Dick Slater

Dick Slater
Slater, circa 1977
Birth name	Richard Van Slater
Born	(1951-05-19)May 19, 1951 Albany, New York, U.S.[1]
Died	October 18, 2018(2018-10-18) (aged 67) Largo, Florida, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Tampa
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Dick Slater[1][2] Mr. Florida[3]
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[4]
Billed weight	233 lb (106 kg)[4]
Trained by	Hiro Matsuda Eddie Graham
Debut	May 8, 1972 (May 8, 1972)
Retired	1996 (1996)

Richard Van Slater (May 19, 1951 – October 18, 2018)^[1] better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, was an American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid-1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Slater began wrestling with Mike Graham at Robinson High School, in Tampa, Florida. He attended the University of Tampa with Paul Orndorff. From there he began wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida and Georgia Championship Wrestling. He worked as a booker in Knoxville, Tennessee after Ron Fuller sold his promotion to Jim Barnett. He wrestled in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (later World Championship Wrestling), where he appeared on the first Starrcade. He also worked in Mid-South Wrestling Association, where he was managed by Dark Journey. Slater made some trips to the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. He wrestled briefly in the World Wrestling Federation as a babyface under a "Rebel" gimmick, but soon returned to WCW. He wrestled there until receiving his back injury that ended his career.

In June 2004, Slater was convicted for the stabbing of his former girlfriend Theresa Halbert. He was sentenced to one year of house arrest and two years of probation. He blamed the incident on influence from painkillers.