Ray Downs is recognized for his years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling.

Ray Downs was head wrestling coach for 37 years with the last 26 years at Neah-Kah-Nie high school. Ray started his coaching in Illinois, where he started 2 wrestling programs. He was not only the coach, but also the chaperone of the cheerleaders and team Bus Driver.

While coaching in Oregon, he had 11 state champions and coached 4 district championship teams. Neah-Kah-Nie HS won 11 plaques at the Oregon Wrestling Classic to meet tournaments. Over the years of this tournament, Coach Downs’ teams have won nearly every place from consolation champions to tournament champions.

For his dedication and lasting influence on Wrestling, Ray Downs is presented the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s “Lifetime Service to Wrestling“ award for the class of 2005.