Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft Boxing Record “Pugilist” “Leather Pusher” “Punching Paratrooper” “Glover” “The Camp Mackall Terror” “Slugger” 1944 Carolinas Golden Gloves Champion
Bliss “Lee” Croft – Amateur Career W vs. Charles Preston Smyrna Heavyweight Champ (‘43) • W vs. Willard Martin • L vs. Pvt. Bill Anderson in Southern Final match W vs. Rodriguez (Camp Forrest-Tullahoma, TN) SE Championships- Macon, GA (‘43) • L vs. Bob Townsend in semi-final AAU National Boxing Tourney – Boston, MA (‘43) • TKO W vs. John Hammond • L vs. Freddie Shott in final W vs. Wally Vrebansic (Cleveland, OH) Carolinas Golden Gloves Champ- Charlotte (Feb 1944) • KO Jim Lischette in final match Madison Square Garden – 1944 Golden Glove Championship • Lost decision in semi-finals vs. Sal Maribito
Most popular boxer… 1943 Smyrna, TN
Pride of Tacoma….
Jan 1943 “The Bom-Bay” Army Air Forces Combat Crew School Art Saulsgiver-Welterweight 551st PIR Sparring partner
Paratrooper / 551st PIR Boxing Team
Willie Tiger, Johnny Rosata, Lee Croft
First Fight Ever… KO vs. Charles Preston January 1943
Pre-tournament hype
Won vs. Willard Martin Nashville Southern Golden Gloves Hippodrome Nashville, TN Won vs. Willard Martin Lost by Decision to Bill Anderson in Finals
Heading to Boston….
551st Boxing Team
Boston Garden 1943 AAU Boxing Championship • Runner up • Won vs. John Hammond • Lost to Freddie Schott in finals
• Many telegrams back & forth between Bliss and his father as whether he would make the trip to Boston • Bliss was thrilled when he did show up! • This was always a treasured picture!
Boston - April 1943
W vs. Wally Verbansic May 1943 Cleveland, OH
May 19, 1943
Christmas 1943
Piedmont Golden Gloves 551st PIR Boxing Team Greensboro Y Gynasium
Article published 2/7/1944 (Bliss & Nell’s wedding day!)
Piedmont Golden Gloves 551st PIR Boxing Team Greensboro Y Gynasium
Article 2/7/1944 “below the fold”
1944 Carolinas Amateur Heavyweight Champion • KO Jim Lischette in finals
Carolina’s Golden Glove Champion (‘44) Charlotte, NC
1944
1944 AAU Amateur Heavyweight Championship Madison Square Garden • Lost Decision vs. Salvador Marabito (semi finals)
Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career
Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career
Joe Thomas – W - KO • July 3, 1944
• Meadowbrook Bowl, Newark NJ
Pvt & Mrs. Bliss “Lee” Croft
Texas Joe Dundee – W - KO • September 1, 1944
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Al Pearson– W - KO • December 4, 1944 • London
Arnie Sauerland– L - PTS • December 18, 1944 • London
• Red Cross Rec Center, Rainbow Gardens
Ring Magazine article April 1945
Shots in the Dark – 2/6/1945
Al Pearson KO in London Royal Albert Hall Same venue his father, HW “Lee” Boxed in 1908 Announces birth of Hugo William
Frankie Ryan– W - KO • February 20, 1945
• Wilmington NC
Aaron Levy- W - KO • March 14, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC
John Marvin-KO
Mack O’Michaels - W - KO • April 13, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Tiny Taylor- W - KO • April 27, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Tiny Taylor- W - KO • April 27, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC
• Ap
“Ignorance is not Bliss” So…this is how that phrase came about
More opinion…
Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Eddie Mader – N - NC • May 23, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Eddie Mader – N - NC
Eddie Mader – N - NC
This one did not happen... Al Lawson “He punches too hard”
Whitey Clark – W - KO • June 7, 1945
• Portsmouth, VA
Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
• Ju
Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Sol Bedame– W - KO • June 20, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
“My boy Lee”….John (Jawn) Allen
Jawn Allen, BH “Lee” Croft, Jimmy Campbell
Whitey Clark – W - KO • July 18, 1945
• Portsmouth, VA
“Perfect physical machine” Ring physician
Bliss Henry “Lee” Croft – Pro Career
Pre-Denson fight chatter
Johnny (“Blonde Johnny”) Denson –L - TKO • July 27, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Johnny Denson –L - TKO • July 27, 1945
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Buddy Thomas – W - PTS • August 10, 1945
• Portsmouth, VA
Buddy Thomas vs. Lee Croft
Bobby Murray – W - KO • August 15, 1945 • Armory, Charlotte NC
After WWII….
Trainer, Fred Bruny
Packy Paul– D - PTS
• January 3, 1946
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Packy Paul– D - PTS
• January 3, 1946
• Armory, Charlotte NC
Jim Dixon– W- KO • February 21, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA
Dave Johnston – D - PTS • March 7, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA
Dave Johnston – D-PTS • March 7, 1946
• Midway Arena, Tacoma WA • Fought to a Draw…
Dave Johnston –L - PTS • March 28, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA
Dave Johnston –L - PTS • March 28, 1946 • Midway Arena
“Chip off the old block”
Lee vs Lee • Always “hamming it up”
Ralph Kayo Hooker – L - KO • June 6, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA
Ralph Kayo Hooker – L - KO • June 6, 1946 • Midway Arena, Tacoma WA
Sonny Orrock– L – KO Last fight for BH “Lee” Croft • July 1, 1946 • Armory, Tacoma WA
A bit about Henry William “Lee” Croft
Henry William “Lee” Croft
Lee vs. Victor McLaglen • Not sure if they actually boxed one another but both enjoyed posing for the camera and were pen pals • Victor McLaglen was in the British army • Had a boxing career (16-8-1) • Once toured with a circus, which offered $25 to anyone who could go three rounds with him. • Became an actor after his boxing career
Jack Lester – D - PTS • June 27, 1910
Tribute to HW “Lee” Croft • Died December 1951
Tidbits from Melanie… • Family lore indicates that my great-grandfather, Edmund, lured Lee (Henry William-my grandfather) away from boxing with an enticing trip to Europe! • Bliss told our family that after 3 KOs, his father (Henry William) indicated he should consider re-upping back into the Army since he had a wife and 3 mouths to feed (Hugo, Alice “Sissy” and Chris), which he did. • During those “lean years” Bliss also worked as a bartender, blacksmith, farmer, Swedish masseuse, etc. • Family lived in Fife, WA
From the archives…. Much donated to Tacoma Sports Museum https://www.tacomasportsmuseum.com