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Big 12 Conference (Big 12)
Big 12 Conference logo
Established	1996
Association	NCAA
Division	Division I FBS
Members	10
Sports fielded	(men's: 10; women's: 11)
Region	West South Central States, Midwest Appalachia (West Virginia)
Headquarters	Irving, Texas
Commissioner	Chuck Neinas (interim) (2011–present) Bob Bowlsby (beginning June 15)
Website	big12sports.com
Locations

The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving. It is a member of the NCAA's Division I for all sports; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly Division I-A), the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition. Member schools are located in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, with a future member in West Virginia.

According to the Big 12 Conference's website, the alternate names "Big Twelve" and "Big XII" are incorrect. The trademarked name of the conference is Big 12 Conference, notwithstanding the Roman numeral XII featured on the conference logo.^[1]

History[link]

The conference was officially formed on February 25, 1994,^[2] when four schools in Texas from the Southwest Conference joined the Big Eight Conference.^[3] Three months later, the schools decided to name the newly formed conference the Big 12 Conference.^[3] Athletic competition in the conference commenced on August 31, 1996. Although at the time of its formation the Big 12 was composed of the old Big Eight plus the four Texas schools, it regards itself as a separate conference, not an enlarged Big Eight, and it does not claim the Big Eight's history as its own. However, several college sports history sources consider both conferences as a single continuous operation dating to 1907.

From the conference's formation until the 2010–11 season, the Big 12 was split into two divisions for most major sports. The Oklahoma and Texas schools made up the South Division, and the remaining six former Big Eight Conference teams constituted the North Division. In the 2010–12 NCAA conference realignment, the Big 12 was arguably the most heavily impacted all-sports conference. First the University of Colorado at Boulder announced its plans to join the Pacific-12 Conference, and then later the University of Nebraska–Lincoln accepted an invitation for the Big Ten Conference. This effectively forced the discontinuation of the divisional format, because the NCAA only allows football playoffs in conferences with at least twelve teams. The Conference retained the "Big 12" name and logo despite dropping to ten teams,^[4] a decision ostensibly similar to the Big Ten Conference's choice to keep its name after its membership increased first to eleven and then to twelve.

Membership[link]

Current[link]

Future[link]

Former[link]

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Full members Other Conference

Conference instability and realignment[link]

Locations of the Big 12 Conference full-member institutions in 2012-13, including future members Texas Christian and West Virginia and excluding departing members Missouri and Texas A&M.

2010[link]

In May 2010, American intercollegiate sports news became rife with speculation that the Big 12 Conference was on the verge of dissolution, including rumors of dividing the teams largely between the Pac-10 and Big Ten conferences. This was a result of the conference being unable to come to an agreement on equal revenue sharing in the conference. Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma objected to equal sharing according to Dan Beebe. In 2011, after being fired by the Big 12, Beebe was quoted as saying "Nebraska was one of the biggest objectors of equal revenue rights, and their president Harvey Perlman said that."^[16] In 2011, after being fired by the Big 12, Beebe said in a phone interview with The Associated Press that Oklahoma, Nebraska and even Texas A&M were interested in "developing their own distribution systems" for their sports programs.^[17]

In May 2010, the Conference's collapse seemed imminent amid rampant speculation that teams were defecting to various conference.^[18] Colorado was eying the Pac-12. Nebraska was eying the Big Ten. The Big 10 considered Texas a possibility.^[19] Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Colorado were talking with the Pac-10.^[20] Baylor wanted in on the Pac-10 action as well, and was willing to use political leverage.^[21]

On June 10, Colorado accepted an invitation to become the Pac-10's eleventh member for fear that Baylor would force its way into the Pac-10 at the expense of Colorado, effective in 2012.^[22][23] The school later negotiated a settlement with the Big 12 to leave on July 1, 2011. The following day (June 11), Nebraska applied for membership in the Big Ten Conference and was unanimously accepted, becoming the Big Ten's twelfth member, effective July 1, 2011.^[24] The Conference's collapse appeared imminent in the immediate aftermath of Colorado and Nebraska's departure as Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State were reportedly close to accepting invitations to join the Pac-10. However, on June 14, the five schools announced that they had decided to stay in the Big 12 after apparently agreeing to an eleventh-hour deal to save the conference.^[25] The decisions, which reportedly came after furious lobbying by five of the remaining schools (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri) and intervention by athletic directors around the country who were concerned about the prospect of a 16-team "superconference", were driven by a restructured revenue sharing agreement and the promise of a lucrative new television deal.^[26] As part of the deal, Texas was permitted to launch its own television network, the Longhorn Network, which would broadcast Texas Longhorn sporting events including non-conference football games and at least one conference football game. Additionally, Texas A&M and Oklahoma ended contact with the Southeastern Conference who had been pursuing both schools as potential candidates if their conference decided to expand past 12 members.^[27]

On June 16, 2010, Texas state lawmakers Garnet Coleman and Bill Callegari, both from the Houston area, co-wrote a letter asking Big 12 officials to consider adding the University of Houston (currently in Conference USA) to the conference.^[28]

2011[link]

Texas A&M[link]

In August 2011, Texas A&M announced plans to apply to join another unspecified conference.^[29] Texas A&M's desire to leave the Big 12 Conference was reportedly driven both by concern about conference stability and also by arch rival Texas' Longhorn Network and concerns that this network would give Texas an unfair advantage in recruiting and other aspects of competition.^[30] On September 2, David Boren, president of the University of Oklahoma, announced that his school was actively reevaulating its conference membership.^[31] Several days later, Southeastern Conference officials voted to accept Texas A&M as its thirteenth member,^[32] conditional upon a reaffirmation that the remaining Big 12 schools would not pursue legal action to block the move.^[33] Several schools refused to waive their rights to pursue legal action against the Southeastern Conference for tortious interference,^[34] with Baylor actively threatening a lawsuit.^[31] However on September 25, the SEC announced that Texas A&M was being accepted unconditionally regardless of legal threats from Baylor. Texas A&M will officially join the SEC on July 1, 2012.^[35] As part of the settlement of the exit, the Big 12 Conference will withhold $12.4 million of the revenue the Big 12 Conference would have shared with Texas A&M.^[36] Texas A&M will still receive a portion of the revenue from the recently signed contract between the Big 12 Conference and Fox Sports.^[36]

