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{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}{{short description|American preacher and professional wrestler}}
{{Infobox Biography
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
| subject_name = Johnny Lee Clary
{{Infobox officeholder
| image_name =
| image_size = | name = Johnny Lee Clary
| image = Johnny Lee Clary.jpeg
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| date_of_birth = ], ]
| caption =
| place_of_birth = ], ], ]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1959|6|18}}
| date_of_death =
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| place_of_death =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|10|21|1959|6|18}}
| occupation = ], former ]
| death_place = ], U.S.
| spouse =
| occupation = Preacher, professional wrestler, former KKK leader
| order = 2nd
| title= ] of the<br />]
| term_start =1989
| term_end =1990
| appointed =
| predecessor =]{{cn|date=June 2024}}
| successor = Position abolished
}} }}


'''Johnny Lee Clary''' (born 1959) is a former ] leader who became a ] and now travels around the globe ] the ] and teaching against ] and ] such as the Ku Klux Klan, ]s, and ]. Clary is known also as the wrestler '''Johnny Angel''' who had success in the 1980s in the ] (NWF). '''Johnny Lee Clary''' (June 18, 1959 – October 21, 2014) was an American former professional wrestler, white supremacist, and later preacher. Clary served as a ] leader before he became a ], traveling around the world preaching the gospel and teaching against racism and ] such as the Ku Klux Klan, ]s, and the ]. Clary, under the stage name '''Johnny Angel,''' also wrestled in the ] (NWF) during the 1980s.


==Early life==
== Family, childhood and youth ==
Johnny Lee Clary was born ] ] in Martinez, ]. According to Clary, he was brought up in a racist household, where his father encouraged racist language and treatment of African-Americans,<ref name="Former KKK Grand Wizard finds new path">'' by Frank Wallis Johnny Lee Clary was born on June 18, 1959, in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Johnny Lee Clary (1959 - 2014) |url=https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/johnny-lee-clary-24-17h54p2?geo_a=r&geo_s=us&geo_t=us&geo_v=2.0.0&o_xid=62916&o_lid=62916&o_sch=Partners|website=Ancestry.com}}</ref> He was reportedly raised in a racist home, where his father encouraged racist language and abusive treatment of black people<ref name="Former KKK Grand Wizard finds new path"> by Frank Wallis.</ref> and saw to it that Clary attended an all-white church.<ref name="Apostle of Healing"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416115725/http://melaniehemry.com/articles/ministerofhate.html |date=April 16, 2017 }}, melaniehemry.com; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref> Although Clary's father, a ], was not a Klansman, Clary claimed that his paternal uncle, Harold, was a member and that Harold boasted to Clary's father of shooting an ] man. Johnny's father sent his son on the Sunday school bus every week to the First Baptist Church.<ref name="Apostle of Healing"/>
</ref> and saw to it that Clary attended an all white church.<ref name="Apostle of Healing">'' by Melanie Hemry
</ref> Although Clary's father, a ], was not a Klansman (the KKK being a Protestant group), Clary states that his uncle, Henry, was a member and that Henry boasted to Clary's father of shooting an African-American man.<ref name="Apostle of Healing">'' by Melanie Hemry
</ref>


According to interviews Clary has given, his youth was marred by a tragic family life and lack of stability. At the age of 11 he watched his father kill himself and was subsequently shunted from one family member to another. Eventually he found himself alone in ] where he became involved in ], and joined the ] by the time he was 14.<ref name="Apostle of Healing">'' by Melanie Hemry According to interviews Clary had given, his youth was marred by a violent and tragic family life and also by a lack of stability. At the age of 11, he watched his father kill himself and was subsequently shunted from one family member's home to another's. Eventually he found himself alone in ], where he became involved in gangs and joined the Ku Klux Klan by the time he was 14.<ref name="Apostle of Healing"/>
</ref>


