The Champ, the Heiress and the Seasick Shakespearean

Clear back in World War I, there was a young Marine named Gene Tunney. He was a very talented amateur boxer who learned that boxing enabled him to get out of some of the more onerous make-work chores. After taking a serious beating when he was a beginner, he developed extraordinary skills in defense and counterpunching. Before his unit got on the troop transport to France, he noticed that the company clerk putting two books in his rucksack. “The Winter’s Tale” and “Julius Caesar.” This caught Tunney’s attention because he knew that a Marine would have to carry anything in his rucksack for many a weary mile on road marches. During the sea voyage to France, just about everyone in the unit suffered from seasickness and the company clerk was most afflicted of all. When Tunney’s unit arrived in France, he discovered that his uniform tunic had been a victim of the clerk’s nausea. As a result, Tunney failed a uniform inspection that got Private Tunney extra duties. The company clerk was quite apologetic, asking Tunney if there was anything he could to make it up to him. Tunney considered that request for a moment and said, “Give me one of your books.” The clerk gave him “A Winter’s Tale.”

At first, Private Tunney had difficulty appreciating Shakespeare, but with a bit of coaching from the company clerk, he developed an appreciation for literature that stood him in good stead for the rest of his life.

Almost eight years later, Gene Tunney had established himself as a leading contender for the heavyweight championship of the world. Reporters covering his training camp learned, to their astonishment, that Tunney had no use for card games. Rather, he much preferred reading books. This caused no end of amusement amongst the sportswriters. Indeed, legend has it that heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey’s handlers told him: “It’s in the bag, champ. That so-and-so is reading a book.”

If Tunney’s literary tastes caused Dempsey to underestimate his opponent, he paid a heavy price. In September of 1926, Gene Tunney gave Jack Dempsey a thoroughly one-sided boxing lesson, winning the heavyweight championship with a unanimous decision.

After defeating Dempsey twice and defending his title one more time against Australian Tom Heeney, Tunney retired undefeated a millionaire several times over. He was only one of three men in the history of the sport never to be beaten. So, what is a highly eligible bachelor with several million dollars to do? He hooked up with a young lady named Holly Lauder, who was the granddaughter of a first cousin and a very close associate of Andrew Carnegie. Yes, THAT Andrew Carnegie, the richest man in the world. Frequently, retired boxing champs are harassed by unscrupulous promoters, trying to lure them back into the ring for one more payday. Often, this turns out to the ex-champ’s detriment. I’ve often wondered what Mrs. Tunney’s response would be to similar invitations. I’m guessing she would want to beat the promoters over the head with suitcases full of bearer bonds. In case anyone is wondering how Gene and Polly turned out, Gene Tunney died a month after his and Polly’s fiftieth anniversary. One of their three sons served as a United States Senator, and Holly Lauder died last year at the age of 100.