Without benefit of high school or collegiate wrestling, Bill Farrell enjoyed a substantial career as a wrestler and coach for the New York Athletic Club. But it was as World team and Olympic coach that he led his country to its best performance in nearly half a century.

Farrell took over the national freestyle team in the late 1960s, when it needed his organization and management skills, as well as his coaching. He was known for his ability to blend individuals with diverse personalities and techniques, obtaining maximum effort from each without conflict. His knowledge of the international scoring system short-circuited Iron Curtain "deals" at least twice, saving U. S. gold medals.

Farrell's 1969 team placed second in the World, the highest U. S. finish to that time, with Rick Sanders and Fred Fozzard winning our first two gold medals. All 10 wrestlers placed in the top six. A year later, the U. S. placed second, with Wayne Wells as champ among five medalists.

In the 1972 Olympic Games, Farrell guided the Americans to an unexpected six medals ... gold for Wells, Dan Gable and Ben Peterson, silver for Sanders and John Peterson, and bronze for huge Chris Taylor.

As a wrestler, Bill chalked up more than 300 victories, gaining All-America stature, winning the Canadian nationals and placing sixth in the 1962 Worlds. He was NYAC coach from 1960 through 1972.

When Farrell began selling wrestling shoes out of the trunk of his car in the late 1950s, it was the start of one of the nation's largest sport and physical fitness equipment firms. His company has supplied equipment and financial support to U. S. teams for three decades.

He was secretary of the Olympic wrestling committee and president of the New York AC. And he was the first "Marlboro Man" when an advertising agency built its campaign around rugged-looking individuals.

For bringing new concepts to national wrestling programs and for showing the way to international success, William P. Farrell is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.