The Big 12 Conference said it would form a committee to replace Texas A&M with at least one other school.^[29] The Boards of Regents of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas all authorized their presidents to make decisions related to conference alignment.^[37] These three schools, along with Texas Tech, were reportedly considering applying to the Pacific-12 Conference,^[38] while the remaining schools entered talks with the Big East football schools to potentially combine conferences.^[39] Further realignment was temporarily halted on September 20, when the Pac-12 reiterated its desire to remain a twelve-team conference.^[40] There was another step towards conference stability on October 5, 2011, when the Big 12 Conference agreed to equally distribute Tier I and II television revenues.^[41]

Texas Christian University[link]

On October 6, the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors, acting upon a unanimous recommendation of the expansion committee, authorized negotiations with Texas Christian University to become a member of the Conference even though the university had already agreed to join the Big East Conference.^[42] A Big 12 official named Brigham Young University and the University of Louisville as other candidates for expansion.^[43][44] On October 10, Texas Christian University's Board of Trustees voted to accept the invitation from the Big 12 Conference; the school will join the conference on July 1, 2012. TCU had been a member of the Southwest Conference, one of the original constituent conferences that were incorporated into what became the Big 12 (along with the Big 8 Conference) and has long and historical rivalries with a number of Big 12 schools, particularly Texas Tech, the University of Texas, and Baylor, with whom TCU has played one of the longest ongoing series in the nation, dating back to 1899. They have played 107 times and the series is tied 50–50–7.^[45]

West Virginia University[link]

On October 28, West Virginia University accepted an invitation to join the Big 12 Conference, effective the 2012 season.^[46] West Virginia University gave notice of its intent to the Big East Conference, its current conference.^[47] Because the Big East Conference requires 27 months of notice prior to withdrawal, Big East Commissioner John Marinatto said that West Virginia University may not leave before July 1, 2014.^[47]

West Virginia University filed a lawsuit to declare invalid the withdrawal-notice requirement stipulated in the Big East Conference's bylaws.^[48][49] The lawsuit alleges that the Big East Conference breached its fiduciary duty by allowing several football-playing members to depart, causing the conference to no longer be a major football conference and jeopardizing the conference's continued existence.^[50][51] West Virginia University alleges that its continued performance under its contract has become unreasonably burdensome and that its original purpose in entering into the contract has been eliminated.^[52] West Virginia University also believes that its notice to withdraw in 2012 was indeed accepted when the Big East Conference accepted its payment of half the $5 million withdrawal penalty.^[52] Marinatto denied the allegations.^[53] The Big East Conference filed a lawsuit against West Virginia University, alleging that West Virginia University breached its contract by withdrawing from the conference without 27 months of notice.^[54][55] West Virginia University's request for dismissal of the Big East's lawsuit was denied. The Big East Conference's lawsuit was scheduled to begin being argued in court on April 11, 2012.^[56]

On February 14, 2012, West Virginia University announced that it had settled^[57] its lawsuit with the Big East Conference, clearing the final hurdle for West Virginia University to join the Big 12 Conference in time for the 2012 season.^[58] While terms of the settlement were kept confidential, West Virginia University's athletic director said that the settlement will be paid only from private donations and money the athletes raise themselves.^[58] According to an anonymous source, the Big East Conference will be paid 20 million dollars, of which 11 million will be paid by West Virginia University and 9 million by the Big 12 Conference.^[59] The $2.5 million exit fee that West Virginia University paid to the Big East Conference in October 2011 will be counted towards the settlement.^[60] The Big East Conference owes West Virginia University revenue-sharing money for the 2011-2012 school year; this money will not be paid to West Virginia and instead will be applied towards the settlement with West Virginia making up any difference.^[60]

University of Missouri[link]

On October 4, 2011, University of Missouri's Board of Curators authorized the school's president to explore applying to other conferences.^[61] On October 11, interim Big 12 Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas said Missouri will remain in the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season.^[62] Missouri inched closer to leaving on October 21 when its Board of Curators authorized Chancellor Brady Deaton to move the school out of the Big 12 Conference if it is in the school's best interest.^[63] On October 28, the Big 12 Conference's press release announcing its invitation to West Virginia University hinted at Missouri's imminent departure, as the school was not listed among the "expected" ten members for the 2012–13 school year.^[64]

On November 6, Missouri announced that it would join the Southeastern Conference effective July 1, 2012.^[65] Missouri will compete in the conference's East division. As compensation for the departure, the Big 12 Conference will withhold $12.4 million of the revenue it would have shared with Missouri, and Missouri will not share the revenue from the recently signed contract between the Big 12 Conference and Fox Sports.^[36] Missouri will also pay the Big 12 Conference for its share of officiating costs of its final year in the conference, as it has done in prior years, an estimated payment of $500,000.^[36]

Endowments[link]

• Texas (System-wide) - $17.1 billion^[66]
• Texas A&M (System-wide) - $7.0 billion^[66]
• Kansas (System-wide) - $1.3 billion^[66]
• Oklahoma - $1.2 billion^[66]
• Missouri (System-wide) - 1.1 billion^[66]
• Baylor - $1.0 billion^[66]
• Texas Tech (System-wide) - $891 million^[66]
• Oklahoma State - $682 million^[66]
• Iowa State - $612 million^[66]
• Kansas State - $338 million^[66]

Conference facilities[link]

Commissioners[link]

Big 12 Conference Commissioners

• Charles Martin Dobbs (1994-1995) interim^{[citation needed]}
• Steven J. Hatchell (1995 – 1998)^[85][86]
• Dave Martin (interim) (1998)^[86]
• Kevin Weiberg (Dec. 4, 1998–2007)^[87]
• Dan Beebe (2007–2011)^[88]
• Chuck Neinas (2011–present) interim^[89]
• Bob Bowlsby (beginning June 15, 2012)^[90]

Revenue[link]

The Big 12 Conference distributes revenue, mostly collected from television contracts, bowl games, the NCAA, merchandise, licensing, and conference-hosted sporting events, annually to member institutions.^[92] From 1996 to 2011, 57 percent of all distributed revenue was allotted equally; with the other 43 percent distributed based upon the number of football and men's basketball television appearances and other factors.^[93][94] The 2011 annual meeting of the conference resulted in a distribution of 76 percent equal allotment and 24 percent based on television appearances. Changing the revenue-sharing arrangement requires a unanimous vote; as a Big 12 member, Nebraska had withheld support for more equitable revenue distribution.^[93]

