| 1897 | Born May 25 in New York City (some accounts say 1898) |
| 1907 | Receives first pair of boxing gloves |
| 1915 | Fights first professional boxing match, winning by knockout |
| 1918 | Serves in the U. S. Marines in World War I |
| 1922 | Defeats Battling Levinsky to become light heavy weight champion of North America |
| 1922 | Loses title in a 15-round decision to Harry Greb |
| 1923 | Regains title from Greb in another 15-round decision |
| 1926 | Defeats Jack Dempsey to become heavyweight champion of the world |
| 1927 | Wins "battle of the long count" with Dempsey to retain his title |
| 1928 | Defeats Tom Heeney to retain title |
| 1928 | Retires from boxing, marries Mary Josephine ("Polly") Lauder |
| 1928 | Starts successful business career, dropping out of the public eye |
| 1942 | Serves in the U.S. Navy during World War II |
| 1945 | Writes Encyclopedia Britannica entry on boxing |
| 1978 | Dies in Greenwich, Connecticut at the age of 80 |
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6 months ago
Alice stuartwriter ((at)) gmail dot com
Stuart Daily News May 15, 1934 GENE TUNNEY IS PURCHASER OF A LOCAL HOMESITE Buys Residence Site in Beautiful Jupiter Island Area Ocean to River Joined in Transaction By Chairman of the Purol Company A Martin county beauty spot has been chosen by Gene Tunney, social registerite and former heavyweight champion of the world, as the best place in Florida for a winter home, it is believed following perusals of records at the county court home. Tunney, who spent the past winter at Hobe Sound, and B. C. Dawes, chairman of the board of the Purol Co., are shown as the joint purchasers of a Jupiter Island property with 600 foot frontage extending from river to ocean. The property was purchased from William W. Burgiss, of Greenville, S. C. broker was J. M. Cromer of Jupiter. Although the consideration was not announced, documentary stamps attached to the document indicate that it was in the neighborhood of $16,500. Since speculative purchases have been discouraged in the Hobe Sound area with a view to encouraging building, it is safe to assume that the retired world’s champion intends to develop the property as a winter home. It is situated below the F. W. Hildebrand property in a beautiful palm covered section of the winter resort. [NOTE: Jupiter Island is at the southern end of Martin County, just north of West Palm Beach County.]
over 2 years ago
tom tufts ttufts19 ((at)) hotmail dot com
Does any person have info on Gene Tunney's winter home in West Palm Beach, Fl.? It is a pristine, vintage 1920's Dade Count Pine cottage that is about to be torn down. It needs to be preserved. We need to authenticate the fact that it was his. Please if you have info on it, e-mail me. I have requested several times the Gene Tunney Organization and received no reply. Time is running out for the cottage.