He extended the boundaries of his campus to the state borders. And in more than three decades as coach at the University of Wisconsin, George Martin accepted no limits on his efforts to develop the sport he loved.

He was a gifted athlete and a successful coach, but most of all he was a builder. A master craftsman in woodworking, he had the skills to construct the framework of national prominence in wrestling for his university and for his state.

As a wrestler, he was a National Collegiate champion for Iowa State in 1933, and as captain led the derby-hatted Cyclones to a share of the team title. The Iowans adopted their dapper headgear in answer to the cowboy attire of their rivals in Oklahoma.

Martin won the National AAU championship in 1934, but passed up a chance at the Olympics to become coach at Wisconsin. In 1935 there were no high school teams in the state, although some schools had intramural wrestling. He convinced a few to add the sport to their varsity programs, and in 1940 the first state tournament was held.

After a three-year wartime interruption, during which he earned a Bronze Star for heroism as a naval officer, he returned to coaching and served with honor until his death in 1970.

During those early years in Wisconsin, Martin traveled some 40,000 miles within the state-equal to nearly two trips around the world-giving demonstrations, presenting clinics and talking with school boards, administrators and parents to sell the values of the sport. Today there are more than 400 wrestling schools in Wisconsin.

His stature as the father of wrestling in Wisconsin is attested by the fact that the state's own wrestling hall of fame is named for him.

In recognition of his monumental contribution to the development of the sport and sportsmanship, George Alfred Martin is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.