"The Face Of Pittsburgh" Is The Region's Most Important Wrestler

by Thomas Leturgey

On Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, Lou Martin spent a few moments on face time, chatting with Nicole Ellison, Pittsburgh professional wrestling’s most recognizable fan. The moment is priceless for Ellison, the young, vocal KSWA “Krazy” who happens to be confined to a wheelchair. Ellison can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean she can’t smile, squeal, hop and be overjoyed by the KSWA Megastars.

For Martin, who initially dubbed himself “The Face of Pittsburgh” as a backhanded compliment to the city, now might just be the local sports scene’s most enthusiastic booster.

Since 2000, Lou Martin been involved in fundraisers for some of the region’s most needy charities. During many of those events over nearly two decades, Martin has been a villain, swatting away good guys and delivering his patented “Death Certificate” whenever and wherever he could. But for many of those same years, fans and observers alike be unaware of how has been a lynch pin in many of those crusades.

It’s the continued and growing activity in Pittsburgh’s philanthropic community that lead to a more fan-centric outward approach to in-ring action. Last year, Martin was one of the city’s movers-and-shakers honored by Pittsburgh’s “Connecting Champions” a non-profit organization designed to pair children with cancer with “people who do cool things.” Martin has visited one “Champion” suffering from the disease, and continues to check on him to this day. Then there was Kelsey, another young lady who he visited a number of times and welcomed to the KSWA for an event. Martin, KSWA Owner Bobby O and others attended the fifth annual “Night of Inspiration.” Some $75,000 was raised that evening for the organization.

In 2018, Martin quietly organized Western Pennsylvania’s last great multi-organization professional wrestling fundraiser for Ken Jugan, a.k.a. Lord Zoltan, the greater Pittsburgh region’s previous charitable king. Jugan was well-known for his 40-plus-year career (the last decade as a KSWA regular), and contributions to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf through its legendary Deaf Wrestlefest. That once-annual event raised thousands for the school’s coffers. When Jugan was diagnosed and battled cancer for a second time two years ago, Martin, Bobby O and others organized a $5,300 grossing day featuring only long-time friends of the Western Pennsylvania fixture.

Martin has worked to raise operating funds for the American Legion post in the city’s Sheraden neighborhood, as well as several regional volunteer fire departments, youth sports teams, high school bands, diabetes sufferers and other cancer organizations.

In addition to the Connecting Champions chapter, Martin has worked with Bobby O and the KSWA to welcome Make A Wish to Pittsburgh’s professional wrestling organization, and several Children’s Miracle Network campaigns. Catholic Schools were frequent beneficiaries of KSWA fundraisers and so was PA Connecting Communities, an organization dedicated to serving those in the special-needs community.

None of that even mentions how Martin was also quietly one of the catalysts behind the KSWA’s 15-year association with the Allegheny County Holiday Project. Through the KSWA’s annual FanFest/Toy Drive, thousands of toys have been donated to needy children throughout Western Pennsylvania since 2005.

Martin is a staple of the Lawrenceville Memorial Day Parade, as well as Millvale Days’ festivities. When a fundraiser was held in Rankin Borough for a young girl injured in an icy car crash, Martin, Bobby O and others in the KSWA were there.

It’s the community fundraising efforts of “The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin and the KSWA that had witnessed the organization explode to 25 events in 2019. A similar number was already on the schedule when COVID-19 sent all of sports and live entertainment into immediate lock down.

Just like Martin was ready to talk to Nicole on a moment’s notice, “The Face of Pittsburgh” will be ready when professional wrestling returns to Pittsburgh.