==Wrestling career== ==Professional wrestling career==
In 1983, Johnny became a ] and was trained (along with his brother Terry Clary) by former ], ]. Terry began his career under the name Sugar Boy, with Johnny as his manager under the name ''Der Kommisar'' after a 1980s ] of that name. Terry is best known for almost holding the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title for a very brief period. The storyline had Terry defeat then-champion Danny Hodge after Johnny (portraying a ] managerial character) reached under the ropes during the match and tripped Hodge with a cane, and then had the decision reversed due to Johnny's "interference".{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Terry continued to wrestle, changing his name to Buddy "Bad Man" Savage. Johnny left wrestling management and began wrestling by himself, using the name Johnny Angel.


==Racism and conversion to an anti-racism preacher==
Johnny became a ] in 1983. He was trained (along with his brother Terry Clary) by former ], ]. Terry began his career under the name Sugar Boy, with Johnny as his manager under the name Der Kommisar after the 1980s new wave song by ]. Terry is most notable for almost holding the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title for a very brief period. The storyline had Terry defeat then-champion Danny Hodge after Johnny (portraying a ] managerial character) reached under the ropes during the match and tripped Hodge with a cane, and then had the decision reversed due to Johnny's "interference."
While he was wrestling, Clary continued his involvement in the KKK. According to his interviews with several media outlets, Clary became the ] of the ] arm of the ]. Clary claims to have become increasingly disillusioned with the KKK even as he rose through its ranks. He mentions a first brush with ] in the mid-to-late 1980s but, he claims, he was scared into returning to the KKK and went on to become the ] of the whole White Knights organization in 1989.<ref name="Enough Rope">{{Cite web|title=Enough Rope with Andrew Denton|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1453904.htm|access-date=2006-09-02|date=2005-09-05|format=Official show transcript|publisher=abc.net.au}}</ref> During his leadership the White Knights did not garner much media attention for their activities, but Clary was an active spokesperson for the Klan, defending racism and violence against non-white peoples. In this role he appeared on syndicated talk shows including those hosted by ] and ].<ref name="Former Klansman addresses his past">, lincolntimesnews.com; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>


In interviews Clary asserts that he left the KKK for good in 1990 and joined an evangelical church. This time he stayed with the church and in 1991 he began preaching. He teamed up with ], a preacher and former leader of the Oklahoma chapter of the ] (NAACP) with whom he had previously sparred on numerous occasions during his time in the KKK.<ref name="Not a chance encounter, but a divine appointment"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311164625/http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/files/page.php?p=112 |date=March 11, 2011 }} by Dana Williamson, johnnyleeclary.com; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>
Terry continued to wrestle, changing his name to Buddy "Bad Man" Savage. Johnny left wrestling management and began wrestling himself as Johnny Angel. He was given the NWA Arkansas Heavyweight Title in 1986 and appeared in shows for Kansas City All Star Wrestling with the ]. Later he appeared in the ] against some notable wrestlers such as D.C. "Mad Dog" Drake, ], and ].


The story of Clary's conversion from a Klansman to an anti-racism preacher has drawn the attention of numerous Christian media outlets and several national ]n talk shows. He appeared on talk shows such as '']'', and '']'', discussing racial issues in the U.S.{{Cn|date=March 2023}}
Johnny held the Arkansas Heavyweight title successfully several times between 1986 and 1988, including matches against his brother Terry (under the Buddy Savage moniker). Johnny retired from wrestling on ], ] in Grove, Oklahoma after winning a 10-Man Battle Royal. At the time of his retirement, he was still the Arkansas Heavyweight Champion. In 2002 he made a one-time return to professional wrestling, managing ] at a show in North Carolina in 2002.


