Wrestling Hall of Fame to display exhibit during the Big 12 Wrestling Championships

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will extend its hours of operation for the Big 12 Wrestling Championships slated for March 8, at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

“We will extend our hours so that fans who want to visit the Hall of Fame during the Big 12 Wrestling Championships will have that opportunity,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director. “We will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 7, and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, and by appointment only on Sunday.”

Of particular interest to wrestling fans is an exhibit the Hall of Fame has developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of African American NCAA Champions. Smith said that fans attending the Big 12 Conference will get a sneak preview of the exhibit. “Two native Oklahomans, Cleo McGlory, the University of Oklahoma’s first black NCAA Wrestling Champion, and Kenny Monday, the United States’ first African American Olympic Gold Medalist, will be available to sign autographs between sessions on Saturday at the Hall of Fame.”

The exhibit celebrates 50 years of African American success in the sport of wrestling since Simon Roberts, the first black national champion, claimed his title at 147 pounds at the 1957 championships for the University of Iowa.

“There have been 45 NCAA Champions and 34 Olympians since 1957,” Smith explained. “Wrestling is a leader among NCAA and Olympic individual sports with a very successful record of minority champions. This exhibit, with its accompanying booklet, profiles the timeline of black wrestling achievements and features biographies on all black Division I NCAA Champions, Olympians and Hall of Fame members.”

The Big 12 Conference has produced by far the most African American NCAA Champions and Olympians of any collegiate wrestling conference with 23 total individual champions:
Carl Adams, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1971, ‘72) Nate Carr, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1981, ’82, ’83, Olympian 1988) Quincey Clark, Oklahoma (Olympian 2000) Daniel Cormier, Oklahoma State (Olympian 2004) Bobby Douglas, Oklahoma State (Olympian 196, ’68, NCAA Coach 1988) Melvin Douglas, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1985, ’86, Olympian 1996, 2000) Shawn Garel, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1975) Joe Heskett, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 2002) Jimmy Jackson, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1976, ’77, ’78, Olympian 1976 ) Kevin Jackson, Iowa State (Olympian, 1992) Joe James, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1964) Jamill Kelly, Oklahoma State (Olympian 2004) Veryl Long, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1965) Cleo McGlory, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1969) Kenny Monday, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1984, Olympian 1988,’92,’96) Chris Pendleton, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 2004, ‘05) Ron Ray, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1975) Jason Smith, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1969, ‘70) Byron Tucker, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 2000) Mike Van Arsdale, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1988) Teyon Ware, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 2003, ‘04).

The Exhibit will be on display at the Hall of Fame throughout the Big 12 Championships on March 8, NCAA Championships in St. Louis, March 20-22, and Olympic Trials in Las Vegas, June 13-15. For more information contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum at 405-377-5243 or visit the website at
www.wrestling

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum will extend its hours of operation for the Big 12 Wrestling Championships slated for March 8, at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

“We will extend our hours so that fans who want to visit the Hall of Fame during the Big 12 Wrestling Championships will have that opportunity,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director. “We will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 7, and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, and by appointment only on Sunday.”

Of particular interest to wrestling fans is an exhibit the Hall of Fame has developed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of African American NCAA Champions. Smith said that fans attending the Big 12 Conference will get a sneak preview of the exhibit. “Two native Oklahomans, Cleo McGlory, the University of Oklahoma’s first black NCAA Wrestling Champion, and Kenny Monday, the United States’ first African American Olympic Gold Medalist, will be available to sign autographs between sessions on Saturday at the Hall of Fame.”

The exhibit celebrates 50 years of African American success in the sport of wrestling since Simon Roberts, the first black national champion, claimed his title at 147 pounds at the 1957 championships for the University of Iowa.

“There have been 45 NCAA Champions and 34 Olympians since 1957,” Smith explained. “Wrestling is a leader among NCAA and Olympic individual sports with a very successful record of minority champions. This exhibit, with its accompanying booklet, profiles the timeline of black wrestling achievements and features biographies on all black Division I NCAA Champions, Olympians and Hall of Fame members.”

The Big 12 Conference has produced by far the most African American NCAA Champions and Olympians of any collegiate wrestling conference with 23 total individual champions:
Carl Adams, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1971, ‘72) Nate Carr, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1981, ’82, ’83, Olympian 1988) Quincey Clark, Oklahoma (Olympian 2000) Daniel Cormier, Oklahoma State (Olympian 2004) Bobby Douglas, Oklahoma State (Olympian 196, ’68, NCAA Coach 1988) Melvin Douglas, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1985, ’86, Olympian 1996, 2000) Shawn Garel, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1975) Joe Heskett, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 2002) Jimmy Jackson, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1976, ’77, ’78, Olympian 1976 ) Kevin Jackson, Iowa State (Olympian, 1992) Joe James, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1964) Jamill Kelly, Oklahoma State (Olympian 2004) Veryl Long, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1965) Cleo McGlory, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 1969) Kenny Monday, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1984, Olympian 1988,’92,’96) Chris Pendleton, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 2004, ‘05) Ron Ray, Oklahoma State (NCAA Champion 1975) Jason Smith, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1969, ‘70) Byron Tucker, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 2000) Mike Van Arsdale, Iowa State (NCAA Champion 1988) Teyon Ware, Oklahoma (NCAA Champion 2003, ‘04).

The Exhibit will be on display at the Hall of Fame throughout the Big 12 Championships on March 8, NCAA Championships in St. Louis, March 20-22, and Olympic Trials in Las Vegas, June 13-15. For more information contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum at 405-377-5243 or visit the website at
www.wrestling