Pete Mead

Pete Mead (1924-2007) was an American middleweight boxer who was active in the early 1940s through 1951.

Pete Mead was born as Felix G. Mead on January 11, 1924, in Trumann, Arkansas, to Ed and Ethel Mead. He grew up in  the nearby larger city of Jonesboro in Craighead County.

He started boxing at an early age and made his professional debut just before the start of World War II. His boxing career was temporarily interrupted, as he had to serve in the US Army during World War II, in which he fought several exhibition matches during that time.

After returning to civilian life, he resumed his boxing career and fought throughout the United States and overseas.

In 1946, Mead made his first of several appearances at Madison Square Garden in New York City with a six-round decision over Tommy Merrill. He defeated thereafter Vince LaSalva and Jerry Fiorello. He split two bouts with Herbie Kronowitz, the Jewish American fighter from Brooklyn. He then defeated Sonny Horne of Niles, Ohio. Thereafter, he defeated Fritzie Zivic.

In 1947, Mead lost a verdict in The Garden to Harold Green. He then lost to Sonny Horne but rebounded to defeat him in their second fight. He then knocked out Rueben Shank in the tenth round. He secured eight more victories, including split decisions over the Herbert Lewis Hardwick and Herbie Kronowitz.

On June 14, 1948, Walter Cartier knocked out Mead in the third round. It was Mead's first knockout. He returned to defeat Charley Zivic and to draw with Joe Rindone.

His fight against Joey DeJohn on July 7, 1949, at Madison Square Garden was hailed by Ring Magazine as one of the ten greatest fights in the century. Mead got off the floor in the third and fifth rounds and stopped DeJohn in round seven. This fight has been called "the bloodiest" ever in The Garden. It was also Mead's last victory.

Meda's finaly fight was in 1951 against Rocky Graziano. Mead was knocked out by Graziano in three rounds. Mead's career hence ended with a 39-16-1 record.

After leaving boxing, Mead lived for a time in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and later moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he operated a construction company.

In 1989, Mead wrote his autobiography title, Blood, Sweat and Cheers: The Pete Mead Story. In 1993, he was inducted into the Ohio Boxing Hall of Fame.

Over the years Mead kept in touch with such friends and former competitors as Rocky Marciano, Herbie Kronowitz, Joey DeJohn, Rocky Graziano, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Bill Hannigan.

Mead was married to Dorothy M. Russell (December 4, 1921 – May 12, 2004), also a native of Trummann, Arkansas. The couple had five children.

Mead died on 2 July 2007, in a nursing home in Jonesboro, Arkansas.