They called him "Uncle Charlie," but Charles W. Mayser was the father of four outstanding wrestling programs in the first quarter of the 20th Century, reaching from the ivy covered halls of Yale to the plains of Iowa.

He entered Yale in 1900, intending to put himself through medical school, but decided teaching physical education to freshmen was more rewarding, and instead graduated from the New Haven School of Gymnastics. In 1901, he coached Yale gymnasts at the Pan American Exposition.

He was responsible for introducing wrestling as a varsity sport at Yale, creating the nation's first dual meet team in 1903. Ten years later he became football coach at Franklin & Marshall College. This was a brief stop, but soon he would return for a lifetime.

He became director of athletics at Iowa State in 1915, coaching football and introducing a wrestling program which has ranked consistently among the nation's finest. Five of his eight teams were undefeated. He also launched Iowa's high school program, perhaps the first in the country and certainly one of the best.

Mayser returned to F&M in 1924 as athletic director and football coach and again introduced wrestling. His teams won 145 meets against only 20 losses and were undefeated for five consecutive seasons. He was one of the first coaches to insist that his wrestlers go for the fall at all times, regardless of the score, adding greatly to the sport's appeal.

He became such a legend at F&M that the school named its new athletic complex in his honor in 1962, five years before his death at the age of 91. Mayser was the first chairman of the collegiate rules committee in 1918, 10 years before the start of the NCAA tournament. He served through 1922, when the first version of college rules was published.

For his profound influence on the development of wrestling and his lasting impact on the sport, Charles William Mayser is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.