One altering moment in Gene's athletic career helped to create the passion and love of wrestling that would be entrenched in Gene's life. That moment occurred when he received notice that his service on the basketball team was no longer needed. The very next year Gene decided to embark on a career of high school wrestling. Tracy indicated in an Oswego Palladium Times news article that he was probably not the most stellar Fulton Red Raider wrestler, but his admiration for the sport was augmented each year that he participated. Following his graduation from Mohawk Valley Community College, Gene returned home to Fulton and became involved in the sport as an official. Following the advice of former Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association's leader, John Arcaro, Gene joined the association and the rest is history. Gene shared this insight about wrestling with Max Gerling in a news article, "Wrestling is a sport. If you are interested in it, you will have a passion for it. Whether you are a fan, a coach or a wrestler, it's a big family. I am just a part of the big wrestling family." Gene certainly has proven that he is a very integral part of the sport in the Empire State. Gene has been very instrumental in the development of the Friends of Section III Wrestling organization. CNY Wrestling webmaster and founder of the group, John Drew, had this to say about Gene, "When I put out the initial call for volunteers to serve on the board of my newly founded organization, Gene was the first to volunteer for it and has been a member since day one. He has never missed a single board meeting in all these years. He has taken a lead role in the organization of our annual fundraising golf tournament which generates the lion share of our yearly budget." In addition, Gene has been and still is very involved with the New York State Wrestling Officials' Association. In 2000, he was selected to be the Vice President, assuming the Presidency in 2002 which followed in 2004 to 2006 as the Past President of the organization. Gene's leadership proved to be exceptional and helped advanced the sport of wrestling as well as the NYSWOA. Moreover, Gene's involvement on the state level of administration was heightened when in 2014 he was designated unanimously to succeed the late Lou Pettinelli as the New York State Wrestling Officials' Representative to the Officials' Coordinating Federation. Gene also inherited the responsibilities of coordinating all the table help and "Sargent at Arms" for floor security at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association's Wrestling Championships held at Albany's Times Union Arena. Additionally, Gene has performed many other functions as a member of the Friends of Section in Wrestling Organization as well as the SWOA. Hall of Fame Member, Fred Brown, mentioned the following about his good friend Gene, "Gene is not only a founding member of the Friends of Section III Wrestling but he continues to assume his leadership role as a Board of Director. Moreover, Gene has been the tournament organizer of the Syracuse Wrestling Officials' Association's "Blindmen's Junior Varsity Wrestling Tournament" since its inception in 1992. This is a major fundraiser that allows the chapter to give a $500 scholarship to a deserving wrestler and provides wrestling gear to Section III's state qualifiers." Gene has been a member of the Syracuse Wrestling Officials' Association since 1981 and was the president for a five-year period. On the mat, Gene has established a distinguished career working 28 New York State qualifiers for Section III. He has officiated at five NYSPHSAA championships, and in 2001 was rated the number one official in the toumament. This year, at the inaugural NYSPHSAA Dual Meet Championship, he was selected to officiate the finals of the Division II Dual Meet Championship match between Mount Sinai and Canisteo-Greenwood. Bill Kays, 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, praises the officiating of Gene with this statement, "As an official he has been among the top three officials in Section III for his entire career. He has always stood for three things: first and foremost, the safety of the wrestlers; secondly, honesty and integrity both on the mat and off; and finally, the drive to get things right every time." Gene epitomizes the official that all coaches want to see when he comes walking into the gym at one of their biggest matches of the year. There is no higher praise than that for an official! Furthermore, in 1994, Gene was awarded the Fulton Wrestling Club's "Contributions to Wrestling Award" and the club's "Fan of the Year Award" for the 2012-13 season. The 2017-18 wrestling season will be his last on the mat, but we are sure that he will continue his involvement in the sport in the many other areas listed above. Gene will be inducted into the Section III Hall of Fame in November of this year, and the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is honored to include him into this year's class of inductees. The chapter salutes Gene and his many accomplishments.