinez Selenkow (September 9, 1931 – January 19, 2010) was an American professional wrestler in the 1950s, known as Ida Mae Martinez. After her retirement in 1960, she appeared in the 2004 documentary Lipstick & Dynamite about the early years of Women's professional wrestling in North America. In addition to wrestling, Martinez was a yodeler, releasing the CD The Yodeling Lady Ms. Ida also in 2004. Martinez also obtained a Master's Degree in Nursing and was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to work with AIDS patients.
Professional wrestling career
After watching a female professional wrestling match between Johnny Mae Young and Gloria Barattini, Martinez sought out promoter Billy Wolfe.[1] Wolfe invited her to train in Columbus, Ohio.[1] She debuted professionally in August 1951 in Ohio.[1] She won the Championship of Mexico in 1952.[1][2] She held the title until 1953.[3]
She retired in 1960 after remarrying.[1] In the 1980s, she became a board member for the Cauliflower Alley Club.[1] Martinez also was featured in the 2004 documentary about women's wrestling, Lipstick & Dynamite.[1] In 2006, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame awarded her the Senator Hugh Farley Award for her contribution in and outside of the ring.[2]
Personal life
Martinez was born in New London, Connecticut and raised in North Stonington, where she lived with relatives after her mother abandoned her. She never knew her father.[4]
Her guardians were reportedly abusive [2] and she left home sometime between the ages of 13 and 15 to live with her cousin.[1][2] She attended Norwich Free Academy,[1] but eventually dropped out of high school.[2] In addition to school, she worked as a yodeler and singer at country and minstrel shows.[1] She married at age 17 and claimed that her husband was abusive.[1] Her wrestling career began in 1948, when a customer, who was a wrestler, asked her if she wanted to wrestle. She said yes.
She retired from the ring in 1960 to marry a Baltimore businessman, Herbert Selenkow. They later had two daughters, but later divorced.[1] She received her GED in 1971, an Associate's Degree in nursing in 1975, and a Bachelor's Degree in nursing in 1980.[1][2] Ten years later she received her Master's Degree from the University of Maryland School of Nursing.[1] She was inducted into the Nursing Honor Society Sigma Theta Tau.[3] She was one of the first nurses in Baltimore to care for AIDS patients.[1] She also published writings about her work with AIDS patients.[3]
She later converted to Judaism.[1] In 2004, she released a yodeling CD, The Yodeling Lady Ms. Ida.[1] She appeared on The Rosie O'Donnell Show as a yodeler in April 1999.[1][3][2] She was also a member of the Western Music Association.[3]
Championships and accomplishments
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Senator Hugh Farley Award (2006)[2]
- Other titles
See also
References
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- Pages with script errors
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- 1931 births
- 2010 deaths
- American nurses
- American women nurses
- American female professional wrestlers
- Converts to Judaism
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Jewish professional wrestlers
- Sportspeople from New London, Connecticut
- Professional wrestlers from Connecticut
- University of Maryland, Baltimore alumni
- American yodelers
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- 21st-century American Jews
- 21st-century American women
- 20th-century female professional wrestlers
- 20th-century American professional wrestlers
- 20th-century American sportswomen