Clary was an ordained minister under World Evangelism Fellowship and ] and lived in ].<ref name="Johnny Lee Clary Ordained Into America's Largest Black Denomination">{{YouTube|r-ODXZL-1Dc|"Johnny Lee Clary's Ordination Into Black Denomination"}} channel; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref> In 2009, he joined ] Ministries' Family Worship Center, where his wife is employed and began to preach and teach part-time there. He had been an active member there appearing on their Christian Network ] on occasion.<ref>, ReligionNewsBlog.com; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>
== Racism and conversion to anti-racism preacher ==


==Death==
While wrestling, Clary continued his involvement in the KKK. According to his interviews with several media outlets, Clary became the ] of the Oklahoma arm of the ]. Clary claims to have become increasingly disillusioned with the KKK even as he rose through its ranks. He mentions a first brush with evangelical Christianity in the mid-to-late 1980s but, he claims, was scared into returning to the KKK and went on to become the ] of the whole White Knights organization in 1989.<ref name="Enough Rope">{{Cite visual
At his home in ], Clary suddenly died of a massive ] on October 21, 2014.<ref>, slam.canoe.ca; October 21, 2014; accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>
|director=
|producer=
|crew=
|title=Enough Rope with Andrew Denton
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1453904.htm
|accessdate=2006-09-02
|date=]
|medium=Official show transcript
|distributor=
|location=}}</ref> During his leadership the White Knights did not garner much media attention for their activities, but Clary was an active spokesperson for the Klan, defending racism and violence against non-whites. In this role he appeared on syndicated talk shows including Oprah Winfrey and Morton Downey, Jr.<ref name="Former Klansman addresses his past">'' by Jon Mayhew</ref>


==See also==
In interviews Clary asserts that he left the KKK for good in 1990 and joined an evangelical church. This time he stayed with the church and in 1991 began preaching. He teamed up with ], a preacher and former leader of the Oklahoma chapter of the ] (NAACP), with whom he had previously sparred during his time in the KKK.<ref name="Not a chance encounter, but a divine appointment">'' by Dana Williamson</ref>
{{Portal|Biography}}

*]
Clary's story of Klansman to anti-racism preacher has drawn the attention of numerous Christian media and several national Australian talk shows. He has also appeared on national US talk shows such as "Donahue", and "Geraldo", discussing racial issues in the USA.<ref name="Grace Assembly press release">'' by Firebrand Marketing. Accessed ], ]</ref>
*'']'' (book)

==Personal views==
Many articles are authored on his website www.johnnyleeclary.com and explain his views on a number of subjects. Among them include pop-culture, politics and religion.

===Film and television===
Clary has spoken highly of ]'s '']'' which he said "... became perhaps the highest grossing movie of all time" although it only reached 31st on list unadjusted for inflation the ], and didn't chart on the readjusted list.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/brokeback_mountain_boys.htm</ref>
He renounced the ] winning '']'' claiming they won awards because ] doesn't want anything to do with ].

He has explicitly opposed ], along with ], and TV series '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/witches.htm</ref> Clary has refused to watch the ]. He says a ] financed the film, and as a Muslim thusly loves terrorism.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/davinci.htm</ref> He later dubbed it, "The Da Vinci Crap".

Clary is a fan of ], and made a memorial in his honor after his death.

===Music===
As an ex-KKK member, his views are very much anti-]. Among the artists and bands he dislikes, he devoted an entire article to the racist duo ].

In his article "RAP IS CRAP: Why Rap Music Should Be Banned", he comments on the violent nature of ] lyrics. One of the artists heavily commented upon is ], in which he interpretes the lyrics literally, especially in the song ] and ]. Other rappers referenced are ], ] and ].<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/rap_is_crap.htm</ref>

The only bands to get their own article are ] and ].<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/manson.htm</ref> Throughout Manson's article he cites many urban myths as truth, such as him killing puppies onstage.<ref>http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/marilyn2.htm</ref> He also claims Marilyn Manson has had sex on stage, and with ] of ]. He also says he is a rapist, pedophile, caused the ], has band members drink his ], and defecates on stage, and he calls all Manson fans murderers and child molesters and mentally challenged. The Marilyn Manson article has also been rewritten more than all of his other articles.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/manson.htm</ref> Within the Nirvana article he claims that Kurt Cobain was an immoral bisexual who encouraged rampant drug use and suicide amongst his fans.

