Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. (October 11, 1945 – June 11, 2015), better known as “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, was a professional wrestler, booker, and trainer best known for his work for the National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation, later known as the WWE. Rhodes is widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers and talkers in professional wrestling history.
Rhodes was a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and during his stint with Jim Crockett Promotions, later known as WCW, he was a United States Heavyweight Champion, as well as a multi-time World Television, World Tag Team, and World Six-Man Tag Team Champion.
He also won numerous regional championships and is one of seven guys inducted into the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. Dustin and Cody, his sons, both pursued professional wrestling careers and are presently performing for AEW and WWE, respectively.
Following his retirement from wrestling, he worked as a backstage booker and producer in WWE’s NXT developmental division and made infrequent on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views.
Rhodes, billed as “the son of a plumber,” did not have the physique of a traditional wrestler; his character was that of the “ordinary guy,” noted for the personality displayed in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon noted that no wrestler “personified the spirit of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes”.
Dusty Rhodes parents: Virgil Runnels Sr., Katherine Trefell
Rhodes’ father Runnels Sr was born on the 6th of August 1910 in Pauls Valley, Garvin County, Oklahoma, United States. He passed away on 10th April 1969 at the age of 58. There isn’t much information about his personal available to the public to this day.
Rhodes’ mother Katherine Trefell was born on the 25th of March 1925 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, United States. She passed away on the 7th of June 2003 at the age of 78. She lived a rather private life revealing nothing about her personal life to the public.
