Kenneth Spenard graduated from Ithaca College in 1952 where he wrestled with another Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Howard. He began his coaching career in 1954 at rural Chenango Forks High School. As the school district began to grow in size, so did the wrestling program. Coach Spenard coached the successful Blue Devil wrestling program from 1954 to 1975. His teams had only two losing seasons"”both occurred very early in his career. He coached during an era when large school Ithaca ruled Section 4 in wrestling. In the 1961-1962 wrestling season, Ken's team ousted Ithaca High School from a 14 year run as Section 4 Champions. Chenango Forks had four sectional champions that year and became one of the smallest schools to ever win a Section 4 title. What made that victory even sweeter was the tournament was held at Ithaca High School, and the opposing coach was another Hall of Famer, Orlando Turco, a close friend and competitor. It was also in the early 1960's that Ken developed what Binghamton sports writer, John Fox, has called "Murderer's Row." In 1961 Murderer's Row consisted of Jeff Stephens (154), Al Packer (165) and Jerry Everling at (175). The following year the row was made up of Stephens, Packer and Fran Ferraro at heavyweight. The sight of those wrestlers sent fear through the heart of any team who dared to challenge the Blue Devils. His teams also won four Susquenango League titles and four class sectional titles. During Ken's illustrious coaching career he coached 18 Section 4 individual champions, two New York State Champions (Dan Evans 1967 and Dana Ellis 1971), 6 state place winners and 3 wrestlers who went on to become Division I - NCAA All Americans. Among those wrestlers were Jeff Stephens, who captained the Cornell Big Red in his senior campaign and was a 2 time EIWA Champion under Coach Jimmy Miller. Jerry Everling, who wrestled and played football at Syracuse University, was a 6th place winner in the 1963 NCAA wrestling tournament and the 1965 EIWA champion at 191. In the 1971 through 1973 wrestling years Ken was responsible for the development of Chenango Forks' first three-time Section IV wrestling champion, Tim Jenks, who later went on to Syracuse University to wrestle for former Section IV champion, Ed Carlin. Ken's contributions to wrestling went beyond the practice room and competition mats. He was one of the founders of the South Central Wrestling Officials' Association and was considered a fine official. He was also active in the National Wrestling Coaches Association and AAU-USA wrestling, Ken was referred to by many as the Dean of Section 4 Wrestling Coaches. Besides coaching wrestling at Chenango Forks, Ken also served as Athletic Director and was instrumental in developing the foundation of the strong athletic program that Chenango Forks is now known for. Prior to his death in 1991 he was recognized for his leadership and accomplishments by induction into the Section 4 Hall of Fame in 1987. Ken lived in Chenango Forks with his wife Laura and his daughters Sue, Annie and Michelle. He retired from coaching in 1975. For his many years of dedication to the sport of wrestling, the New York State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of Kenneth Spenard by inducting him into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.