He was an imposing physical specimen striding across the Oklahoma prairie, and Dick Hutton reigned over the nation's collegiate heavyweights like few men before or since.

He was the cornerstone upon which coach Art Griffith rebuilt the Oklahoma State program when wrestling resumed after World War II. Hutton suffered only one loss and one draw in four years of varsity competition. That one defeat, a controversial referee's decision in the 1949 NCAA finals against light-heavyweight champion Verne Gagne, kept Hutton from becoming the sport's first four-time collegiate king.

He won titles in 1947, '48 and '50, and was a member of two national championship teams. His four appearances in the national finals-three of them successful--established a record that was unmatched for 28 years and unbroken until 44 years later.

Hutton placed sixth in the 1948 Olympic Games after being slowed by an injury in his second bout.

After five years in the U. S. Army, he competed 10 years in professional wrestling, winning the heavyweight belt from Lou Thesz in 1957 and holding it for two years. Contrary to the usual professional image, he became known for his honest, gimmick-free wrestling.

In later years, Hutton owned and operated a thoroughbred and quarterhorse racing and breeding ranch in Texas.

In recognition of his dominance of collegiate wrestling throughout a fabulous career, Richard Heron Avis Hutton is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

A native of Tulsa , Oklahoma , Dick Hutton was a great amateur wrestler who became one of the best professional heavyweights of all time. Hutton was a four-time All-American in college at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University ), winning three NCAA heavyweight titles. He also represented the United States in the 1948 Olympics in London , though hampered by an injury. A powerful athlete with great quickness, Dick was one of the greatest mat wrestlers ever, almost impossible to control on the mat. Ed "Strangler" Lewis served as his mentor in his early career. He took the NWA world heavyweight championship from Lou Thesz in Toronto in 1957 and ruled the heavyweight ranks for almost two years. He wrestled professionally from 1953 to 1964, usually weighing around 245 pounds. Lou Thesz called Hutton "one of the best mat wrestlers ever and one of the truly great champions in wrestling history."