Personal Life
In his AWA days, Okerlund was given the nickname "Mean Gene" by Jesse "The Body" Ventura– an irony, considering that throughout the years many wrestlers and promotion staff considered Okerlund the friendliest person in the game.
His name has been associated with fast food concept, Mean Gene's Burgers, the brainchild of food-distributor Orion Food Systems (headed by two of Okerlund's nephews), which appeared on college campuses including Duke University and his alma mater West Virginia University, as well as a chain of pizzerias located within bowling alleys, Mean Gene's Pizza. These are owned by Hot Stuff Foods, which was headed by two of his nephews. Early in 2006, Okerlund and Hot Stuff split. Okerlund and one of the nephews were planning to start their own food company on the brands, but Hot Stuff sued, claiming they had "Mean Gene" trademarked. Okerlund lost, with the judge saying that Okerlund can't use the name "Mean Gene" for his new food company. Okerlund succeeded in canceling the trademark registrations held by Orion, but remains enjoined from competing with Orion.
Okerlund, like WWE owner Vince McMahon, is highly bothered by cigarette smoke. He once infamously told an off-screen production member to "put that cigarette out" during a post Royal Rumble interview with Ric Flair.
Okerlund has been married to his wife Jeanne since March 27, 1964 and has 2 grown children. Gene's son Todd starred on the University of Minnesota ice hockey team from 1983 to 1987. Todd played in the 1988 United States Olympics team that competed in Calgary. He played four games with the NHL's New York Islanders. A chronic knee injury ultimately forced his early retirement.
In 2004, Okerlund received a kidney transplant, and fully recovered from the operation.
In his interviews, Okerlund would often refer to numerous celebrities as his "Close, personal, long-time friend."
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