People > Notable Norkans > Peter Sauer
Peter Sauer, aka "Ray Steele"
Peter Sauer was born in Norka, Russia, on February 8, 1900, the youngest son of Conrad Sauer and Catharina Margaretha Sauer (née Glanz).
On June 8, 1901, when Peter was merely 16 months old, his father Conrad Sauer suffered a sudden and massive heart attack after drawing water from a well, where he died in front of his oldest son, Ludwig.
On June 8, 1901, when Peter was merely 16 months old, his father Conrad Sauer suffered a sudden and massive heart attack after drawing water from a well, where he died in front of his oldest son, Ludwig.
Peter's widowed mother, Catharina Margaretha, and her three sons, Ludwig (born 1883), George (born 1894), and Peter, immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York on September 13, 1902, aboard the steamship "Rijndam," which sailed from Rotterdam. The family was destined for Lincoln, Nebraska, where Catharina Margaretha would be reunited with her older sister, Catharina, and brother-in-law, Johannes Feuerstein. Conrad Sauer's brother, Nicholas (Nick), and his wife, Christina Arndt, also lived in Lincoln. The extended family in America helped raise the three young boys.
Peter likely began his wrestling career in or around Lincoln, where he grew up. He was drawn to the sport by his older brother, George, who was a middleweight champion. He was a student of Martin (Farmer) Burns and trained for two years before taking his first match. By 1919, Peter was gaining notoriety in professional wrestling, having faced top talent such as Clarence Eklund several times. He also had an impressive showing against the legendary Joe Stecher. Peter became the World Light Heavyweight Champion on October 9, 1922, by defeating Eklund in Santa Paula, California, taking two of three falls. He was photographed in Portland wearing the championship belt sometime before January 24, 1923, when he lost the title to "Terrible" Ted Thye.
Peter likely began his wrestling career in or around Lincoln, where he grew up. He was drawn to the sport by his older brother, George, who was a middleweight champion. He was a student of Martin (Farmer) Burns and trained for two years before taking his first match. By 1919, Peter was gaining notoriety in professional wrestling, having faced top talent such as Clarence Eklund several times. He also had an impressive showing against the legendary Joe Stecher. Peter became the World Light Heavyweight Champion on October 9, 1922, by defeating Eklund in Santa Paula, California, taking two of three falls. He was photographed in Portland wearing the championship belt sometime before January 24, 1923, when he lost the title to "Terrible" Ted Thye.
Photograph of Pete Sauer wearing his championship belt, circa 1922, in Portland. Source: Oregon Historical Society Digital Collections, Wiggins family photographs, Org. Lot 19, Box 4, Negative 084.
Early in his career, he wrestled under the names Peter Sauer, Pete Sauer, and as one of the Masked Marvels. He lost his mask in a bout with Jim Londos (known as the "Golden Greek") on April 26, 1926, in Atlanta.
By 1926, Peter was most well known as "Ray Steele". He appears to have adopted this moniker when competing in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Toronto. He was still known as Pete Sauer in his hometown and on the West Coast, but by 1931, he went by Ray Steele nationally and internationally. Billed as six feet tall and 210 pounds, Peter was known for his lightning-fast reflexes and vast knowledge of the sport.
Peter claimed the title of California State Heavyweight Champion in 1932, 1933, and 1934. This success gave Peter the opportunity to face the World Champion, "Handsome" Jim Londos. He could not defeat Londos, who some said was the best wrestler on the planet.
Peter worked a catch wrestling style in his early career. On May 16, 1934, he wrestled Orville Brown to a 30-minute draw. Peter also gained more notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in a mixed match, which Steele won in 35 seconds.
In 1938, Peter went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, where he unified the Heavyweight title for both countries in a match with Lofty Blomfield.
Peter's most significant accomplishment in the sport was winning the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Title in the Municipal Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 7, 1940, against the great Bronko Nagurski. Peter held the belt for over a year before losing it to Nagurski on March 11, 1941, in Minneapolis.
Peter again became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion in November 1943. He held the title until May 10, 1944, when he was defeated by Dave Levin in Des Moines, Iowa.
Information obtained from a profile of Ray Steele on Legacyofwrestling.com reveals a humorous aspect of Peter's personality:
By 1926, Peter was most well known as "Ray Steele". He appears to have adopted this moniker when competing in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Toronto. He was still known as Pete Sauer in his hometown and on the West Coast, but by 1931, he went by Ray Steele nationally and internationally. Billed as six feet tall and 210 pounds, Peter was known for his lightning-fast reflexes and vast knowledge of the sport.
Peter claimed the title of California State Heavyweight Champion in 1932, 1933, and 1934. This success gave Peter the opportunity to face the World Champion, "Handsome" Jim Londos. He could not defeat Londos, who some said was the best wrestler on the planet.
Peter worked a catch wrestling style in his early career. On May 16, 1934, he wrestled Orville Brown to a 30-minute draw. Peter also gained more notoriety in 1936 when he faced heavyweight boxing contender Kingfish Levinsky in a mixed match, which Steele won in 35 seconds.
In 1938, Peter went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, where he unified the Heavyweight title for both countries in a match with Lofty Blomfield.
Peter's most significant accomplishment in the sport was winning the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Title in the Municipal Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 7, 1940, against the great Bronko Nagurski. Peter held the belt for over a year before losing it to Nagurski on March 11, 1941, in Minneapolis.
