While collegiate wrestling was suffering through a three-year hiatus during World War II, a potential explosion was simmering in Iowa. Stirring the mixture was Paul Scott, coach at Cornell College. The tiny private school, with an enrollment of barely 600 and without scholarships or a recruiting budget, would shock the powers of the day.

The first post-war tournament was dominated, as expected, by Oklahoma A&M and the Iowa Teachers, a point apart. But a year later, the dominant teams were swept aside. In 1947, Cornell College became the only private school ever to win an NCAA team championship, and added the National AAU trophy as well.

In that magic year of 1947, Cornell humbled three major conference champions, shutting out unbeaten eastern power Lehigh, 36-0, and thumping Illinois of the Big Nine and Iowa State of the Big Six. True freshmen Lowell Lange and Dick Hauser won NCAA championships, and four of their teammates earned All-America honors.

During Scott's term of 1941-50, his wrestlers posted a dual meet record of 56-8-1 and enjoyed 34 consecutive victories. The Purple was third in the NCAA meets of 1949 and '50. Cornell placed second three times and third once in the AAU nationals. His wrestlers harvested five NCAA individual titles and 13 AAU golds, and went to three Olympics.

Scott was a member of the NCAA rules committee and was a leader in the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

A three-sport star at Cornell in the 1920s, Scott coached football, wrestling, baseball and track for 20 years in high school, junior college and collegiate ranks, and his teams won a wide variety of championships. He was athletic director at Davidson from 1950-54, then returned to Cornell as alumni director for 26 years.

In recognition of a unique achievement, one which has withstood any challenge for half a century, Paul K. Scott is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.