Debbie Nason has been an active volunteer and contributor to the wrestling community since 1975. She served on committees for Cadet World Championships and the 1997 and 1998 USA Wrestling Dual Meet Championships, all hosted in Illinois. She also served as IWF State Chairman from 1997-2001. In 1996, Debbie attended tournaments across the country in an effort to educate people about Title IX and its effect on wrestling, collecting over 1,500 signatures for a petition to support the efforts of organizations exploring Title IX reform. After the tragic death of her son, Ken III, Debbie created the Ken Gerdes III Memorial Foundation. This non-profit effort is totally dedicated to supporting Illinois wrestlers at all levels of competition and of all wrestling styles. Today the foundation hosts the annual Ken Gerdes III Golf Outing, and since 1997, it has awarded over 85 Leadership Awards to wrestlers across the state, along with contributing to the last four Illinois Olympians' dreams. Debbie serves on the IWCOA Board as Chair of the Freshman/Sophomore State Series and Scholarships. She was named the IWCOA Person of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 2007. A member of the board of directors of the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Debbie also has organized and worked a display booth at the Individual State Wrestling Tournament for over 15 years.