One of the quiet gentlemen of a fiercely competitive sport, Fendley Collins enjoyed an outstanding 33-year career as coach at Michigan State University. But his contributions to wrestling spanned more than half a century.

As an undefeated 175-pound wrestler under Edward C. Gallagher at Oklahoma State, he won the Canadian amateur championship in 1926 and the U.S. National AAU title in 1927.

After two brief years of high school coaching, he assumed the reins at Michigan State in 1930 and guided the Spartans to 158 victories, against 84 losses and 11 ties. Three times his teams were runners-up in the NCAA tournament, and his wrestlers won 28 national titles in collegiate and amateur meets.

Collins was active in all phases of wrestling. He served on national rules and officials' committees and on the United States Olympic Committee. He was coach of the U.S. team in the 1955 Pan American Games and manager of the 1964 Olympic team.

Some of his most noteworthy activities concerned international competition and education of America to the differences in style and procedures. He founded the Pan American Wrestling Confederation, served as its first president, and later was named honorary president for life.

He was the first true interpreter and instructor to the United States on the complicated international bracketing system and was the original author of the basic guide to pairings still in use throughout the country.

After retirement from coaching in 1962, Collins served another 10 years at Michigan State as coordinator of special events and as instructor in physical education. He retired in 1972, four years before his death.

For his outstanding contributions to wrestling as a coach, educator and leader of young men, Fendley Alexander Collins is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.