OMA, LEE SIGNED PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Born Frank Czjewski, or maybe Csajewski on March 1, 1916, in Chicago, Oma learned how to box from a parish priest at St. Laurence Church (long closed and recently demolished) shortly after quitting the fifth grade. Perhaps out of gratitude, he initially used the ring name of Lawrence Parrish, eventually changing Lawrence to Lee. “Later he was almost run over by a van belonging to the Omaha Trucking Corporation,” writes William Dettloff in Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life, and changed his name from Parrish to Omaha, which he subsequently shortened to Oma. According to Dettloff, he also briefly went by Levi Omanski, “The Jewish Jolter.” Oma fought as a professional from 1939 until 1951 amassing a record of 64-28-3. Oma fought some of the best in the division including Joey Maxim (L), Big Boy Brown (L), Buddy Knox (W), Lou Nova (W), Tami Mauriello (L), Freddy Beshore (W), Ted Lowry (W), Pat Comiskey (L), Jersey Joe Walcott (L), Gus Lesnevich (W), Joe Baksi (W), Nick Barone (W), Bob Satterfield (W), and Ezzard Charles (L). He retied after the loss to Charles in 1951. Lee Oma died in Massapequa, New York, on December 10, 1976, age 60. Offered here is an original promotional photo of Lee Oma which he has signed and inscribed to the son of boxing manager Dan Morgan.
This is an original promotional photo of Lee Oma in fight pose. Signed boldly in ink, "To Dan Morgan a real pal Best Wishes Lee Oma." Clean front and back. Bold, clear image. Not creased or torn. 5" x 8."