The fourth of July! Fireworks, apple pie, cook outs, the Flag of the United States of America! What better day can Hacksaw Jim Duggan ask for? This year, I am having my first Fourth at our new log home in South Carolina.  That's right, a log home!  After living in Titusville, FL for twenty years, we made the move back up to the town my wife is from.  The town that we had our wedding in over twenty years ago, with my friends Jake The Snake Roberts, One Man Gang, Ackeem, and Magnum T. A. to name just a few.  To say we made an impression on the town would be putting it lightly.  Now this is my home, out in the country, where I spend some time on my tractor.  Boy, do times change. What a job building a new home, especially a log home, but I learned a lot and  it sure is a beautiful place, over looking a fishing pond and some acreage as well.  After thirty years on the road wrestling, it is sure nice to have a quiet place to come home to.  Both of my girls had trouble at first, moving in the teenage years, but now they love it.  Many people have been asking just where I came from before the WWE.  I thought today, the Fourth of July, would be a good time to tell a little of my story.        I grew up in Glens Falls, New York. A nice little city in up state, about 60 miles north of Albany, the state capital.  My family life was something you could only dream about.  My Mom and Dad were loving, caring parents.  I also have three older sisters, Mary Ann, Angel, and Sheila.  So we always joked, that I was not only the youngest, but, the only boy.  My Dad, was a police officer my whole life. Chief of Police for many years, my Mom stayed at home and raised us kids, which was the way then.  I named my first born after my Mom.  By Dad was my Best Man at my wedding.  My sisters and I are still very close even after the passing of our folks. All this and we lived in a great neighborhood as well.   Throughout school, I played all sports, football, wrestling, track and basketball.  Now kids seem to just focus on one sport, personally, I think this is wrong, let kids be kids, they don't even know what they are good at, and some schools they have off season training.  I think we are starting kids out way too fast.  I was able to earn 10 varsity letters in four sports.  My shot-putt record still stands today, 36 years later, and I was the first kid from our whole section to win state in wrestling.  But football was my favorite of all and I was heavily recruited by many collages.  Back then, the NCAA did not have limits on recruiting trips, so I was lucky enough to go on seven different trips.  Places like Ohio State, Penn State, Kentucky and Iowa State to name a few.  But I finally signed with the Mustangs of Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, Texas.  What I jump from a guy who never left his home state.  In college, which was a great time, where I made many friends, I also had a productive career on the field, setting a record for consecutive starts.  It has been broken a few times since. My senior year I also received the Mike Kelsey Award for 110 % effort, which is the one award that I was most proud of in my college career. But going to Dallas opened a door that no one saw coming.  On the recruiting trip to SMU, I meet an alumni who would change my life.  I was standing at a get together for high school kids that were being recruited.  I noticed this big man, with huge hands and a raspy voice.  Before the night was over, Fritz Von Eric had won me over.  Opening the door to a world I never new, the world of professional wrestling. After college, I was with the Atlanta Falcons, playing on the offensive line.  This is where I had my first big injury during pre season.  I had two major surgeries on my right knee, and it should have been the end of my football career.  But instead of taking the career ending injury clause in my contract, I tried to come back the next year. I was cut, right away.  I then was picked up by the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL.  After playing a short time, I knew I could no longer run with any speed and football was over.   During the off season of those two years, I went down to the Sportatorium in downtown Dallas where Fritz had me run the ropes and learned a little bit about taking bumps.  Then, April 8, 1979 at the Sportatorium, Big Jim Duggan made his debut against Bob Marcus.  I still have the program where I am on the back. The main event that night was Bruiser Brody vs The Spoiler.  In a huge coincidence, I was married the same day 10 years later and did not realize the dates were the same until a short time ago. I also meet one of my best friends, and one of only three roommates I had through out the years. Gino Hernandez.  After the CFL, I was in my home town of Glens Falls and the old WWWF was running a show. I went down to the civic center and Arnie Scoland put me in the show. where I wrestled Moose Morouskee, and won with a sunset flip. Now I was off and running.  I went to TV in Allentown, Pa. and the first big thing I did was the Cobra Clutch challenge.  That is where they put a chair in the ring and I tried to get out of Sgt. Slaughter's hold. Needless to say I was out a short time later.  I met Vince Sr. and he sent me to Hawaii to work with Peter Miavia.  In Hawaii, I wore a mask and called myself the Convict. After about six months I came back to the mainland and went to work for Georgia Championship Wrestling, out of Atlanta, where I met another one of my best friends and roommates, Terry Gordy.  There are a million stories that happened in these territories, but this is just a short run down and I want to save some stuff for my book.  After Georgia I went to work for Robert Fuller in Birmingham, Al  but lived on the beach in Panama City, Fla. What a great place for a young, single guy! While in Panama City I received a call from Brody to come to Southwest Wrestling run by Joe Blanchard.  When I made that move is when I became Hacksaw Jim Duggan about 24 years ago.  It was a rough territory and Brody gave me some advice that I still use today.  He said " If you carry something to the ring, carry something you can use, forget the feather boas and sequinrobes".  The 2x4 has been my trade mark ever sense.  From Southwest I went to Mid South Wrestling run by Bill Watts. This is where I got my big break.  It was a great territory and I meet my other roommate, Dr. Death, Steve Williams.  From there I followed my friends Junk Yard Dog and Jake up to the WWF for Wrestlemania III.  After a great run I made the move to WCW and was part of the Monday night wars. Now I am back with the WWE and I could not be prouder. Though I have not been in the ring in three months, I still stay in shape because I know the call could come. As the song goes, "  I may not be as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was", and I know if given a shot, anything can happen. Knowing my time in the ring is coming to an end, I have never been more motivated in my life.  Mike Kelsey Award winner 110% that has been my life and I will not stop. I will not quit. I will not surrender. I will ATTACK< ATTACK< ATTACK! as long as there is air in my lungs and blood in my heart!  God Bless America and Happy Fourth of July!!!!!!!!