Port Robertson
June 29, 1914 - June 10, 2003
Theodore Roosevelt is quoted, "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Port Robertson took that advice to heart. The "big stick" with which he armed every one of his wrestlers was self-discipline.
As coach at the University of Oklahoma for 15 years, he produced three NCAA championship teams and three national runners-up, and firmly established the Sooners as a national power. His wrestlers captured 15 individual NCAA titles and five outstanding wrestler awards.
Port firmly believed that the goal of a wrestler is to win by a fall. Over a span of eight national tournaments, his Sooners pinned 39 opponents, 11 of them in their 1957 championship parade.
In 1960, he coached the U.S. Olympic team to three gold medals, the only such harvest between the Olympiads of 1932 and 1972.
"Port Robertson raised you up to a level higher than you would set for yourself," one of his wrestlers declared. "He never compromised his standards." A stickler for physical conditioning and mental preparation, Port told his wrestlers, "A lean dog is lots hungrier than a fat one," and sent them up another 72 steps of the football stadium.
He spelled out his philosophy bluntly: "First of all, a boy has to want to come here to get an education. If he thinks wrestling is more important than that, he's not going to do well in either. Then he has to realize what it takes to be a good wrestler. It depends on how much of himself he wants to spend. He has to learn to know himself. Once he gets self-discipline in wrestling, he'll have it all his life."
An Oklahoma high school star in football, wrestling and track, he wrestled at OU under coach Paul Keen, winning 20 of 24 bouts and two conference titles. He was a captain of field artillery in World War II, earning a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart in the Normandy invasion.
In recognition of his achievements and leadership as a coach, and his lasting influence on the lives of young men, Port G. Robertson is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
1977
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All American Awards:
Season
1935
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
165
|
Place
3
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1962
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
14
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
64.29
|
Season
1959
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
11
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
81.82
|
Season
1958
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
62.5
|
Season
1957
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1956
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
75
|
Season
1955
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
70
|
Season
1954
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1953
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1952
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1951
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1950
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1949
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
1948
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
62.5
|
Season
1947
|
School
Oklahoma
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
122
|
Wins
88
|
Losses
27
|
Ties
7
|
Win PCT.
72.13
|
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