Peyton Sher, 90, international boxing matchmaker and promoter, of Leawood, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 19, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to Kehilath Israel Synagogue or Kansas City Hospice House and Palliative Care, 12000 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145.
Peyton was born to Libbie Holzberg Sher and Samuel Jack Sher on July 30, 1924, in Duluth, Minn. Graduating from high school at 16, he attended junior college before enlisting in the U.S. Army Paratroopers in 1943. Following his discharge in 1946, he finished his studies at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1948 with a business degree. After living in Duluth and Florida, he moved to Kansas City, joining his brothers Abbott and Sylvester and their families.
Working in the insurance industry, he traveled regularly, including stops in Great Bend, Kan., where he met his wife, Carole, the love of his life. Married in 1973, they had a second ceremony at Kehilath Israel Synagogue in 1974, after Carole converted to Judaism, and enjoyed a long, loving and happy marriage.
Peyton had a lifelong love of boxing, including a short professional career when he fought under the name Bobby Regan. He explained his pseudonym saying, “At that time there weren’t too many Jewish kids that were boxing anyplace.” He didn’t hide his religion, wearing a Star of David on one leg of his boxing shorts and a four-leaf clover on the other. He gave up the ring saying “I got beat up pretty bad in one of my fights so I decided I was better off staying in school and getting a degree.”
Peyton loved boxing too much to stay away and when local fighters began asking him to help them with their careers, he didn’t hesitate, training them and setting up their matches. As he put on more and more shows, he began managing well-known local boxers, including Tracy Morrison, Leroy Green, Jr., and Tony Chiaverini. He set up the debut professional fight of Tommy Morrison at Madison Square Garden. Always working independently, Peyton made matches for numerous national and international promoters, including Aaron Bronstein of Israel, and Hedy Mohammad of Germany.
He was associated with Don King Productions for 32 years, working with all the major boxers of that era including Mohammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Julio Cesar Chaves, Evander Holyfield and James “Buster” Douglas. One of the highlights of Peyton’s career was working the corner of Buster Douglas when he was a 42-1 underdog against heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, knocking Tyson out at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, a fight considered one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
He enjoyed a wonderful reputation in a rough and tumble profession and was known as a most honest and honorable gentleman respected and loved by all.
Peyton was a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder for more than 50 years and enjoyed season tickets to the Kansas City Kings basketball team and other sports.
Throughout his career, Peyton was honored many times, including being named Matchmaker of the Year by the International Boxing Federation in 1995 in Toronto. The city of Kansas City, Mo., declared Peyton Sher Day on Nov. 14, 1990. He belonged to many organizations, including Masons and Shriners. He was a member of Kehilath Israel Synagogue for more than 45 years and a former member of its board of directors.
Peyton’s parents; sister, Ruth Abramson of Duluth; and brothers, Abbott, Sylvester and Ralph predeceased him.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Carole; sisters-in-law, Celia Sher, Overland Park and Gaye Horn, Wichita; and brother-in-law, Terry L. Fronterhouse, Phoenix.
Having no children of his own, he doted on his nieces and nephews, Nancy and Robert N. Cohen, Los Angeles, Richard and Linda Sher, St. Louis, Allison and Alan Myers, Overland Park, Susan and Dr. Samuel Gutovitz, Overland Park, and Dr. Scott I. Sher, Leawood, and their families.
Online condolences may be shared at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Arr: The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.