===Politics===
Clary does not support abortion, calling it murder and comparing it to ].<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/abortion.htm</ref> He further contends that real ]s are ].

Gun rights are another big issue.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/guns.htm</ref> He says that guns lower crime rate and cites the prevalence of guns in ].

Johnny Lee Clary wrote negatively about the ] (ACLU), calling them Atheists Communist Liars Union. He openly claims that the ACLU, by not allowing the ] to be on public grounds and banning prayer in school has caused kids to become murderous, by "carrying guns, knives and other weapons into the halls to murder their fellow students!"<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/aclu.htm</ref>

Clary also does not agree with the United States' separation of church and state, claiming "The terminology is framed to protect the church from the state, not the state from the church."<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/aclu.htm</ref>

Although he doesn't believe ]s should be given the death penalty, he claims Jesus would citing "if anyone harms a child it would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be cast into the sea." He does however believe they should be ] and imprisoned.<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/childmolesters.htm</ref>

In one article, he highly praises popular talk show host ] and supports a ban on ] adoption. He claims that allowing such, will cause child molestation. He also says that television influences a child's ].<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/homoadoption.htm</ref>

He also opposes the book '']'', and states that ]s support ], ] and ].<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/democratswin.htm</ref>

===Religion===
Clary is very blunt in his opposition of ], and claims "Witches are afraid of the gospel", and are trying to "stop the spread of the message of Jesus!"<ref>http://www.johnnyleeclary.com/witches.htm</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
<references/>
*{{YouTube|lja2YuZNEtQ|Segment of Billy Joe Daugherty's "Power of Forgiveness" video with Johnny Lee Clary}}
*, abc.net.au; accessed October 28, 2014.
*, onlineworldofwrestling.com; accessed October 28, 2014.
*, abc.net.au; accessed October 28, 2014.
*{{YouTube|QGRDY0ZkP7A|gaw Johnny Lee Clary interview}} Pat Robertson's 700 Club; accessed October 28, 2014.
*{{YouTube|MrsY0EtY-hc|Bishop George D. McKinney of Church Of God In Christ Ordains Clary}}; accessed October 28, 2014.


{{Grand Wizards of the Ku Klux Klan}}
==See also==
*]
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{{Authority control}}
==Resources ==
*

==External links==
*
*
* One hour audio which has Clary on second half @ 31:03.
*
* Former KKK Grand Wizard finds new path
*


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Latest revision as of 19:01, 27 October 2024

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American preacher and professional wrestler

Johnny Lee Clary
2nd Grand Wizard of the
White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
In office
1989–1990
Preceded bySamuel Bowers
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1959-06-18)June 18, 1959
Martinez, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 2014(2014-10-21) (aged 55)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
OccupationPreacher, professional wrestler, former KKK leader

Johnny Lee Clary (June 18, 1959 – October 21, 2014) was an American former professional wrestler, white supremacist, and later preacher. Clary served as a Ku Klux Klan leader before he became a Pentecostal Christian, traveling around the world preaching the gospel and teaching against racism and hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, and the Aryan Nations. Clary, under the stage name Johnny Angel, also wrestled in the National Wrestling Federation (NWF) during the 1980s.

Early life

Johnny Lee Clary was born on June 18, 1959, in Martinez, California. He was reportedly raised in a racist home, where his father encouraged racist language and abusive treatment of black people and saw to it that Clary attended an all-white church. Although Clary's father, a Catholic, was not a Klansman, Clary claimed that his paternal uncle, Harold, was a member and that Harold boasted to Clary's father of shooting an African-American man. Johnny's father sent his son on the Sunday school bus every week to the First Baptist Church.

