Distinguished Member
Distinguished Members can be a wrestler who has achieved extraordinary success in national and/or international competition; a coach who has demonstrated great leadership in the profession and who has compiled an outstanding record; or a contributor whose long-term activities have substantially enhanced the development and advancement of the sport.
Please note that a wrestler MUST have been retired from active competition for a period of five years to be eligible for consideration as a Distinguished Member.
Stan Abel
Year: 1990
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Leroy Kemp
Year: 1990
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Walter O'Connell
Year: 1990
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Ray Swartz
Year: 1990
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Russ Hellickson
Year: 1989
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Bobby Douglas
Year: 1987
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
William Farrell
Year: 1987
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Grady Peninger
Year: 1987
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Richard Sanders
Year: 1987
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Joe Scalzo
Year: 1987
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Frank Gardner
Year: 1986
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Ben Peterson
Year: 1986
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
John Peterson
Year: 1986
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Steve Combs
Year: 1985
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Gene Davis
Year: 1985
Award: Distinguished Member
Chapter: National
Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations