STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that longtime board member and supporter Calvin Anthony passed away on Tuesday, at the age of 81. 

A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026 at the Oklahoma State University Wes Watkins Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma. 

"On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and staff, I want to extend our sincere sympathies to Calvin's wife, Linda, and to his family and friends," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "Calvin had a remarkable gift for serving people and strengthening communities. 

“He did that as mayor of Stillwater, as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, as CEO of the National Community of Pharmacists Association, and as a member of the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents,” Smith added. “He did it just as faithfully here, as a valued member of our Board of Governors and as a Governor's Associate. His spirit will remain a shining light for the people whose lives he touched." 

After serving as a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors from 2005 to 2010, Anthony became a Governor’s Associate in 2011 and served in that capacity until his passing. 

A standout athlete, Anthony attended Oklahoma State University for two years on a baseball scholarship before leaving, with the encouragement of his parents, to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. 

He and his wife Linda purchased Tiger Drug Store and later Central Drug; later, they would start Perkins Drug and Yale Drug. Then they started Tiger Medical Supply, which Linda managed, and purchased Chris’ Pharmacy in Perry. Both pharmacy and business ownership were perfect fits, as caring for patients and helping others in the profession gave him great satisfaction. 

Anthony was elected mayor of Stillwater in 1985, and in 1992, he began two terms as State Representative for District 34. In 1996, they moved to Fairfax, Virginia, so Calvin could lead the National Community Pharmacy Association, where he worked to preserve the ability to thrive for independent pharmacies across the country. He and Linda returned to Stillwater in 2002 and made a solemn vow to never miss another OSU sporting event or fundraiser. They have been OSU baseball season ticket holders since 1969, and in 2026, the OSU baseball team honored them by naming the home dugout in their honor. 

Governed by a lifelong desire to lift up and make better those around him, Anthony served on numerous boards in addition to the Hall of Fame. 

Anthony received countless awards and commendations, including being inducted into both the OSU and Oklahoma Hall of Fames.