Frank Alvin Gotch (April 27, 1878 - December 16, 1917) was an American professional wrestler of German ancestry credited for popularizing professional wrestling in the United States. He competed back when the contests were largely legit, and his reign as World Heavyweight Champion (from 1908 to 1913) is one of the ten longest in the history of wrestling. He became one of the most popular athletes in America from the 1900s to the 1910s. He was the first inductee to both the Professional Wrestling Writers Hall of Fame in Latham, New York and the Lou Thesz/George Tragos Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa; his professional wrestling record is 154 wins and 6 losses.