Ralph Byers is a 1962 graduate of Penn Manor High School and a 1967 graduate of West Chester State College. At both Penn Manor and West Chester, Ralph earned letters in soccer, wrestling and baseball. He began his coaching career in 1967 at Carlisle High School, as the JV Wrestling Coach. After three years, he took over the junior high team for fifteen years, where he comprised an overall record of 126-70-1. Under Byers' coaching, Carlisle won 30 junior high tournaments. While coaching he decided in 1970 to become a PIAA Wrestling Official, which he did until 1997. In 27 years of officiating, Ralph officiated at all levels of folk style wrestling, including elementary, AAU, Junior Olympics, Junior High, Senior High, and NCAA Division II and III intercollegiate matches. Since his retirement from officiating and coaching, Ralph has found time to work at the PIAA State Championships as a weigh master, timer, and scorer. For over 40 years, Ralph Byers has been involved in the sport of wrestling and for this he is being honored with the "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" Award.