Editing Haystacks Calhoun (section)

==Death and legacy==
Calhoun's weight and declining health eventually forced him into retirement, and he was ultimately confined to a double-wide trailer after losing his left leg to [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]] in 1986.<ref name=":2" /> He died at age 55 on December 7, 1989.<ref name="OWOW" /> His daughter donated mementos of his wrestling career to the Collin County museum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Position|first=The Gorilla|date=December 7, 2017|title=IN MEMORIAM: HAYSTACKS CALHOUN|url=https://thegorillaposition.com/haystacks-calhoun/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=The Gorilla Position|language=en-US}}</ref>

Calhoun was more directly an influence on British super heavyweight wrestler [[Martin Ruane]], best known in America for his stint as Loch Ness in [[World Championship Wrestling]]. Ruane achieved fame in his home country as "Giant Haystacks", a modified version of Calhoun's gimmick. Ruane first wrestled as "Haystacks Calhoun", a direct copy of the American original, while working for [[All Star Wrestling#1970s - Wrestling Enterprises|Wrestling Enterprises (of Birkenhead)]] in the early 1970s, before modifying his name and character.<ref>''[[The Wrestling]]'', [[Simon Garfield]], [[Faber & Faber]] 1996 edition, page 138</ref> Thus adapted, Ruane later moved to [[Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom#Joint Promotions|Joint Promotions]] where he achieved television exposure and national fame as the tag team partner, and later arch enemy, of [[Shirley Crabtree|Big Daddy]].<ref name=ipppzb>{{cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/giant-haystacks.html| title=OWOW profile| date=August 21, 2023|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref><ref>''The Wrestling'' Simon Garfield, Faber & Faber 1996</ref>

Calhoun often appeared at [[Turner's Arena|Capital Arena]] in Washington, D.C., scuffling on televised bouts. [[A. J. Weberman]] was head of Haystacks Calhoun fan club.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-in-the-alley-the-alan-j-weberman-story-189254/|title=Bob Dylan in the Alley: The Alan J. Weberman Story|last=Dreifus|first=Claudia|date=March 4, 1971|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

He and colleague [[Andre the Giant]] were known for a story Andre told about their visit to a diner: {{blockquote|There was a place next to the arena which was one of those all-you-can-eat-for-two-dollars joints...&nbsp;When Haystacks and I walked in you could see the waitress almost faint. About 30 seconds later the manager comes out, takes a peek at us, and shakes his head and goes back to the kitchen...&nbsp;Haystacks and I decided to tie on a real big feed that night and the waitresses were hysterical. They told us the manager was tearing his hair out and practically in tears. But we felt badly, since we must've eaten about $25 worth of food for $4. So after it was over we told him we'd pay the regular price instead of the all-you-can-eat price. He thanked us for that and told us two more like us could put him out of business.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mooneyham |first1=Mike |title=Haystacks Calhoun was a true giant in the wrestling business |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/haystacks-calhoun-was-a-true-giant-in-the-wrestling-business/article_313eb0d0-2c13-11e7-af34-6ff1f2d7a991.html |website=Post and Courier |access-date=30 June 2021 |language=en |date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>}}

In 2003, WWE listed him as one of the 50 greatest WWE superstars of all time.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Top-Greatest-Superstars-Time-Wrestling/dp/B0050YCAOK|title=The Top 50 Greatest Superstars of All Time WWE Wrestling|date=January 2004}}</ref> On March 31, 2017, Calhoun was posthumously inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] as a part of the Legacy Wing.<ref name="Legacy2017" />