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National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions in Stillwater, Okla., June 1-2; All inductees available for phone interviews
By Gary Abbott // USA Wrestling // June 1, 2007
MEDIA ADVISORY
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend
Stillwater, Okla.
Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will be hosting its 31st annual Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., June 1-2.
Four new Distinguished Members, who are among the greatest athletes and coaches in the sports history, will be inducted this weekend. In addition, there will be a number of special annual awards presented to successful and inspirational leaders within the sport.
Journalists can interview any of these inductees while they are in Stillwater attending the festivities by contacting Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-659-9637 or call the Hall of Fame office at 405-377-5243.
2007 WRESTLING HALL OF FAME HONOREES
Distinguished Member Barry Davis of Madison, Wis.
Distinguished Member Greg Gibson of Fontana, Calif.
Distinguished Member - Larry Kristoff of Anna, Ill.
Distinguished Member Bill Weick of Chicago Ridge, Ill.
Outstanding American General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF retired of Durango, Colo.
Outstanding American Michael E. Novogratz of New York, N.Y.
Order of Merit Mike Chapman of Newton, Iowa
Medal of Courage Joe Russell of Vadais Heights, Minn.
Lifetime Service Award for Officials Mike Allen of Waterloo, Iowa
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Zachary Sanders of Wabasha, Minn.
As part of the weekend there will be a celebration the state of Oklahoma Centennial, with a focus on its traditional of wrestling excellence. There have been 33 native Oklahomans who have been inducted as Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. They are listed below, with their year:
Stan Abel (1990), David Buddy Arndt (1981), Wayne Baughman (1982), Doug Blubaugh (1979), Conrad Caldwell (1981), Tommy Chesbro (1995), Fendley Collins (1976), Kendall Cross (2002), Tommy Evans (1976), Ross Flood (1978), Art Griffith (1976), Josiah Henson (2006), Stanley Henson (1978), Danny Hodge (1976), Jess Hoke, (1977), Dick Hutton (1995), Dr. Melvin Jones (1996), Clifford Keen (1976), Paul Keen (1977), Frank Lewis (1979), Guy Lookabaugh (1983), Joe McDaniel (1979), Kenny Monday (2001), Bobby Pearce (1981), Rex Peery (1976), Grady Peninger (1987), Port Robertson (1977), John Smith (1997), Pat Smith (2006), Ray Swartz (1990), Jack Van Bebber (1976), Wayne Wells (1982), Shelby Wilson (1982). Some of the native Oklahomans who have been inducted may attend the Honors Weekend.
There will also be a reunion of the 1947 NCAA Championships team from Cornell College of Iowa going on during the weekend.
Information on the four Distinguished Members:
Davis won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling and competed on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. Gibson won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. Kristoff was a member of two U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling teams.
Kristoff won five medals at the World Championships representing the United States, while Davis was a two-time World medalist during his career. Gibson won three World medals in freestyle wrestling, and was also a World champion in the sport of Sombo. Weick served on the coaching staff of a number of U.S. World and Olympic teams.
Three had successful careers in coaching, as well. Weick made his impact on the high school level in Illinois, earning more than 700 dual meet victories for three programs over the last four decades, including five state champion teams. Kristoff was a champion coach at the NCAA Div. II level, leading SIU-Edwardsville to three consecutive NCAA titles. Davis currently serves as the head coach on the Div. I level at the Univ. of Wisconsin.
All four were outstanding college wrestlers. Davis won three NCAA Div. I national titles for Iowa and Weick claimed a pair of NCAA titles for the Univ. of Northern Iowa. Kristoff won two NCAA Div. II national crowns for SIU-Carbondale and was a Div. I runner-up. Gibson was a two-time NCAA All-American for Oregon, including a runner-up finish.
Distinguished Member Barry Davis of Madison, Wis.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=15916
Distinguished Member Greg Gibson of Fontana, Calif.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=15931
Distinguished Member - Larry Kristoff of Anna, Ill.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=15937
Distinguished Member Bill Weick of Chicago Ridge, Ill.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=15942
Links to Biography information on the other inductees:
Outstanding American General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF retired of Durango, Colo.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16008
Outstanding American Michael E. Novogratz of New York, N.Y.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16025
Order of Merit Mike Chapman of Newton, Iowa
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16032
Medal of Courage Joe Russell of Vadais Heights, Minn.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16050
Lifetime Service Award for Officials Mike Allen of Waterloo, Iowa
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16068
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Zachary Sanders of Wabasha, Minn.
http://www.themat.com/index.php?page=showarticle&ArticleID=16626
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