Del Wilkes, the former pro-wrestler and South Carolina football All-American has died of a heart attack at 59 years old Thursday morning.
After a promising college football career at the University of South Carolina in the 1980s, Wilkes was not able to secure a contract in the National Football League. What could have been the end of his career in sports turned into the beginning of international wrestling stardom.
Wilkes, as his wrestling persona, “The Patriot,” was a star of World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Entertainment and Japanese professional wrestling.
“When I was a kid, there were two things—football and pro wrestling—that occupied my every waking thought,” Wilkes once said.
Fans, family, and industry insiders have taken to social media to share their favorite stories about the sports legend known as “the Patriot,” on Thursday.
“Regardless of the accolades or fame he may have achieved, to me, he was best known as a friend,” said Pastor Andy McDaniel, who hosted a podcast with Wilkes. “Del overcame his struggles in this life and became an inspiration to many. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.”
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Some people learned of the Patriot’s passing via social media.
“At the request of his family, it’s with a devastated heart that I let you know Heaven gained one of the most special men I’ve ever had the honor to know today,” wrote family friend Allen Wright Adkins wrote in a Facebook post. “Del Wilkes, I’ve loved you for 40 years and always will. Rest in peace, my dear friend…you’ll be missed more than you could ever know.”
The WWE confirmed his death in a post to their website.
“A Superstar quickly on the rise, The Patriot proudly donned the red, white and blue of America in the midst of a rivalry with The Hart Foundation, leading to a memorable match against Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at In Your House: Ground Zero just two months after his WWE debut,” the WWE said.
Fellow former WCW and WWE wrestler Marc Mero took to Twitter to express his feelings about Wilkes’ death.
“Very sad to hear the passing of the Patriot Del Wilkes. Nothing but fond memories working with him in WCW. My thoughts are with his family and numerous fans. Thank you for the memories.”
Very sad to hear the passing of the Patriot Del Wilkes. Nothing but fond memories working with him in WCW. My thoughts are with his family and numerous fans. Thank you for the memories. 😞 pic.twitter.com/zen0GSGQdd
— Marc Mero (@MarcMero) July 1, 2021
Of his fellow wrestlers and the wrestling school he trained at, The Fabulous Moolah’s compound, Wilke previously told an interviewer, “Pro wrestling is a business of characters, outrageous characters. And sometimes those characters are even bigger than the individual who represents that character.”
Wilkes missed out on a spot in the USC athletics Hall of Fame in part because of crimes and prison time related to a prescription pill addiction. Wilkes said he became addicted during his wrestling career spanning from 1988-1997. He also pled guilty to a domestic assault charge in 1999.
Leading up to his death, Wilkes had been working as a salesman in Columbia, South Carolina.
Newsweek reached out to the WWE for comment.
