Ricky Stewart was a three-time Oklahoma state wrestling champion and an all-state football player at Duncan High School.

He was a two-time national champion and four-time All-American for Oklahoma State University.

In the 1981 championship match, Stewart pinned former teammate turned Sooner, Dave Schultz, with a fireman's carry to claim his second NCAA title.

Stewart completed his collegiate career with a 118-7 record and his 43 career falls and 75 bonus-point wins can be found in the Top 10 of Oklahoma State's career records.

Following the 1982 season, Stewart moved into a full-time coaching role at Oklahoma State for two seasons. He also spent time at Clemson, Notre Dame and Oregon, while also returning to Oklahoma for a year to serve as the Duncan High School Athletic Director.

In December 2020, Stewart was faced with a challenge much larger than any wrestling match he competed in. He was burned on 74 percent of his body from his jawline down in a home explosion at his residence in Texarkana.

Ricky's fortitude during his recovery process was an inspiration to everyone around him at Parkland Hospital and exemplary of his character. On his departure date from Parkland, everyone on two floors of the hospital, estimated to be over 100 people, lined up to give him a standing ovation.

He was transferred to Oklahoma City where he now lives with his daughter. He has been out of the hospital for 11 months after being released in March of 2022.