Lifetime Service Over the years the small town of Dekalb, Illinois has produced a significant number of individuals who have left an indelible mark upon the wrestling community. Thoughts of Dekalb wrestling begin with the likes of Coach Don Flavin and proceed to touch upon noteworthy individuals such as Coach Wayne Miller and teammates Joe Cliffe and Mark King. The Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame tonight honors yet another member of the Dekalb wrestling family - Dan Cliffe. A three-time letter-winner, Dan, wrestling for Hall of Fame Coach Don Flavin, won IHSA State Championships at 98 lbs. in both his junior (1971) and senior seasons (1972). During these last two seasons Dan lost but one match while winning sixty-five. He capped off his senior year by winning the Junior Greco-Roman National Championship as well as being named as a First Team High School All-American. Dan graduated from Dekalb in 1972 and enrolled at Northern Illinois University where he continued his wrestling career. Because he was some distance under the minimum collegiate weight class, Dan opted to concentrate more in the international styles of Freestyle and Greco-Roman where the minimum weight class was much closer to Dan's actual weight. Dan excelled in the international styles, winning the National Open Freestyle Championship in 1974 and the 1977 National Open Greco-Roman Championship. Additionally, Dan twice placed in the National Open Freestyle Tournament as well placing once in the National Open Greco-Roman Tournament. During this period Dan also participated on seven National Championship squads as a member of the Mayor Daley Youth Foundation Wrestling Club. Dan returned to Dekalb High School in 1981 and served as an assistant coach to IWCOA Hall of Fame Coach Wayne Miller. In 1983, Dan assumed the position of Head Coach in the Dekalb program. During the next thirteen years Dan led the Barbs to 233 dual meet wins while suffering but 48 set-backs. His team won seven Upstate Eight Conference Titles, eleven IHSA Regional Titles, seven IHSA Sectional Titles along with seven IHSA Dual Team Elite Eight appearances. Twice his teams placed in the IHSA Dual Team Competition - 2nd Place in 1989 and 3rd Place in 1988. Under Dan's leadership, fifty-five individuals qualified for the IHSA State Finals, twelve became medalists while three garnered State Championships. Furthermore, Dan has served the sport in numerous fashion: as a member of the IHSA Wrestling Advisory Board; as a member of the IWCOA Executive Board; as a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame Selection Committee; as the IWCOA Membership Committee Chair; as the host of the Indiana-Illinois Classic Duals; as President of the IWCOA for two terms; as President of the Northern Illinois Elite Wrestling Club; and finally, Dan served as the Tournament Manager for the 2005 through 2007 IHSA Dual Team State Finals. Over the years Dan's contributions to the sport have been recognized by his peers. Eight times he was nominated as the IWCOA Coach-of-the-Year; he was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 1993; he was honored as a Grand Marshal for the Individual IHSA State Tournament in 2000; he was the IWCOA Man-of-the-Year recipient in 2000; he was selected as an inductee to the inaugural formation of the Dekalb Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003; and the IWCOA bestowed upon Dan its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.