With this exposure-based revenue-sharing model, larger schools in the conference, such as the University of Texas, can receive more revenue because television channels will schedule such schools more frequently than smaller schools that may have less national audience appeal. In 2006, for example, Texas received $10.2 million, 44% more than Baylor University's $7.1 million.^{[citation needed]}

Compared to other conferences, the Big 12's revenue is low for a BCS conference; this is due in part to television contracts signed with Fox Sports Net (four years for $48 million) and ABC/ESPN (eight years for $480 million) that are set to expire in 2012 and 2016, respectively. In comparison, the Southeastern Conference collects four times as much per year, an estimated $3 billion over 15 year from its contracts with ESPN and CBS.^[95]

Sports[link]

As of the current 2011–12 academic year, the conference sponsors championships in the following sports: baseball (m), basketball (m,w), cross-country (m,w), equestrian (w), football (m), golf (m,w), gymnastics (w), rowing (w), soccer (w), softball (w), swimming and diving (m,w), tennis (m,w), track and field (m,w), volleyball (w), wrestling (m). The most recently added sports were equestrian and rowing, previously unofficial sports, which will make their debut as fully sponsored sports with official championships in 2011-12.^[4]

Among the sponsored sports, all ten universities participate in 12 sports, while the following sports do not have full participation:

• 9 schools participate in volleyball (Oklahoma State does not)^[96]
• 9 schools participate in women's soccer (Kansas State does not)^[97]
• 9 schools participate in baseball^[98] (Iowa State does not)^[83]
• 9 schools participate in softball (Kansas State does not)^[99]
• 6 schools participate in men's tennis (Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech)^[100]
• 5 schools participate in women's swimming and diving (Kansas, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M)^[101]
• 4 schools participate in equestrian (Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M)^[102]
• 4 schools participate in rowing (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Texas). Previously, those schools competed as affiliate members of Conference USA.^[103]
• 4 schools participate in wrestling (Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State)^[104]
• 3 schools participate in gymnastics (Iowa State, Missouri, and Oklahoma) ^[105]
• 3 schools participate in men's swimming and diving (Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M) ^[101]

Note: Future member TCU will not participate in Softball, Rowing, Wrestling, and Gymnastics, while West Virginia will not participate in Softball, Men's Tennis, and Equestrian.

Football[link]

From 1996-2010, Big 12 Conference teams played eight conference games a season. Each team faced all five opponents within its own division and three teams from the opposite division. Inter-divisional play was a "three-on, three-off" system, where teams would play three teams from the other division on a home-and-home basis for two seasons, and then play the other three foes from the opposite side for a two-year home-and-home.^{[citation needed]}

This format came under considerable criticism, especially from fans at Nebraska and Oklahoma, who were denied a yearly matchup between two of college football's most storied programs.^{[citation needed]} The Nebraska-Oklahoma rivalry was one of the most intense rivalries in college football history.^{[citation needed]} (Until 2006, the teams had never met in the Big 12 Championship.) Due to the departure of Nebraska and Colorado in 2011, the Big 12 eliminated the divisions (and championship game) and instituted a nine-game round-robin.^{[citation needed]}

Championship Game[link]

The Big 12 Championship Game was held by the Big 12 Conference each year. The idea of having a championship game was voted on at a Big 12 Conference meeting; Nebraska voted against, while the other schools voted in favor.^[106] The championship game pitted the Big 12 North Division champion against the Big 12 South Division champion in a game held after the regular season has been completed. The first championship game was held during the 1996 season. Since the 1996 season, most football championship games were held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The final game was played in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which had also hosted the previous games, with the Oklahoma Sooners defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers 23-20.^[107] In 2010, the Big 12 Conference decided to move the location of the championship game to Dallas for 2011, 2012, and 2013.^[108] This became moot for the 2011 season because NCAA only allows conferences with at least twelve teams to hold a conference championship game; as the Big 12 Conference has ten teams as of 2011, the conference will not have a championship game in 2011.^[109]

Bowl games[link]

^{[citation needed]}

Rivalries[link]

The Big 12 Conference has many rivalries among its member schools, primarily in football. Most of the rivalries existed before the Big 12 was established. The Kansas-Missouri rivalry is the longest running in the Big 12, the longest running west of the Mississippi, and 2nd longest running in college football, being played for 119 years; however the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry is also unique, as it was a major rivalry decades before the two schools were in the same conference. Some of the longstanding football rivalries between Big 12 schools include:

Other notable series[link]

• Baylor v. Texas - The series began in 1901 and has been played 100 times, including annually since 1946.^[112]

Men's basketball[link]

From 1996-2011, standings in conference play were combined and not split among divisions, the schedule was structured as if the schools were split into two divisions. Teams played a home-and-home against teams within its division and a single game against teams from the opposite division for a total of 16 conference games. This denied Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, formerly in the Big Eight, two games a season against their opponents from that former conference, but did allow most of the other traditional rivalries to be played home-and-home. However, after the departures of Nebraska and Colorado, Big 12 play transitioned to an 18-game, double round robin schedule, allowing Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to once again play their former Big 8 rivals twice each season, in addition to adding second annual games to lucrative, nationally prominent series like Texas-Kansas.^[113]

Big 12 men's basketball champions[link]

Kansas has the most Big 12 regular season titles, winning or sharing the title 12 times in the league's 16 seasons. The 2002 Kansas team became the first, and so far, only team to complete an undefeated Big XII regular season, going 16-0. Kansas has won or shared 8 straight league titles and 10 of the past 11. Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles as well, winning 8 out of 16. However, Missouri was the most recent Big 12 Tournament champion, winning the 2012 edition of the tournament, the Tigers' final appearance in the event before leaving for the SEC.

In 2005, Oklahoma won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 71-63 home victory over the Jayhawks.^{[114][dead link]}

In 2006, Texas won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 80-55 home victory over the Jayhawks.^{[115][dead link]}

In 2008, Texas won the post-season tournament seeding tiebreaker over Kansas based on their 72-69 home victory over the Jayhawks.^[116]

Big 12 in the NCAA tournament[link]

• Through 2012 Final Four

^{[citation needed]}

*Includes Missouri's 1994 NCAA tournament Elite Eight run that was later vacated by the NCAA.

