A thirty-year veteran, Thunderbolt Patterson achieved success during the territory days, including becoming World Champion in Memphis, Florida, and Kentucky, Television Champion in Georgia, and a tag champion in Georgia, California, and Mid-Atlantic. But perhaps Patterson’s biggest contributions to wrestling is what he did outside the ring, as he fought against racial discrimination during the 70s and even campaigned to form a wrestler’s union, which Patterson later claimed led to him being blackballed for several years.