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Frank Bonnema

Career History

  • Frank Bonnema was a sports anchor before moving to wrestling..
  • Frank Bonnema served as play-by-play commentator for the “Portland Wrestling” program on KPTV Channel 12 in Portland, Oregon for 15 years staring in 1964..
  • ~~~ Frank Bonnema worked with big names like Rip Oliver, Buddy Rose, Roddy Piper and Lonnie Mayne, just to name a few..
  • ~~~ Frank Bonnema teamed with Dutch Savage on commentary on several occasions..
  • October 15, 1982: Frank Bonnema passed away weeks after suffering a massive heart attack..
  • ~~~ Fans sent cards and letters and left messages at the KPTV station wishing Frank well before he passed..
  • ~~~ Don Coss announced his passing days later on “Portland Wrestling”..
  • ~~~ Dutch Savage honored him by saying “The king is dead, long live the king.”
  • ~~~ Don Owen acknowledged him to the audience at the Portland Sports Arena, which got a huge pop!

    Michael Summers wrote: Here’s a link to a YouTube video from a Portland TV show when Don Coss announced that Frank had passed away in October 1982. It’s a very touching video. When I first saw, I cried.

 

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Debut

1964

Birthday

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

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