Big 12 men's basketball programs all time[link]

^{[citation needed]}

• Through the end of the 2008-09 season

Big 12 Cumulative Conference Record (1996-97 to 2009-10)[link]

^{[citation needed]}

Records do not include conference tournament games, only regular season conference games

Baseball[link]

The top 8 teams compete in the conference tournament at the conclusion of each season. Iowa State has not sponsored baseball since dropping its intercollegiate program after the 2001 season.^{[citation needed]}

By school[link]

^{[citation needed]}

• As of the end of the 2012 tournament.

National championships[link]

The following is a list of all NCAA championships won by teams that were representing the Big 12 Conference in NCAA-recognized sports at the time of their championship^[5][6]

National team titles by institution[link]

School - Number - NCAA Championships

• Oklahoma State - 50 - NCAA(50)^[117]
• Texas - 48 - NCAA(40)^[117]
• Oklahoma - 26 - NCAA(19)^[117]
• Iowa State - 19 - NCAA(13)^[117]
• Texas A&M - 13 - NCAA(11)^[117]
• Kansas - 12 - NCAA(10)^[117]
• Baylor - 3 - NCAA(2)^[117]
• Missouri - 2 - NCAA(2)^[117]
• Texas Tech - 1 - NCAA(1)^[117]
• Kansas State - 0 - NCAA(0)^[117]

NCAA Championships as of June 2011

Football, Helms and AIAW titles are not included in the NCAA Championship count.

Conference champions[link]

The Big 12 Conference sponsors 23 sports, 10 men's and 13 women's.^[118]

In football, divisional titles were awarded based on regular-season conference results, with the teams with the best conference records from the North and South playing in the Big 12 Championship Game for the Big 12 title from 1996-2010. Baseball, basketball, softball, tennis, and women's soccer titles are awarded in both regular-season and tournament play. Cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving, track and field, and wrestling titles are awarded during an annual meet of participating teams. The volleyball title is awarded based on regular-season play.^{[citation needed]}

Big 12 Conference titles by school[link]

As of May 3, 2012. List includes both regular-season, tournament titles, and co-championships. List does not include conference championships won prior to the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.^[119]

Current members[link]

• Texas - 115 (122 including 7 football division championships)^[119]
• Texas A&M - 53 (56 including 3 football division championships)^[119]
• Baylor - 47^[119]
• Oklahoma State - 44 (44 including 1 football division championship)^[119]
• Oklahoma - 39 (47 including 8 football division championships)^[119]
• Kansas - 25 (25 including 1 football division championship)^[119]
• Iowa State - 12 (13 including 1 football division championship)^[119]
• Texas Tech - 12 (13 including 1 football division championship)^[119]
• Missouri - 9 (12 including 3 football division championships)^[119]
• Kansas State - 7 (11 including 4 football division championships)^[119]

Former members[link]

• Nebraska - 71 (80 including 9 football division championships)^[119]
• Colorado - 27 (31 including 4 football division championships)^[119]

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website

Brady J. Deaton, Ph.D., (born August 25, 1942) is an American educator and the current Chancellor of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.^[1]

Education[link]

A son of Kentucky farmers, Deaton received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky in 1966. He received a Master's Degree in Diplomacy and International Commerce from the same institution in 1968. From there, he moved to the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a second master's degree in 1970 and, two years later, a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics.

Dr. Deaton was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nan, Thailand from 1962-1964. He taught vocational agriculture in the Thai language.

Academic career[link]

After receiving his Ph.D. in 1972, Dr. Deaton accepted a position at the University of Tennessee, where he taught agricultural economics and rural sociology. During his tenure at Tennessee, he briefly left to serve as staff director of the Special Task Force on Food for Peace at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 1978, Deaton accepted a full professorship at Virginia Tech in the Department of Agricultural Economics, where he also served as coordinator of the rural development research and extension program. Dr. Deaton spent 12 years at Virginia Tech, the last four as associate director of the Office for International Development. In March 1989, he joined the faculty of the University of Missouri as professor and chair of the Agricultural Economics Department.

Deaton has published over 100 articles throughout the course of his career and has co-written three books on agricultural economics. He has also participated in a number of advisory roles with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His research has taken him to over a dozen countries and he has advised governors, universities, major corporations and diplomats on various topics related to agriculture, global trade and higher education.^[2]

Administrative career[link]

Professor Deaton transitioned from faculty to administration in 1993, when he was appointed chief of staff to the Chancellor of the University of Missouri. He was promoted to Deputy Chancellor in 1997. In January 1998, Dr. Deaton was appointed interim provost and named to the permanent position in October of that year. In 2001, his duties were expanded when he was given the additional role of Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. In 2004, Dr. Deaton was named Chancellor of the University of Missouri.

Professional Service[link]

In addition to his duties at the University of Missouri, Chancellor Deaton serves on a number of state and national committees and boards. He recently served on the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, a non-profit financial education organization.^[3] In 2010, he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Big 12 Conference.^[4] In his role as chief executive of Missouri's largest land-grant university, he is often called upon by state and national leaders to speak on issues related to higher education. From 2007-2008, Chancellor Deaton served on Missouri's Higher Education Funding Formula Task Force, which advised the government of Missouri on how to revamp the state's higher education funding formulas.^[5]

Personal life[link]

Chancellor Deaton is married to Dr. Anne Deaton, an adjunct professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Missouri and a former Director of the Missouri Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. She is also an outspoken advocate for volunteerism, mentoring and research into developmental disabilities. The Deatons have four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom hold postgraduate degrees. The Deatons have four grandsons and two granddaughters.^[6]

See also[link]

• History of the University of Missouri

References[link]

External links[link]

• MU biography

Mark Henry
Mark Henry in December 2011
Ring name(s)	Mark Henry
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Billed weight	412 lb (187 kg)[1]
Born	(1971-06-12) June 12, 1971 (age 41)[2] Silsbee, Texas[2]
Billed from	Silsbee, Texas[1]
Trained by	Leo Burke Hart family members[2]
Debut	September 22, 1996

