1956 VBA Autographed Program Cover
 

Hi. Here's a neat piece of Veteran Boxers' Association history. I've taken a stab at trying to identify all that signed. Some gaps for sure. The event, and most of the signors, appear to be Philly based. Can anyone fill in any gaps? Working from the upper left corner counter-clockwise -

• Isadore "Corporal Izzy" Schwartz - New York Boxing Commission's World Flyweight Champion from 1927 to 1929. Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.
• Paul Berlenbach - world light heavyweight boxing champion from May 30, 1925, when he wrested the crown from Mike McTigue, until July 16, 1926. Inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1971 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001. Included in 1951 Topps Ringside boxing card set.
• Ed “Happy" Davis - Ring 15, Louisville, KY.
• Joe Walker - New Jersey State boxing commissioner for 15 years, from 1954 through 1969. He was the youngest brother of Mickey “The Toy Bulldog” Walker, a former welterweight champion.
• Dr. Joyce Brothers – Dr. Joyce Brothers put her boxing trivia to the test and came away with $64,000 on October 27, 1957. Brothers, who was appearing on the game show The $64,000 Challenge, took the top prize, competing against a team of seven boxers on boxing lore. This was her second time winning the program’s top prize—two years earlier she had claimed her first victory (when the show was called The $64,000 Question), also on the subject of boxing.
• Joe Griffo - Lightweight boxer based out of New Jersey.
• Harry (Kid) Brown (2x) - another of the many fine Hebrew fighters who came out of Philadelphia.
• Phil & Jerry Joys???
• Johnny Green - then current President, Ring 8 NYC.
• Billy Maher – Lightweight inducted into PA HOF in 1971.
• Sig by Palumbos Café???
• Al Nash – Featherweight fighter out of PA.
• Danny Fields – Welterweight fighter out of PA.
• Johnny Mealy – Featherweight inducted into PA HOF 1964.
• Harry Pegg - wrote a boxing mag called "The Veteran Boxer" starting in the forties through the mid sixties.
• Stanley Poreda - was a Jersey City boxer considered a top heavyweight contender in the early 1930s. He was known alternately as the Jersey City Pole or the Polish Giant. He is a member of the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
• Pete Latzo – Welterweight fighter. Inducted into PA HOF in 1961.

Jeff

• Jany Pegg??? Pretty sure this is Harry Pegg. He wrote a boxing mag called "The Veteran Boxer" starting in the forties through the mid sixties.

I think you nailed it Justin. A couple Harry Pegg comparison signatures below.

Jeff

"Joe Griffo"

would be this guy:

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/60069

The bottom right signature: See if there's anybody listed in the program named "Johnny Green".

Would be several boxers during that time period it could conceivably be if that's what the signature really says. None particularly important, but might solve a riddle.

Thanks Dave. Johnny Green is correct as confirmed by VBA Ring 8 below.

Jeff

This guy would also fit:

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/010092

Good call Dave. An even better Johnny Green fit based on age. Highly rated bantamweight contender in the mid-1920's--never received a title shot.

Jeff

The one below Berlenbach looks like it says Ed "Happy" Davis.

Thanks Michael...you're right!

I also received confirmation from the current VBA Ring 8 NYC president that the bottom right signature is Johnny Green (nice job Dave). Johnny was president of Ring 8 in 1956.

They also responded with the below newspaper clipping summarizing the event. It further confirms "Happy" Davis and a couple other names.

Jeff