According to interviews Clary had given, his youth was marred by a violent and tragic family life and also by a lack of stability. At the age of 11, he watched his father kill himself and was subsequently shunted from one family member's home to another's. Eventually he found himself alone in East Los Angeles, California, where he became involved in gangs and joined the Ku Klux Klan by the time he was 14.

Professional wrestling career

In 1983, Johnny became a professional wrestler and was trained (along with his brother Terry Clary) by former NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, Danny Hodge. Terry began his career under the name Sugar Boy, with Johnny as his manager under the name Der Kommisar after a 1980s new wave song of that name. Terry is best known for almost holding the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title for a very brief period. The storyline had Terry defeat then-champion Danny Hodge after Johnny (portraying a heel managerial character) reached under the ropes during the match and tripped Hodge with a cane, and then had the decision reversed due to Johnny's "interference". Terry continued to wrestle, changing his name to Buddy "Bad Man" Savage. Johnny left wrestling management and began wrestling by himself, using the name Johnny Angel.

Racism and conversion to an anti-racism preacher

While he was wrestling, Clary continued his involvement in the KKK. According to his interviews with several media outlets, Clary became the Grand Dragon of the Oklahoma arm of the White Knights Of The Ku Klux Klan. Clary claims to have become increasingly disillusioned with the KKK even as he rose through its ranks. He mentions a first brush with evangelical Christianity in the mid-to-late 1980s but, he claims, he was scared into returning to the KKK and went on to become the Imperial Wizard of the whole White Knights organization in 1989. During his leadership the White Knights did not garner much media attention for their activities, but Clary was an active spokesperson for the Klan, defending racism and violence against non-white peoples. In this role he appeared on syndicated talk shows including those hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Morton Downey.

In interviews Clary asserts that he left the KKK for good in 1990 and joined an evangelical church. This time he stayed with the church and in 1991 he began preaching. He teamed up with Wade Watts, a preacher and former leader of the Oklahoma chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) with whom he had previously sparred on numerous occasions during his time in the KKK.

The story of Clary's conversion from a Klansman to an anti-racism preacher has drawn the attention of numerous Christian media outlets and several national Australian talk shows. He appeared on talk shows such as Donahue, and Geraldo, discussing racial issues in the U.S.

Clary was an ordained minister under World Evangelism Fellowship and Church Of God In Christ and lived in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 2009, he joined Jimmy Swaggart Ministries' Family Worship Center, where his wife is employed and began to preach and teach part-time there. He had been an active member there appearing on their Christian Network Sonlife Broadcasting Network on occasion.

Death

At his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Clary suddenly died of a massive heart attack on October 21, 2014.

See also

References

  1. "Johnny Lee Clary (1959 - 2014)". Ancestry.com.
  2. Former KKK Grand Wizard finds new path by Frank Wallis.
  3. ^ Apostle of Healing Archived April 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, melaniehemry.com; accessed October 28, 2014.
  4. "Enough Rope with Andrew Denton" (Official show transcript). abc.net.au. September 5, 2005. Retrieved September 2, 2006.
  5. Former Klansman addresses his past, lincolntimesnews.com; accessed October 28, 2014.
  6. "Not a chance encounter, but a divine appointment" Archived March 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine by Dana Williamson, johnnyleeclary.com; accessed October 28, 2014.
  7. "Johnny Lee Clary's Ordination Into Black Denomination" on YouTube channel; accessed October 28, 2014.
  8. "Former KKK Grand Wizard finds new path", ReligionNewsBlog.com; accessed October 28, 2014.
  9. Johnny Angel hated — and was hated — before he preached love, slam.canoe.ca; October 21, 2014; accessed October 28, 2014.

External links

Grand Wizards and Imperial Wizards of the Ku Klux Klan
First Klan
Second Klan
Remnants of the Second Klan
United Klans of America
White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan


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