Without setting foot on the mat, except as an official, Bob Dellinger made a lasting imprint on the sport of wrestling for more than 40 years. As a sports writer and editor of Oklahoma City's daily newspapers, he covered wrestling as a major sport. His articles were marked with enthusiasm, and a thorough knowledge of the subject. He covered high school wrestling statewide and college wrestling nationwide, and showed other newspapers around the country how the sport should be treated.

In 1960, when Jess Hoke and Amateur Wrestling News ?presented the first national Writer of the Year award, Dellinger was selected. After he won the trophy again in 1961 and '62, he withdrew his name from consideration. The award promptly was renamed in his honor.

Another major contribution to wrestling has been in the field of tournament operations. Dellinger literally created the science, or art, of conducting tournaments in a smooth, efficient manner, with total fairness for the athletes, consideration for the officials and appeal for the spectators. He became the leading authority on seeding, bracketing and tournament planning. He authored two revolutionary collegiate rules, the present-day team scoring system in 1959, and consolation bracketing in 1971, with revisions in 1986 and 1995.

Under the tutelage of Fendley Collins, he became one of the first to thoroughly understand the international pairing system, and to teach it across the country. Joining USA Wrestling in 1972, Dellinger established the national series of tournament operations clinics that have educated most of the pairing masters in the nation.

And as director of the Hall of Fame, he preserved for our education and enjoyment the great moments of wrestling's heritage in our sport's only national museum.

As a life-long contributor to the promotion, recognition and development of the sport, Robert Earl Dellinger is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1983.