Arts
Byron Museum of History honors veteran Richard Cheek
By Evelyn Torres
A piece of Dixon history: Speroni murdered!
Anita Patel
Anita Patel
Sports Reporter · Naperville, IL
Anita Patel, a graduate of DePaul University, has over 8 years of experience covering high school athletics for various local publications. She has a deep passion for sports and youth development, often championing the stories of student-athletes making an impact in their communities.
More from Anita →Sports Reporter · Friday, November 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM · 1 min read
Editor’s note: Parts 1 and 2 told the remarkable story of the notorious Jack Speroni (1900-1981), the bootlegger who became a respected businessman in Sterling. This final part tells the shocking story of Jack’s big brother, Peter. Pietro (Peter) Joseph Speroni Jr. of Rock Falls was four years older than his notorious brother, Jack. Like his little brother, Peter also quit school as a freshman and was arrested for stealing in 1917.
The Details
After being drafted into the Army for the Great War in 1918, Peter found a skill while in France: wrestling. Competing in Army athletic contests, he was said to be “Champion of the American Expeditionary Force” in his weight class.Professional wrestlerAfter the war, Peter reportedly became the Wisconsin state champion at 158 pounds. In 1919, competing under the name of “Young Speroni,” he wrestled at the Dixon Opera House (today’s site of The Dixon Historic Theatre) and at Sterling’s Academy of Music (today’s D E Furniture). Cheered on by local fans, his ini
About This Story
Local news from Geneva Current
Coverage Area
Geneva, Illinois
Section
Arts
Published
Friday, November 13, 2026
Reading Time
1 min
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