Competition record
Competitor for  United States
Strongman
Arnold Strongman Classic
1st	2002 Arnold Strongman Classic
Powerlifting
Competitor for  United States
WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships[3]
1st	1995	+145kg
USAPL National Powerlifting Championships[4]
1st	1997	+145kg
USPF National Powerlifting Championships[5]
2nd	1990	+125kg

Mark Jerrold Henry^[6] (born June 12, 1971)^[2] is an American powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and a professional wrestler with WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand. He is a 1992 Olympian,^[1] and winner of the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic.^[7] Since joining the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1996, he has become a one-time WWF European Champion and a two-time world champion, having held the ECW Championship in 2008,^[8] and the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011.^[9]

Henry was a weightlifter, and competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where he placed tenth in the super heavyweight division. Three years later, at the 1995 Pan American Games, Henry won a silver medal in the super heavyweight division. The following year, he became a North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands (NACACI) champion. In 1996, Henry signed a ten-year contract with the WWF. Henry was trained by former Canadian professional wrestlers Stu and Bret Hart and Leo Burke. He made his television wrestling debut in September 1996. In January 1998, Henry joined the stable Nation of Domination. After the disbanding of the group, he acquired the moniker "Sexual Chocolate", which led him to participate in controversial angles.

In 2000, Henry was sent to the company's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky to improve his wrestling skills. That same year, he left wrestling and began refocusing on weightlifting. Henry won the inaugural Arnold Strongman Classic in 2002, competing against some of the greatest strength athletes from all over the world. In 2003, Henry returned to WWE, where he took part of the group "Thuggin' And Buggin' Enterprises", a group compiled of African Americans who worked a race angle in which they felt they were victims of racism and were being held down by the "white man".

The following year, Henry tore his quadriceps muscle, and was unable to compete for over a year. Upon his return, he was briefly involved in feuds with Kurt Angle and The Undertaker, before suffering a knee injury. After it healed, he continued to feud with The Undertaker, before being moved to the ECW brand in June 2008, where he had Tony Atlas as a manager. In June 2008, he won the ECW Championship and held it for three months. In 2011, Henry had a resurgence on SmackDown, which led to him winning his first World Heavyweight Championship in September 2011 when he defeated Randy Orton.

Weightlifting career[link]

Mark Henry pushing a tank.

During his time in high school, Henry was a three-time state champion with state records in the squat at 832 lb (377 kg), bench press at 525 lb (238 kg) and deadlift at 815 lb (370 kg).^[10] At the Texas high school powerlifting championships in April 1990, Terry Todd, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin and former weightlifter, spotted Henry and persuaded him to go to Austin after he graduated to train in the Olympic style of weightlifting.^[10]

Henry broke four national junior records in weightlifting after eight months of training in Olympic weightlifting.^[11] In April 1991, he placed fourth at the United States Nationals, and finished sixth at the World Junior Weightlifting Championships in Germany two months later.^[11] In Henry's first year of competing, he broke the three junior (20 and under) American records 12 times, and became the United States' top superheavyweight, surpassing Mario Martinez.^[12]

Henry nicknames himself the World's Strongest Man after he qualified for the weightlifting competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where he finished tenth in the super heavyweight class.^[7][12] Ten months before the 1992 Olympics, Henry had begun training with Dragomir Cioroslan, a bronze medalist at the 1984 Summer Olympics, who said that he had "never seen anyone with Mark's raw talent".^[12] At the 1995 Pan American Games Henry won a gold, silver and bronze medal, and a year later, he became a North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands (NACACI) champion.^[7] He also participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and was voted team captain, but finished 14th after suffering a back injury.^[7]

Professional wrestling career[link]

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment / WWE[link]

Early career (1996–1997)[link]

Henry made his first appearance on World Wrestling Federation (WWF) programming on the March 11, 1996 episode of Monday Night Raw, where he press slammed Jerry Lawler, who was ridiculing Henry while interviewing him in the ring. After Henry competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics, the WWF signed him to a ten-year contract.^[7] Trained by professional wrestler Leo Burke, his first feud in the WWF was with Lawler. At the pay-per-view event, SummerSlam in August 1996, Henry came to the aid of Jake Roberts who was suffering indignity at the hands of Lawler. His first television wrestling match was at In Your House: Mind Games on September 22, 1996, where he defeated Lawler.^[7] The feud continued on the live circuit during subsequent weeks.^[13] On the November 4 episode of Raw, Henry served as a cornerman for Barry Windham in a match against Goldust. He was set to team with Windham, Marc Mero and Rocky Maivia to take on the team of Lawler, Goldust, Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Crush at Survivor Series, but was replaced by Jake Roberts when he was forced to withdraw from the event due to injury. On the November 17 episode of Superstars, Henry defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Crush and Goldust in a tug of war contest. Henry's career was then stalled as, over the next year, he took time off to heal injuries and engage in further training. In November 1997, he returned to the ring, making his televised return the following month.^[14] By the end of the year, he was a regular fixture on WWF programming, defeating Steve Lombardi on the December 15 episode of Raw, and beating The Sultan on the December 27 episode of Shotgun.

Nation of Domination and Sexual Chocolate (1998–2000)[link]

Henry joined the faction with Farooq, The Rock, Kama Mustafa and D'Lo Brown on January 12, 1998.^[7] After The Rock usurped Farooq's position as leader, Henry switched loyalties to The Rock. He also competed at WrestleMania XIV in a tag team battle royal, with Brown as his partner, but they did not win.^[15] After the Nation disbanded, he engaged in a short feud with The Rock, defeating him at Judgment Day: In Your House with help from Brown, and then forming a permanent team with Brown, gaining Ivory as a manager.^[7][16] During the next year, Henry gave himself the nickname "Sexual Chocolate", and was involved in controversial angles with Chyna and a transvestite.^[7] During a match at the August 1999 pay-per-view, SummerSlam, between Brown and Jeff Jarrett for the WWF Intercontinental and WWF European Championships (both held at the time by Brown), Henry turned on Brown and helped Jarrett win the match and the titles.^[17] The next night, Henry was awarded the European title by Jarrett in return for his help.^[18] Henry dropped the title one month later to Brown at the Unforgiven pay-per-view.^[19]

