Anthony Provenzano Biography

Anthony Provenzano, also known as Tony Pro, (May 7, 1917 – December 12, 1988) was a Caporegime (or captain) of the Genovese crime family of New York City, born May 7, 1917, in Manhattan's Lower East Side, the forth of six children to Sicilian immigrants, Rosario and Josephine Provenzano. Provenzano was known for his associations with Teamsters Union director Jimmy Hoffa and President Richard Nixon due to Provenzano's job as an International Brotherhood of Teamsters vice president for Teamsters Local 560 in Union City, New Jersey. At fifteen years old he quit Public School 114 and went to work as a ten-dollar-a-week helper at the H.P. Welch Trucking Company. Three years later he became a full-fledged driver. At the time, he also thought of becoming a professional boxer. Anthony Strollo, who was his next door neighbor installed him as a shop steward at Welch's in 1945. In 1950, he was appointed organizer for Local 560 and over the next ten years elected to business agent, president of 560 and then president of the Joint Council.