Earl Caddock, 62, former world's heavyweight wrestling champion is dead. A victim of cancer, Caddock lost his battle for life early Friday at his home in Walnut.

It was in 1917 that Caddock defeated Joe Stecher to gain his title. He lost it to the same man in 1920. The Walnut man had been ill at his home since mid May following a three week stay in the hospital. The Caddock-Stecher matches have become legend. Caddock known in his prime as "the man with a thousand holds," whipped Stecher in Omaha on April 9, 1917, in a match that lasted until the early hours of the morning. A few months later Earl enlisted in the headquarters troop of the 88th division at Camp Dodge near Des Moines and engaged in several bouts before he went overseas.

Born in Huron, SD, February 27, 1888, he was living at Anita when he sprang into the national wrestling spotlight but it was at Walnut that the three sons, Earl, Jr., Robert and Richard, attended high school. The sons starred in athletics. A daughter, Joan, has been attending college at Wheaton, IL.

Caddock came to Walnut in 1920. He operated the Ford garage here until 1932. He later became president of the United Petroleum Corporation of Omaha, which position he held until two years ago.

Other survivors include his widow, the former Grace Mickel; three brothers, R.A. Caddock of Anita, Raymond of Upton, Wyoming, Ed of Monrovia, CA; a sister, Mrs. J.G. Gilbert of Chicago; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Rieck Funeral Home in Walnut at 3 p.m. Sunday with Donald Charles officiating. Burial will be in Walnut Cemetery.