Jack Dempsey was not only one of the most exciting heavyweight champions in history he was also one of the ring's greatest all time pound for pound fighters. Dempsey has one of the best knockout records in history with an unparalleled winning streak of 32-0 with 28 knockouts, including 17 of them in the first round! His victims included most of the top heavyweight contenders of the period including his title-winning massacre of big Jess Willard.
Dempsey was quick, strong, and a skilled fighter. And we just passed through his home town of Manassa, Colorado, which is just less than one hour from our house. It is now know as the town of Jack Dempsey, and is a very small town that has some of the nicest parks, including the one where these photo's were taken. One would never think that the World Champion Dempsey was raised just over from where we now live. The building in the top photo is Dempsey's museum and this little town in the middle of absolutely no where is proud to be the home of the great Jack Dempsey.
After you leave Manassa the land is desolate and barren for 40 miles until you get to San Luis. There is a small town, San Acacio, just prior to San Luis but it is very small. San Luis is the oldest town in Colorado and our county seat. In fact our County only has 3,700, total residents but is a beautiful area that has high mountain peaks, as well as semi arid to arid desert terrain. Is is also close to where Jack Dempsey was born and raised; just over the line into Conjeos County.
You never know where you will find history and who would ever think that a world champion prize fighter was born near us. It was a nice day for a drive and to visit our adjacent county and see where the world's greatest prize fighter was born and raised. So that is the history lesson for today.
