Eddie Roberts

Edward Robertson (born as Edwin Lionel Rowland) (January 20, 1903 – March 3, 1968), better known as Eddie Roberts, was an American Welterweight/Middleweight boxer, actor and a World War I, World War II and Korean War veteran who competed from 1922 to 1931. He held the title of Pacific Northwest Welterweight Champion and was a serious contender for the World Welterweight championship in 1926–1927.

Early life Eddie Roberts was born on January 20, 1903, in Anacortes, Washington to father Edwin Luther Rowland of Scotch-Irish parentage, the owner of a Livery and transport business and a City Marshal, and mother Mamie Kreamen of German parentage, a housewife. The youngest of two brothers, he lived in Anacortes up until at least the age of 7, reportedly he later grew up in Alameda. His father died when Roberts was seven years old due to a broken neck in an automobile accident. Roberts attended Whitney Primary School. Roberts filled his draft registration card under a fake name on September 12, 1918, at the age of 15. Roberts was a fireman on the USS Chicago, USS Milwaukee and the SS Saint Paul. He joined the United States Navy on February 17, 1919 and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard after which being moved to the battleship USS Arkansas in Guantánamo Bay in 1920 at the latest and gaining the rank of fireman and afterwards water tender. On November 27, 1929, Roberts married Agnes Serene Anderson.

Amateur career While serving on the USS Arkansas as a Master-at-arms, Roberts' boxing skills were noticed by his fellow sailors, who often engaged in friendly sparring matches with him. His impressive performance in these matches caught the attention of the ship's athletic director, who saw his potential as a competitive boxer. With the encouragement of his the athletic director, Roberts decided to join the Atlantic Squadron fistic competition. Roberts' decision to join the competition turned out to be a wise one, as he quickly rose through the ranks and eventually won the middleweight championship of the navy.

Professional career

Roberts left the Navy and asked Jack Connors in late 1921 if Connors would be his coach (Connors was also the coach of future Welterweight World champion, Freddie Steele and briefly the coach of the future 15th governor of Washington Albert Rosellini), Connors accepted, Roberts left the Navy and had his professional debut on September 2, 1922, at the age of 19 in the Welterweight weight class with a win against Fred Kelly. Roberts' popularity and skill grew quickly, and by 1923, he was participating in main event fights like the one at the now Kaiser Convention Center against Oakland Jimmy Duffy.

On March 12, 1928, Roberts lost a bout against future Welterweight and Middleweight champion Young Corbett III with a round-nine knockout.

Retirement from boxing and acting career On August 19, 1931, at the age of 28, Roberts sustained two small fractures of the jaw, this occurred during his bout with Buddy Gorman. This incident was the catalyst that pushed Roberts into his retirement from boxing, aside from a few bouts here and there in the coming years.

Roberts had started his acting career in 1929 when he starred in the film Follow the Leader where he played a gangster. Roberts later appeared in several movies (see below) and also a series of boxing commercials by Al Christie alongside Buster West and Tom Patricola. In 1934 Roberts became an athletic instructor for Hecht-MacArthur Productions.

Filmography Year Title Role Source 1930 Follow the Leader Valet 1930 Model Women Mover Mike 1931 Masquerade Cafe Customer 1933 Broadway Brevities #18: World's Champ 1933 Hizzoner Mayor's chauffeur 1933 Million Dollar Melody The Tough Guy 1933 The Good Bad Man Kidnapper 1934 Hotel Anchovy Suicidal Hotel Guest 1934 The Expectant Father Expectant Father in Waiting Room 1935 Mr. Widget Person asking for a lighter 1937 Freshies Chauffeur 1937 On Such a Night 1937 Some Blondes Are Dangerous Rattler O'Keefe 1937 Submarine D-1 Pharmacist's Mate (uncredited) 1937 Love on Toast In 1933, Roberts was working as a bartender in San Francisco.

In late 1933, Roberts was a bartender aboard the Dollar Liner SS President Hoover in the Trans-Pacific trade.

In 1936–1937, Roberts was the owner of a night club/cocktail lounge/tavern on Mason Street in San Francisco.

In 1940, Roberts was working as a bartender in a hotel lounge in Redding.

Roberts loved to hunt and fish and planned to build an outing resort in California.

In 1942 at the age of 39, Roberts lived in San Francisco and enlisted in the Navy on July 16, 1942. He was reassigned the rank of water tender and fought in World War II until June 22, 1945, serving first on the USS Bache, USS Houston, starting December 20, 1943, and the USS Mobile starting October 17, 1944.

In 1947, Roberts was a bartender in San Francisco

In 1950, Roberts was again working as a bartender in Seattle.

Between 1950 and early 1953, Roberts fought in the Korean War on the USNS David C. Shanks, SS Brazil Victory, SS Otis L. Hall as a watertender, on the American SS Fairisle as a deck engineer and on the SS Royal Oak

In 1955, Roberts was working on the SS Young America as an oiler.

In 1957, Roberts was living in Nome, Alaska as a bartender.

Edward Roberts died on March 3, 1968, in Alameda at the age of 65. and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery under his fake name and birth date.

Personal life Roberts changed his name from Edward Lionel Rowland to Eddie/Edward Roberts for "fighting purposes" based on the character "Kid" Roberts by H. C. Witwer.

Roberts was married multiple times but had no children. unless otherwise stated.

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