By John Klein
Tulsa World
Randy Couture spent six years in the U.S. Army before showing up as a 25-year-old freshman at Oklahoma State.

“I was an unconventional freshman to say the least,” Couture said.

Yes, he was. He was a serious student, in addition to outstanding wrestler, maintaining a 4.0 GPA with a double major in foreign language (German) and literature.

Then, when MMA (mixed martial arts) started to get a foothold in American sports, Couture saw the future and became a very popular champion.

Again, he was not your typical pro athlete.

“I understood that as a professional athlete you have a limited amount of time to make the kind of crazy money you do in pro sports,” he said.

Again, when it came time to change and move into the “real world,” Couture was ready.

Couture has become a very successful businessman, operating ventures out of his headquarters in Las Vegas, and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American earlier this month.

This award recognizes individuals who have used the disciplines of wrestling to launch notable careers after wrestling.

Past recipients have included individuals who have excelled in business, science, technology, industry, government, military, and arts and humanities. Recipients include former Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith, sportscaster Mike Golic, hall of fame jockey Pat Day, opera star Kevin Short, actors Kirk Douglas and William Baldwin, television producer Roone Arledge, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and noted author John Irving.

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