After this, Henry turned into a fan favorite, and was seen on television romancing WWF women from Chyna to Mae Young as part of the "Sexual Chocolate" character.^[7] He feuded with Viscera during this time as part of a storyline where Viscera splashed Mae Young while she was carrying Henry's child.^[20][21] Young would go on to give birth to a hand. Along with this, Henry was made part of various other embarrassing and infamous storylines, including the admission that he was a sex addict.^[7]

Hiatus/Strongman[link]

In 2000, Henry was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) to improve his conditioning and skills. In OVW, Henry teamed with Nick Dinsmore to compete in a tournament for the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship in mid-2001.^[7] Later that year, he went on hiatus from wrestling to concentrate on weightlifting, and on February 23, 2002, he won a strongman competition, the inaugeral Arnold Strongman Classic in Columbus, Ohio.^[7][22]

Brand switches (2002–2004)[link]

Henry returned to the WWF the next month and was sent to the SmackDown! brand, where he developed an in-ring persona of performing "tests of strength" while other wrestlers took bets on the tests, but the gimmick met with little success.^[2] During this time he competed against such superstars as Chris Jericho and Christian.^[7] After being used sporadically on WWE (formerly WWF) television during 2002, as he was training for a weightlifting contest, and suffering a knee injury, Henry was sent back to OVW for more training.^[2][7]

In August 2003, Henry returned to WWE television on the Raw roster, where he found some success as a member of "Thuggin' And Buggin' Enterprises," a group of African Americans led by Theodore Long who worked a race angle in which they felt they were victims of racism and were being held down by the "white man".^[7] During that time, Henry was involved in a brief program with World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg when former champion, Triple H, put a bounty on Goldberg.^[2] This was followed by a brief rivalry with Shawn Michaels, before he engaged in a rivalry with Booker T.^[23][24][25] After defeating Booker T twice, once in a street fight and once in a six-man tag team match, he lost to Booker T at the Armageddon pay-per-view in December 2003.^[26][27][28] At a practice session in OVW in February 2004, Henry tore his quadriceps muscle, and was out for over a year after undergoing surgery.^[2][7] Henry was then utilized by WWE as a public relations figure during his recovery, before returning to OVW to finish out 2005.^[7]

SmackDown! (2005–2006)[link]

Henry in 2006.

During the December 30 episode of SmackDown!, Henry made his return to television, as he interfered in a WWE Tag Team Championship match, joining with MNM (Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, and Melina), to help them defeat Rey Mysterio and Batista for the championship.^[29] A week later on SmackDown!, Henry got in a confrontation with the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista, and went on to interfere in a steel cage match between MNM and the team of Mysterio and Batista, helping MNM to retain their titles.^[30] Henry then had another match with Batista at a live event where Batista received a severely torn triceps that required surgery, forcing him to vacate his title. On the January 10, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, Henry was involved in a battle royal for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. He was finally tossed out by Kurt Angle, who won the title.^[31][32]

Henry vs The Undertaker.

A week later, Henry received assistance from Daivari, who turned on Angle and announced that he was the manager of Henry.^[33] With Daivari at his side, Henry would face Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight title at the 2006 Royal Rumble in January, which he lost when Angle hit him with a chair (without the referee seeing) and pinned Henry with a roll-up.^[34]

On the March 10 episode of SmackDown!, after putting Kurt Angle through a table with a diving splash, Henry was then challenged to a casket match by The Undertaker at WrestleMania 22.^[35] Henry vowed to defeat The Undertaker and end his streak at WrestleMania, but was unsuccessful in this quest as The Undertaker would defeat Henry at the event.^[36] Henry would get a rematch against the Undertaker on the April 7 episode of SmackDown!, however it ended in a no contest when Daivari announced his new client, The Great Khali, who was also making his debut. Khali then went to the ring and started to attack the Undertaker, thus ending the feud between them.^[37]

During the rest of April and May, Henry gained a pinfall victory over the World Heavyweight Champion, Rey Mysterio in a non-title match.^[38] Henry would also enter the King of the Ring tournament, in which he was defeated by Bobby Lashley in the first round.^[39] He later cost Kurt Angle his World Heavyweight Championship opportunity against Mysterio, when he jumped off the top rope and crushed Angle through a table. Henry was then challenged by Angle to face off at Judgment Day, Henry then sent a "message" to Angle by defeating Paul Burchill.^[40] At Judgment Day, Henry defeated Angle by countout.^[41] Although winning, Angle got his revenge after the match by hitting Henry with a chair and putting him through a table.^[41]

Henry later went on what was referred to as a "path of destruction", causing injuries to numerous superstars. Henry "took out" Chris Benoit and Paul Burchill on this path of destruction, and attacked Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero.^[42][43][44] These events led up to a feud with the returning Batista, whom Henry had put out of action with a legitimate injury several months beforehand. When Batista returned he and Henry were scheduled to face one another at The Great American Bash in July.^[45] Weeks before that event, however, on the July 15, 2006 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, Henry was involved in a six-man tag team match with King Booker and Finlay against Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Bobby Lashley.^[46] During the match, Henry was injured, canceling the scheduled match at The Great American Bash, as Henry needed surgery. Doctors later found that Henry completely tore his patella tendon off the bone and split his patella completely in two.^[47]

Return from injury and various feuds (2007–2008)[link]

Henry returned on the May 11, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, after weeks of vignettes hyping his return.^[48] He attacked The Undertaker after a World Heavyweight Championship steel cage match with Batista, allowing Edge to take advantage of the situation and use his Money in the Bank contract.^[49] Henry then began a short feud with Kane, defeating him in a Lumberjack Match at One Night Stand.^[50] Shortly after, Henry made an open challenge to the SmackDown! locker room, which nobody ever accepted. In the coming weeks he faced various jobbers—wrestlers who consistently lose to make their opponents look stronger—and quickly defeated them all.^[51][52] On August 3, he claimed that nobody accepted the open challenge to step into the ring with him because of what he had done to The Undertaker, presenting footage of his assault on the Undertaker.^[53] The Undertaker responded over the following weeks, playing various mind games with Henry.^[54][55] Henry finally faced The Undertaker again at Unforgiven in September, losing to him after being given a Last Ride.^[56] Two weeks later, Henry lost a rematch to The Undertaker after The Undertaker performed a chokeslam on Henry.^[57]

After a short hiatus, Henry returned to WWE programming on the October 23 episode of ECW, attacking Kane, along with The Great Khali and Big Daddy V.^[58] Henry then began teaming with Big Daddy V against Kane and CM Punk, and was briefly managed by Big Daddy V's manager, Matt Striker.^[2] At Armageddon, Henry and Big Daddy V defeated Kane and Punk.^[59] Before WrestleMania XXIV aired, Henry participated in a 24-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the ECW Championship, but failed to win.^[60]

ECW Champion (2008–2009)[link]

Henry as ECW Champion with Tony Atlas.

