On This Day: Doc Snell the Peshastin Phantom Remembered

By Peter Silkov

Doc Snell (The Peshastin Phantom) was a colourful, big-hitting lightweight, with an exciting, crowd-pleasing style, which made him a big hit with the fans.  From the early 1920s, to the mid 1930s, Snell fought many of the world top fighters, from featherweight to lightweight. 

Born William A. McEachern on July 29, 1903, in Perth, Kansas, Washington, but would eventually relocate to Peshastin, Washington.  Snell was a useful amateur, boxing out of the Battery E of the Tacoma National Guard.   Snell turned professional in 1922.  In the beginning of his professional career he tended to use a boxing style of fighting, based around his useful jab.  However, after having his tonsils and a bone removed from his nose in early 1924, Snell became a far more confident and aggressive fighter, far more prone to slug it out than to try and box.  The change in style made Snell an even bigger attraction to the fans.  Snell was the kind of gutsy all- action fighter, who would win the hearts of spectators, even in his losing efforts.

Barely a year after turning professional, Snell was mixing it with rated fighters.  During his career, he fought top names such as, Billy Petrolle, Eddie Neil, Vic Foley, California Joe Lynch, Tod Morgan, Dynamite Joe Murphy, Mike Dundee, Bud Taylor, Charley Phil Rosenberg,  Jimmy Mclarnin, Leslie ’Wild Cat’ Carter, King Tut, Joe Glick, Spug Myers,  Eddie Mack, Bobby Pacho, and Ah Wing Lee.

Snell’s career was interrupted in early 1929, when he became severely ill with appendicitis, and had an emergency operation on February 2.  Snell needed several months out of the ring to recover after this illness, and although he was to resume his career, and carry on fighting with some success, he was not quite the force he had been before his illness.

In his last fight on July 25, 1933, Snell drew over 6 rounds with Frankie Monroe.  He retired from the ring with a final record of 80(27koes)-35-33.

After he retired from boxing, Snell did a number of varied jobs.  He worked as a promoter, a bouncer at ‘The Blue Moon Tavern’ in the University District of Washington, and then owned his own Tavern for a while, the ’Doc Snell Tavern’ that was located on 7th street in Seattle, Washington, at the Caledonian Hotel.  Snell would later own a chain of Rocket Gas Service Stations, and hit on the idea of buying a Hydroplane, and entering Hydroplane racing, and naming it Miss Rocket, in order to publicize his Gas Stations.  Snell raced Miss Rocket, which was later renamed Coral Reef, when Snell renamed his Gas Stations, from the mid 50s to 1962.

Doc Snell died on June 17, 1987, aged 83, and was buried at Calvary Catholic Cemetary, where former World middleweight champion Al Hostack was also buried, close to University of Washington, Seattle.  

Copyright © 2016 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes to www.theboxingglove.com

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Remembering Joe Velez: An Inspiration to the Sport of Boxing

By IDran James

Remembering….Joey Velez June 23, 1925 - December 7, 2002


The Joey Velez story is one of those epic American tales of a boxer who, despite many obstacles in his life, emerged as one of the most determined and talented boxers to come out of the Pacific Northwest. Velez was a lightweight and a featherweight contender who became very popular in the Spokane, Washington, area in the 1940s and 50s.

Born on June 23, 1925 in Seattle, Washington, Velez would have to face many difficulties in his life. When he was a toddler, ‘Lil’ Joey Velez would contract polio at 17 months. As a result, his left leg was deformed and it would not be until he was five years old that he would be able to walk with crutches, and at 9 years old, he was able to walk unassisted. This was not the end of his health problems. At the age of 10, he would catch pneumonia, and then tuberculosis. He would spend 18 months in hospital, missing more of his childhood that had already been mostly taken away because of his childhood illnesses. Despite this adversity, Velez would go to the gym and overcome his health issues through physical training, which included boxing at the local YWCA.

Like most people that were affected by the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, Joey tried to sign up for the armed services, and do his duty for his country. When the Navy and Army turned Velez down at the start of WW2, he would turn to boxing. As an amateur, he would fight many times on military bases and was driven by the anger he felt because of the rejection from the armed forces. He had a very successful amateur career and turned professional in 1947. He would adopt the name ‘Lil` Joey Velez’ in the Pacific Northwest and because well known and respected in boxing circles. His physical disability never was a problem in the ring, and for a man that had so many health problems as a child, his reflexes, and skill did not reflect any of those problems of the past.

Velez would go on to fight such fighters as Joey Dolan, Buddy Washington, Harold Dade, Henry Davis, Pinky Cowan, and George Dunn. Velez would fight until 1953 with a final record of 33 (14kos)-5.

Photo: Jodi Velez-Newel

After he retired from boxing, Velez was successful as a teacher, boxing instructor, graphic artist, and entrepreneur. On December 7, 2002 he died of natural causes. His daughter, Jodi Velez-Newell, has created a wonderful tribute to her Father that is one of the best tributes we have seen. Please check out her site, it is very informative, creative, and a great chronology of the life of a boxer.We could have gone more in depth about his life, but nothing could top her tribute. Please follow the link to her site: http://www.award-graphics.com/joey/index.htm

Copyright © 2015 The Boxing Glove, Inc. Peter Silkov Art. All Rights Reserved. Peter Silkov contributes towww.theboxingglove.com