Peter again became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion in November 1943. He held the title until May 10, 1944, when he was defeated by Dave Levin in Des Moines, Iowa.
Information obtained from a profile of Ray Steele on Legacyofwrestling.com reveals a humorous aspect of Peter's personality:
Steele was a renowned practical joker and known as the "Clown Prince of Wrestling," according to The All-Sports News (11/4/1953). Muchnick told several stories about his antics, including the time he took Leon Balkin's shoes and threw them from a moving train, and another about Jim Londos and his bright pink tie. Londos appeared at the St. Louis office wearing this pink tie and explained that it had been sent by relatives in Greece and was his most prized possession in the world. Steele, without hesitation, grabbed a pair of scissors, walked up to Londos, and cut the tie off at the knot. Londos was not happy, but there was little he could do about it. That was the way Steele did things. Ray was also known for nailing the suitcases of fellow wrestlers to the floor.
Peter remained a top attraction for many years, and he served as a mentor to many young pros on the way up, including Lou Thesz, who ranked Steele among the finest wrestlers he ever knew.
The October 28, 1947, edition of Sports Facts (Minneapolis arena program) stated that Steele's wrestling career was over because of ulcers. Not finished, Peter continued to wrestle and referee matches. In January 1949, he participated in his final three matches a few days before his 49th birthday. He was hospitalized in June 1949, but began training again after his release.
Like his father, Peter Sauer died of a heart attack on September 11, 1949, in Warm Lake, Idaho. He was buried at the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln near his mother and brother, Louis.
Ray Steele was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008. He will be remembered as one of the truly great professional wrestlers in American history. As a tribute to the widespread popularity of his wrestling persona, multiple other wrestlers would take up the mantle of Ray Steele in the second half of the twentieth century, most famously the British wrestler of the 1970s and '80s.
A plaque commemorating his accomplishments has been donated to the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and is displayed at the headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Peter's older brother, George, was also a successful professional wrestler. George won the World's Middleweight Championship in 1932, defeating Gus Kallio.
Peter's brother, Ludwig, who changed his name to "Louis," was the father of the famous George Heinrich Sauer, who played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Green Bay Packers. George's son, George Sauer Jr., became an outstanding football player and NFL star.
Peter is said to be the uncle of professional wrestler Dave Ruhl, whom he trained.
The October 28, 1947, edition of Sports Facts (Minneapolis arena program) stated that Steele's wrestling career was over because of ulcers. Not finished, Peter continued to wrestle and referee matches. In January 1949, he participated in his final three matches a few days before his 49th birthday. He was hospitalized in June 1949, but began training again after his release.
Like his father, Peter Sauer died of a heart attack on September 11, 1949, in Warm Lake, Idaho. He was buried at the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln near his mother and brother, Louis.
Ray Steele was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008. He will be remembered as one of the truly great professional wrestlers in American history. As a tribute to the widespread popularity of his wrestling persona, multiple other wrestlers would take up the mantle of Ray Steele in the second half of the twentieth century, most famously the British wrestler of the 1970s and '80s.
A plaque commemorating his accomplishments has been donated to the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and is displayed at the headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Peter's older brother, George, was also a successful professional wrestler. George won the World's Middleweight Championship in 1932, defeating Gus Kallio.
Peter's brother, Ludwig, who changed his name to "Louis," was the father of the famous George Heinrich Sauer, who played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Green Bay Packers. George's son, George Sauer Jr., became an outstanding football player and NFL star.
Peter is said to be the uncle of professional wrestler Dave Ruhl, whom he trained.
Three Sauer brothers in the front row, seated from left to right: Peter Sauer (aka Ray Steele), Louis Sauer, and George Sauer. Standing in the back from left to right are the three sons of Louis: Bob, George H. ("Little George"), and Eddie. All three sons were outstanding football players. Source: Professional Wrestling Historical Society (Facebook).
Sources
Baxmeyer, Donna. A relative of Peter Sauer.
Krieger, Jerry. "The Gentle Giant from Norka made a name for himself in wrestling". Norka Newsletter. Winter 2002.
Wray, J. G. "Wrestling Mourns Ray Steele" St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 13, 1949.
Ship manifest, U.S. Census Records, death records - Ancestry.com
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website (November 2025)
Wikipedia article on Peter Sauer accessed October 2025.
Portland Wrestling Facebook Page. Article about Pete Sauer written by Matthew Merz on October 28, 2025.
Ray Steele profile on Wrestlingdata.com accessed October 31, 2025
Ray Steele profile on Legacyofwrestling.com accessed October 31, 2025
Oregon Historical Society Digital Collections
Norka Church Register 1891-1905, Household 99.
Krieger, Jerry. "The Gentle Giant from Norka made a name for himself in wrestling". Norka Newsletter. Winter 2002.
Wray, J. G. "Wrestling Mourns Ray Steele" St. Louis Post-Dispatch. September 13, 1949.
Ship manifest, U.S. Census Records, death records - Ancestry.com
National Wrestling Hall of Fame website (November 2025)
Wikipedia article on Peter Sauer accessed October 2025.
Portland Wrestling Facebook Page. Article about Pete Sauer written by Matthew Merz on October 28, 2025.
Ray Steele profile on Wrestlingdata.com accessed October 31, 2025
Ray Steele profile on Legacyofwrestling.com accessed October 31, 2025
Oregon Historical Society Digital Collections
Norka Church Register 1891-1905, Household 99.
Last updated October 31, 2025