Toughie Brasuhn
American roller derby skater (1923–1971)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marjorie Clair Louise Theresa Brasuhn Monte (January 27, 1923 – 9 August 1971), known as Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn,[3] was a roller derby skater.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Midge, Toughie, Brazooni[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | January 27, 1923 |
| Died | August 9, 1971 (aged 48) |
| Height | 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) |
| Weight | 150 lb (68 kg)[2] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Roller derby |
| Team | Brooklyn Red Devils |
Turned pro | 1941 |
| Retired | 1962 |
Born in St Louis, Missouri, to a German-American family, Brasuhn acquired the nickname "Midge" as a child by virtue of her height - only 4'11".[4] She joined the roller derby in 1941, in Minneapolis,[5] and soon married Ken Monte, a fellow skater.[4]
Brasuhn rose to fame in the late 1940s with a billboard campaign showing her with green dye on her face asking the question "Who Is Toughie?"[4] She regularly competed against Gerry Murray,[5] sometimes on a one-to-one basis,[6] and in 1949 took a leading role in the film Roller Derby Girl.[7] In 1950, she was voted one of the ten leading sportswomen by the Sportswriters of America,[5] and she became the captain of the Brooklyn Red Devils.[6] She was known for her aggressive play, and would sometimes knee her opponents in the jaw.[8]
Brasuhn retired from competition in 1962,[4] and was subsequently inducted into the Roller Derby Hall of Fame.[9] In the mid-1960s, she briefly skated with the rival Roller Games,[5] before moving with her son to Honolulu,[4] where she died unexpectedly in 1971.[5]