It’s been about a year since Dr. D and I met face to face and agreed to write his book together. The text is nearly complete, the cover is done, and we are hoping the foreword will be turned in soon. Not going to spill the beans who wrote the foreword, but it’s a Hall of Fame star who credits the Doctor with helping him out as a young, rising star.
Dr. D asked me today what I have learned from this process of writing his book. I thought it might be worth reposting here what I shared with him today.
I’ve learned a lot this past year. Writing this book has changed how I look at the wrestling business. It’s taught me a lot about the justice system and how it works.
As far as Dr. D David Schultz… I’ve come to see a man who always worked harder than everyone else around him. He is demanding of himself and those around him, but he is the best and most loyal friend to those who are the same to him.
The biggest impression I take away from the book is the loyalty of the people he trained and worked with. From the men he trained to become wrestlers, to the men he traveled with, to the men and women of the bail bonds person community, every one of them was eager to sing his praises and say how much they admired the man.
Fans might be surprised to learn that Dr. D, bounty hunter, could be a completely different person than the one they used to watch on TV. Yes, he could kick in doors and drag a man to the ground when needed, but he could also be compassionate, caring, and understanding. Dr. D had a way of knowing when to be tough and when to be tender. He took the fear out of facing the music for men and women caught in a bad spot. He let them know someone was on their side.
Personally, Dr. D has been been extremely good to me and my family. I appreciate the trust he placed in me to tell his story and to look through the boxes of history he sent my way to assist in the writing. I’ve had my hands on everything from legal depositions to Stampede Wrestling programs to Hulk Hogan’s wedding invitation. That was a huge trust, and quite a thrill.
I really appreciated the kindness Dr. D showed to my kids. They are big Dr. D fans. Sam and Lydia have both told their friends they know someone who beat up Hulk Hogan!
Dr. D and his wife, who read every page of the book as well, pushed me to become better writer this year. They challenged me to go above ant beyond what I have done in the past. I hope I have done his story the service it deserves and written a book his friends, his fans, and those who have never met him will greatly enjoy.
More than that, I hope I can have the same impact on others that Dr. D had on the men and women who remain loyal to him to this day. I hope I can be the kind of person who is honest, who has compassion for those in need of help, and who brings out the best in others. Those are the qualities I admire most about Dr. D.