I just returned home from a family funeral only to get the news that another wrestling legend, and friend of mine, Penny Banner has passed away.  
 
My heart goes out to her family, friends, and all of her fans.  
 
Penny was a class act and an amazing woman. She will be sorely missed. Penny was kind enough to do an interview with me in 2004. You can read that interview on WrestlingClothesline.com.
 
Over the years, Penny and I became friends. She will truly be missed.  
 
For those of you who were not all that familiar with Penny's career, here are a few highlights:
 
She was the first ever AWA World Women's Champion
She held the NWA Southern Women's Championship  
She was NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship on 3 separate occasions (with Bonnie Watson, Betty Jo Hawkins, and Lorraine Johnson)
She held the NWA Texas Women's Championship
She was a Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2005)
She was also inducted into the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame, St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame, and last year's NWA Legends Hall of Heroes.
 
 
Penny also won medals while she competed in the Sr. Olympic Games doing Swimming, the ShotPut, and Discus throws.
 
Wrestling has lost a true legend and I have lost yet one more friend. - Brett
 
Below is the email I received...
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The CAC has received word that Penny Banner passed away last night, peacefully in her sleep, at her daughter's home in North Carolina.
 
Penny was one of the most decorated women in the history of professional wrestling. Her accolades have included being the first recipient of the CAC's Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award, being inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in New York and she will be the first woman inducted to the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo in 2008.  
 
Penny served on the Board of Directors of the Cauliflower Alley Club for many years and worked tirelessly to ensure that all remembered the women of our sport.
 
Penny will always have a special place in my heart. We shared some wonderful emails and wonderful times in Las Vegas.  
 
My thoughts and prayers go out to Wendi and the Banner family.  
 
(Courtesy: Morgan Dollar)