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March 10, 2003
By Spencer Yohe
The Minnesota State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct six individuals in its "Charter Class" on Saturday, April 26, 2003 at The Medina Ballroom, in Medina, MN.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Minnesota Chapter, is proud to announce the induction of Verne Gagne into the Hall of Fame for his Outstanding American Award. Verne, a 2-Time NCAA Champion for the University of Minnesota, A 4-Time Big 10 Champion, and Olympic Team Member was a key financial contributor to amateur and collegiate wrestling, and one of the greatest ambassadors to the sport of wrestling in his professional career as an AWA promoter/wrestler.
The 2003 honorees for the "Lifetime of Service" Award are Don Dravis, Rummy Macias, Ron Malcolm, Don Meyers, and Roy Minter. These individuals have given countless hours of their time instilling in young people the skills needed to succeed in all areas of life. They will be permanently recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Don Dravis won over 400 Career matches and his teams won seven Minnesota High School State Championships at Staples, MN High School.
Rummy Macias, considered by many the "Grandfather of Minnesota Wrestling," produced over 100 All-Americans, several National Champions, three NAIA and NCAA Small College National Wrestling Team Champions. and tutored many of our outstanding state high school coaches throughout the years. Rummy continues to coach today in the high school ranks in Florida!
Ron Malcolm, had the most career wins (463) of any High School wrestling coach, at the time of his retirement at Anoka, MN, where he led his teams to three state championships, 19 individual state champions, and four of his wrestlers competed in a total of six Olympic Championships, in a storied 33-year coaching career. Malcolm will be inducted into the MSHSL Hall of Fame March 20, 2003.
Don Meyers had an outstanding 42-year career as a coach, official, MSHSL Rules Interpretation, State Tournament Director, and served a term on the National High School Federation Wrestling Rules Committee, and is considered by many as the No. 1 contributor to High School Wrestling in Minnesota. Don's 10-year coaching career at Fridly High School was outstanding!
Roy Minter won more NJCAA Matches (325) than anybody in NJCAA history at the time of his retirement in 1993 at Willmar Community College, now Ridgewater Community College. In his his 35-Year coaching Career, Roy was one of the most popular camp clinicians in Minnesota history, and his teams dominated the MCC State ranks and were Nationally ranked and produced several All-Americans and tutored many of our high school wrestling coaches.
The social hour will begin at 5.30 P.M., and dinner and program at 6.30 P.M. Registration and Contribution forms are available from Spencer Yohe at 175 7th Street, Hancock, MN 56244, 320-392-5847, or a form can be found in the April 2 issue of The Guillotine.
Myron Roderick and Michael Clair of the National Wrestling hall of Fame will be on hand to present the Awards.
All honorees are expected to attend, and hopefully Minnesota's "Big 3" who are presently the only ones enshrined in the Big Hall at Stillwater &endash; Jack Gause, Wally Johnson, and Alan Rice will attend.