As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Henry was drafted to the ECW brand.^[61] At Night of Champions, Henry defeated Kane and Big Show in a Triple Threat match to capture the ECW Championship in his debut match as an ECW superstar.^[62] Upon winning the title, it was made exclusive to the ECW brand once again. Henry's title win came nearly a full decade after he was awarded the European Championship, which was back in 1999 and the only title he held in WWE.^[8] A few weeks later, Hall of Famer Tony Atlas returned to WWE to act as Henry's manager. A month after Henry's title win, ECW General Manager, Theodore Long, unveiled a new, entirely platinum ECW Championship belt design.^[63] Henry would lose the title at Unforgiven in the Championship Scramble match to Matt Hardy.^[64]

Henry attempted to regain the championship throughout the end of 2008, including a match against Hardy at No Mercy, but was unsuccessful.^[65] Henry and Atlas then engaged in a scripted rivalry against Finlay and Hornswoggle, which included Henry losing a Belfast Brawl at Armageddon.^[66][67] At the start of 2009, Henry qualified for the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXV, and was involved in a series of matches with the other competitors on Raw, SmackDown, and ECW.^[68][69][70] He was unsuccessful at WrestleMania, however, as CM Punk won the match.^[71] In May, Henry began a rivalry with Evan Bourne, which began after Bourne defeated Henry by countout on the May 26 episode of ECW.^[72]

Raw and various tag teams (2009–2011)[link]

Henry before a tag team match with MVP.

On June 29, Henry was traded to the Raw brand and redebuted for the brand that night as the third opponent in a three-on-one gauntlet match against Randy Orton, which he won, turning Henry into a fan favorite in the process.^[73] In August 2009, Henry formed a tag team with Montel Vontavious Porter,the two formed a tag team called The World's Strongest Tag Team and the two challenged the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and The Big Show) for the title at Breaking Point, but were unsuccessful.^[74][75] They stopped teaming afterwards, becoming involved in separate storylines, until the February 15, 2010 episode of Raw in which they defeated the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions The Big Show and The Miz in a non-title match.^[76] The next week they challenged The Big Show and The Miz in a title match but were unsuccessful.^[77] At Extreme Rules, Henry and MVP fought for a chance to become number one contenders to the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships, but were the second team eliminated in a gauntlet match by The Big Show and The Miz. The match would be won by The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith).^[78]

It was later announced that Henry would mentor Lucky Cannon in the second season of WWE NXT.^[79][80] Cannon was eliminated on the August 10 episode of NXT.^[81] In September, Henry began teaming with Evan Bourne, starting at the Night of Champions pay-per-view, where they entered a Tag Team Turmoil for the WWE Tag Team Championship. They made it to the final two before being defeated by Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.^[82] The team came to an end in October when Bourne suffered an injury and was taken out of action. Henry then formed a team with Yoshi Tatsu on the November 29 episode of Raw, defeating WWE Tag Team Champions Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater, after a distraction by John Cena.^[83] They received a shot at the championship the next week, in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match, which also included The Usos and Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov. Henry and Tatsu were the first team eliminated in the match.^[84]

World Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Pain (2011–present)[link]

Henry at Tribute to the Troops.

On the April 25, 2011, episode of Raw, Henry was drafted back to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2011 WWE Draft. In the main event of the night, Henry attacked his teammates, John Cena and Christian, turning heel as a result.^[85] On the May 27 episode of SmackDown, Henry participated in a Triple Threat match against Sheamus and Christian to decide the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Sheamus. Henry then began a feud with Big Show, attacking him during matches and backstage. On the July 1 episode of SmackDown, Show would cost Henry a match against Randy Orton, by playing his titantron during the match, resulting in Henry getting counted out. If Henry would have won, he would become the new number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. Afterward, Henry would destroy the production set.^[86] At Money in the Bank, Henry would defeat Big Show in a singles match. After the match, Henry would crush Show's foot with a chair, (kayfabe) injuring him.^[87] On the following SmackDown, Henry would do the same to Kane.^[88]

Henry defeated a local wrestler on the July 29 episode of SmackDown, where, after the match, Theodore Long informed Henry that he could no longer compete as no one wants to fight him. Sheamus interrupted, saying he isn't afraid of Henry before slapping him. On the August 5 episode of SmackDown, Henry defeated Vladimir Kozlov and after the match would crush his leg. At SummerSlam, Henry defeated Sheamus by count-out.^[89]

Mark Henry as World Heavyweight Champion.

On the August 19 episode of SmackDown, Henry won a 20-man Battle Royal to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship to face Orton at Night of Champions^[90] and throughout weeks on SmackDown and on the September 11 episode of Raw, Henry would attack Orton getting the advantage over him.^{[91][92][93][94]} At Night of Champions, Henry defeated Randy Orton to become World Heavyweight Champion for the first time.^[9] On the September 26 episode of Raw, Henry was set to face The Great Khali, but before the match, Henry would use the World Heavyweight title to attack Khali, before hitting him with the World's Strongest Slam. Henry and Khali would fight again on that week's episode of SmackDown, where Henry was successful. After the match, Henry crushed Khali's foot with a chair, (kayfabe) injuring him.^[95] Henry successfully defended the title against Orton at Hell in a Cell in a Hell in a Cell match.^[96]

