MEDAL OF COURAGE Les was a student-athlete at University High in Normal, Illinois where he participated in both football and wrestling. By the age of 11, Les had been diagnosed with grand mal seizures. Nonetheless, Les continued on in athletics"” particularly wrestling. During his high school career Les ran his record to 98-8 while finishing third and fourth in the state. Les continued his wrestling career at Blackhawk Junior College where his two-year career record was an unblemished 50-0. In winning back-to-back National titles, Les became the first person to ever achieve this feat. Les went on to win another national title by winning the United States Wrestling Federation's Open Freestyle Tournament in 1969. Les accepted a full ride wrestling scholarship to Oklahoma State University "” the very Oklahoma State that would go on to the National title that year. Unfortunately, the goals Les had set for himself became unattainable "” not to any lack of effort on the part of Les, but more to an unseen and very powerful force working inside Les. Les was diagnosed with brain cancer. The very cancer that had taken his mother some 21 years earlier, now was to do battle with Les. Fighting against the odds, Les began to battle this new "opponent" "” and Les was not about to buckle. Thevery qualities that had made Les a champion on the mat would be employed in this struggle for his life. Despite a very bleak prognosis of no possibility of a recovery, Les fought and, with the help of God, won. Les believes that his recovery was the result of improved medical practices "” others believe it was a combination of that and the determination of Les simply not to accept defeat. Upon his recovery, Les returned to school "” this time to St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa"” in 1975. In the fall of that year he became the Head Wrestling Coach at Sherrard High School. Since that time he has coached hundreds of students in grade, middle and high schools. Sometimes he gets paid for his time and effort, other times he simply volunteers "” it really doesn't matter. Currently, Les is the sophomore wrestling coach at Moline High School where he seeks to instill in others that fierce determination to succeed; and just as important "” he's loving every minute!