Steve Combs Remembers Fellow Distinguished Members Bobby Douglas, J Robinson

By Steve Combs
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, founded in 1976 by the United States Wrestling Federation (now USA Wrestling), we need to pay tribute to two of the giants in our sport who have recently passed away. Bobby Douglas and J Robinson are not only fellow Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame, but more importantly, longtime friends of mine.

Bobby was captain of the 1968 Olympic Team and a teammate of mine with the Mayor Daley Club of Chicago. He came from a small town along the Ohio River in eastern Ohio and burst onto the scene as a sophomore at West Liberty University when he took second at the NCAA Championships.

He coached Arizona State University to a national collegiate title and was a highly successful and motivating coach for many United States international teams. Bobby will always be remembered as the coach in the corner for Cael Sanderson when he became the first undefeated four-time NCAA Division I champion and captured Olympic gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Bobby’s extremely unique and educational approach through his training books, guides, and camps will always be remembered. He was more than just a great wrestler and coach—he was a true educator for our sport.

J was an athlete representative on the USWF Board of Directors and a member of the United States Greco-Roman team at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was also a member of the USWF coaching staff that developed the “Seven Basic Skills.”

He coached the University of Minnesota to three national collegiate titles. His greatest legacy might be his innovative and highly successful JROB Intensive wrestling camps, where he positively impacted the lives of literally thousands of young, inspired athletes.

J stood for integrity and hard work. He was an active athlete who consistently provided USWF with goals and direction to help improve programs for our international competitors.

The loss of Bobby and J is difficult, but J’s passing is especially hard, as fellow Distinguished Member Russ Hellickson and I were working together to bring J to the Hall of Fame’s Honors Weekend on June 5–6.

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At the Hall of Fame’s opening on September 11, 1976, a photograph was taken of 19 Olympians gathered around the museum’s iconic statue, including myself, J, Russ, and 1960 Rome Olympics gold medalist Shelby Wilson.

Only Russ, Shelby, and I remain, but we will proudly gather around the statue at Honors Weekend to pay tribute to the other Olympians from that 1976 photograph.

The contributions of Bobby and J will continue to live on through the thousands of athletes whose lives they touched.

Rest in peace, Bobby and J.

Pictured: Steve Combs, Myron Roderick, Robin Reed, Gerald Leeman, Werner Holzer, Clifford Keen, Tommy Evans, Danny Hodge, William J. Nelson, Jack VanBebber, Shelby Wilson, Jack Riley, Rex Peery, Russell Vis, Russ Hellickson, Terrence McCann, Dave McCuskey, Vince Zuaro, and J Robinson.