On the October 7 episode of Smackdown, Big Show returned and chokeslammed Henry through a table, thus earning a title shot against Mark Henry at Vengeance. In this heated match, Henry would go on to superplex the Big Show from the top rope and the ring collapsed under their combined weight, similar to when Brock Lesnar superplexed Big Show off the top rope, and the match resulted in a No Contest.^[97] Then he began a feud with Daniel Bryan after seeing him look at him the wrong way while being interviewed. Mark Henry would defeat Bryan by diqualification that night after being attacked by Big Show. Teddy Long would then announce that Henry would face The Big Show at Survivor Series for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the November 18 episode of SmackDown, Henry viciously assaulted Bryan and promised that Big Show will be carried out of Survivor Series by paramedics and he would leave still the World Heavyweight Champion.^[98] At Survivor Series Henry retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Big Show after a low blow that disqualified Henry. Angered by Henry's cowardice Big Show smashed Henry's ankle with a steel chair.^[99] The following SmackDown, Henry was attacked by The Big Show with a W.M.D after Henry insulted Big Show. Daniel Bryan would immediately race out to cash in his Money in The Bank briefcase on an uncounscious Henry, where he pinned him but Theodore Long rushed out to the ring to tell Bryan the match was not legal due to the fact that Henry was not medically cleared to compete.^[100] Later that night, Bryan won a Fatal-Four Way match to face Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship in a steel cage.^[101] On the November 29 live holiday episode of SmackDown, Henry would defeat Bryan after hitting him with a "World's Strongest Slam" from the top rope and retained the World Heavyweight Championship.^[102]

At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Henry lost the World Heavyweight Championship to the Big Show in a chairs match. After the match, he knocked the Big Show out then Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase winning his first ever World Heavyweight Championship.^[103] On the January 6, 2012, edition of SmackDown, Henry would cost Big Show a championship match after he pushed Bryan, making him win by disqualification.^[104] On the January 20 edition of SmackDown, Bryan retained the championship against Henry in a Lumberjack match after the lumberjacks came in and attacked them.^[105] At the 2012 Royal Rumble event, Henry faced Bryan and Show in a triple threat steel cage match for the world title, but Bryan escaped the steel cage to retain his title.^[106]

On the February 3 edition of SmackDown, Henry was suspended indefinitely (in storyline) by SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long after Henry physically acosted Long as he demanded a one-on-one rematch that night with Bryan. In reality, Henry suffered a hyper-extended knee the previous week.^{[107][108][109]} He would then appear in backstage segments on the February 17 edition of SmackDown and at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.^[110][111] Henry returned to in-ring action on the February 20 edition of Raw Supershow, in a losing effort against Sheamus.^[112] Following this loss, Henry went on a three match losing streak against the likes of Sheamus and Big Show.^{[113][114][115]} He finally ended his losing streak by defeating Ezekiel Jackson on the March 9 edition of SmackDown.^[116] On the April 2 and 9 editions of Raw SuperShow, Henry faced CM Punk for the WWE Championship which he won by count-out and disqualification; as a result Punk retained his title.^[117][118] On the April 16 edition of Raw SuperShow, Punk defeated Henry in a no disqualification, no countout match to retain the WWE Championship.^[119] On May 14, Henry announced he was going under a career-threatening surgery for an injury.^[120]

Personal life[link]

He is the cousin of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Kevin Henry.^[2] Henry's father, Ernest, died of complications from diabetes when Henry was twelve.^[11] He has an older brother, Pat.^[11] When Henry was fourteen, he was diagnosed with dyslexia.^[10]

Henry played American football in high school, until his senior year, when he strained ligaments in his wrist.^[10]

Henry lives in New York with his wife Jana and his son Jacob.^[121] As of 2002, he has driven a Hummer that he won in the Arnold Strongman Classic that same year.^[122]

In wrestling[link]

Henry prepares to perform a World's Strongest Slam on John Cena.

Henry prepares to perform a Swinging full nelson on John Cena.

Henry performing a body avalanche on Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes.

• Finishing moves
  • World's Strongest Slam^[1][2] (High-angle falling powerslam)^[123]
• Signature moves
  • Bearhug^[124][125]
  • Backbreaker drop
  • Body avalanche^[126]
  • Body block
  • Corner slingshot splash (Sometimes used on the opponent's steel chair bound leg, causing storyline injury)^[127]
  • Elbow drop
  • Fallaway slam
  • Gorilla press drop^[128] or slam^[123]
  • Headbutt^[129]
  • Leapfrog body guillotine^[130]
  • Running splash^{[2][126][129][131]}
  • Scoop powerslam^[125]

• Managers
  • Tony Atlas^[132]
  • Daivari^[7]
  • Ivory^[7]
  • Theodore Long^[7]
  • Melina^[30]
  • Matt Striker^[2][59]
  • Mae Young^[7]

• Nicknames
  • "The King of the Jungle"^[133]
  • "Sexual Chocolate"^[2][132]
  • "The Silverback"^[133]
  • "The World's Strongest Champion" (Used during his ECW Championship reign and his World Heavyweight Championship reign)^[134]
  • "The World's Strongest Man"^[7]

• Entrance themes
  • "Power" by Jim Johnston (1998)^[135]
  • "Sexual Chocolate" performed by Stevan Swann and composed by Jim Johnston (1998–2000; November 15, 2010)^[136][137]
  • "MacMillitant" by Miestro (2003–2004; Used while a part of Thuggin' and Buggin' Enterprises)
  • "The Wall" by Heat Mobb (WWE)
  • "I'm Comin'" by Silkk the Shocker (2009–2010; Used while Teaming with MVP)
  • "Some Bodies Gonna Get It" by Three 6 Mafia (May 21, 2006–present)^[138]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Henry as World Heavyweight Champion.

Henry as ECW Champion.

Powerlifting[link]

• All-time world former raw (unequipped) squat world record holder (430 Kilograms)^[139]

Professional wrestling[link]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2011)^[140]
  • PWI ranked him #41 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006^[141]

• World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
  • ECW Championship (1 time)^[62]
  • World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) ^[9]
  • WWF European Championship (1 time)^[8]
  • Slammy Award for “Holy $#!+ Move of the Year” (2011) – with Big Show

Strongman athletics[link]

• Arnold Classic
  • Arnold Classic Strongest Man (2002)^[7]
• International Sports Hall of Fame
  • International Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2012) ^[142]

Weightlifting[link]

• Olympic Games
  • Olympic Games team member (1992, 1996)

• Pan American Games
  • Pan American Games Silver Medalist (1995)
• Senior American record holder in Snatch, Clean and jerk, and Total (1993–1997)
• Senior National Championship (1993, 1994, 1996)

See also[link]

• List of strongmen

References[link]