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Who Was Jack Dempsey?
As a boy, Jack Dempsey he worked as a farm hand, miner and cowboy and was taught to box by his older brother. Dempsey’s early prize fights were in mining towns around Salt Lake City but on July 4, 1919, he beat Jess Willard “The Great White Hope,” and became world heavyweight champion. He defended his title five times but lost to Gene Tunney in 1926.
Early Years of Jack Dempsey
Born William Harrison Dempsey on June 24, 1895, in Manassa, Colorado, Jack Dempsey’s early life was shaped by the rugged environment of the American West. His parents, Hyrum and Celia Dempsey, originally hailed from West Virginia, where Hyrum worked as a schoolteacher. Around 1880, both parents were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by a missionary group, prompting their move to the small Latter-day Saints community of Manassa, where Dempsey was born. Although his father eventually distanced himself from the church, his mother remained a devoted member, raising Dempsey in the faith. Reflecting on his upbringing, Dempsey once remarked, “I’m proud to be a Mormon. And ashamed to be the Jack Mormon that I am.”
The family faced economic hardships, with Hyrum and Dempsey’s older brothers working as miners in Colorado and Utah, leading to frequent relocations in pursuit of mining opportunities. By the age of eight, young Dempsey had already joined the workforce, taking up a job picking crops near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Over the years, he labored as a farmhand, miner, and cowboy to help support his family. As an adult, Dempsey often expressed his love for these jobs, saying he would have been equally content as a boxer, miner, or cowboy.
Dempsey’s first lessons in boxing came from his older brother Bernie, a prizefighter in the saloons of Rocky Mountain towns. Bernie taught him to strengthen his jaw by chewing pine tar gum and to toughen his skin by soaking his face in brine. These lessons set the foundation for Dempsey’s future career in the ring.
At age 12, Dempsey’s family settled in Provo, Utah, where he briefly attended Lakeview Elementary School. However, he dropped out after eighth grade to work full-time. Dempsey took on various jobs, including shining shoes, picking crops, and unloading sugar beets at a refinery for a mere ten cents per ton. By 17, Dempsey had become an accomplished young fighter and realized he could earn more money boxing than through manual labor.
From 1911 to 1916, Dempsey roamed from mining town to mining town, taking on fights wherever he could. His base of operations was Peter Jackson’s Saloon in Salt Lake City, where local organizer Hardy Downey arranged matches. Under the ring name “Kid Blackie,” Dempsey made his Salt Lake City debut, knocking out “One Punch Hancock” with a single blow. Downey, displeased with the quick win, forced Dempsey to fight another opponent before paying him.
During this time, Dempsey’s brother Bernie was still fighting under the name Jack Dempsey, in homage to the 19th-century boxing legend Jack “Nonpareil” Dempsey. In 1914, when Bernie fell ill, his younger brother stepped in to fight on his behalf. It was then that William Harrison Dempsey first adopted the name Jack Dempsey, winning the fight decisively. From that moment on, he would be known by the name that would later become legendary in the boxing world. By 1917, Dempsey had built a solid reputation, securing better-paying and higher-profile fights on the West Coast and in San Francisco.
A Boxing Champion
On Independence Day in 1919, Jack Dempsey seized a pivotal opportunity: a fight against the reigning world heavyweight champion, Jess Willard. Known as “The Great White Hope,” Willard stood an imposing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds, while Dempsey, at 6’1″ and 187 pounds, was widely considered the underdog. Despite the physical mismatch, Dempsey’s speed and aggressive tactics overwhelmed Willard, leading to a knockout in the third round and securing Dempsey the world heavyweight title.
However, the fight later stirred controversy. In 1964, Dempsey’s former manager, Jack Kearns, claimed that Dempsey’s gloves had been “loaded” with Plaster of Paris, which allegedly explained the severe damage inflicted on Willard. While the claim garnered some attention, footage of the fight showed Willard inspecting Dempsey’s gloves before the bout, making the theory unlikely.
Over the next six years, Dempsey successfully defended his title five times, cementing his legacy as one of boxing’s greats. Yet, his popularity with the public remained low. His decision not to serve in the military during World War I led to accusations of draft dodging, compounded by a notorious photo of Dempsey in shiny patent-leather shoes at a Philadelphia shipyard, purportedly during a work shift.
Ironically, Dempsey became more beloved when he lost the title. In 1926, he faced Gene Tunney before a record-breaking crowd of 120,000 in Philadelphia and was defeated. When his wife asked what had happened, Dempsey famously quipped, “Honey, I forgot to duck,” a remark that endeared him to the public and solidified his place as a folk hero.
In 1927, Dempsey sought redemption in a rematch with Tunney, which became one of the most debated bouts in boxing history. Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh round but failed to comply with a new rule requiring him to move to a neutral corner during the referee’s count. This mistake granted Tunney extra time to recover, and he ultimately won the fight. While Dempsey’s supporters believed he would have won without the “long count,” Tunney insisted he remained in control.
After his second loss to Tunney, Dempsey retired but continued to be a significant cultural figure. He opened Jack Dempsey’s Restaurant in New York, where he was known for his affable demeanor, often chatting with patrons. He dabbled in acting, appearing in films such as The Prizefighter and the Lady (1933) and Sweet Surrender (1935). During World War II, Dempsey silenced any lingering doubts about his patriotism by serving as a lieutenant commander in the Coast Guard.
Book
In 1977, Jack Dempsey authored his autobiography, titled Dempsey: The Autobiography of Jack Dempsey.
Death and Legacy
Jack Dempsey, known as the “Manassa Mauler,” passed away from heart failure on May 31, 1983. A towering figure in American sports during the 1920s, Dempsey was second only to Babe Ruth in terms of cultural impact and fame. His legacy in boxing was cemented when he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954, and he continues to be regarded as one of the top ten greatest boxers of all time by many commentators.
Dempsey’s fierce and unrelenting style in the ring was in stark contrast to the warmth, kindness, and generosity he exhibited outside of it. His sportsmanship, particularly in moments of defeat, was extraordinary. After his controversial loss to Gene Tunney in the infamous “long count” match, Dempsey—dazed and heartbroken—insisted on offering his congratulations to Tunney. “Lead me out there,” he told his trainer, struggling to walk straight. “I want to shake his hand.” His graciousness in that moment exemplified a level of character rarely seen in a sport known for its brutality.
Personal Life
Jack Dempsey was married four times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Maxine Gates, lasting from 1916 to 1919. In 1925, he married Estelle Taylor, a union that ended in 1930. Dempsey’s third marriage was to Hannah Williams in 1933, with whom he had two daughters, Joan and Barbara. The couple divorced in 1943. In 1958, he married Deanna Piatelli, and together they adopted a daughter.