[2] Read grew up in Bladensburg, Maryland, before becoming an aviation mechanic and sergeant in the United States Marines, discharging in January 1957.

Trained by Killer Karl Krupp, Read made his professional wrestling debut in 1962 in Nick Gulas and Bob Welch's NWA Mid-America in the Tennessee region, worked under the name “Cowboy” Ron Reed.

[2] On February 20, 1975, Colt was the pilot of a plane, which crashed in water near Tampa Bay, resulting in the death of Bobby Shane.

[3] He retired from wrestling due to broken ankles, which later developed gangrene and were fused together, but continued to fly.

He remained in Championship Wrestling from Florida as a color commentator along with Gordon Solie and had part ownership of the company.