by special report to The Chattanoogan
posted August 29, 2008
Soddy-Daisy High School coach Steve Henry will be among 11 wrestling greats who will be honored on Oct. 11 by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Tennessee Chapter.
Also among the honorees will be Mike Craft, Ray Dalton, Don Elsea, George Farr, Danny Gilbert, Turner Jackson, Ken Mara, Bob Myers, Mike Parker and Schaack Van Deusen.
"Hall of Fame Day'' will be held at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The social will begin at 3:30 p.m with the banquet starting at 5 p.m.
The purpose of this banquet is to honor and recognize people for their years of commitment as positive role models to our student athletes.
The eleven individuals will be receiving the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” Award.
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, Stillwater, Okla.
The honorees:
MIKE CRAFT … High School state champion at Anniston High School … former NCAA official … 34 years as a TSSAA official and the most improved UTC wrestler in 1974.
DON ELSEA … TSSAA official for 35 years … National AAU Official for 10 years … Wrestled at Red Bank and a 3rd place state medalist in 1970.
GEORGE FARR … TSSAA Official for 25 years … State champion at Red Bank … Two-time Southern champion for the Chattanooga Mocs.
DANNY GILBERT … State champion at East Ridge … TSSAA Official for 15 years … Coached the Pioneers to the small school state duals in 1991 ... Current head coach at Sale Creek High School
STEVE HENRY … Has coached Soddy Daisy to five boys state titles and one girls state championship … 1989 National Coach of the Year … Has coached 23 state champions.
TURNER JACKSON … Two-time NCAA champion for UTC … 1976 Tennessee Amateur Athlete of the Year … Three-time Southern Champion.
KEN MARA … TSSAA Official for 35 years … 19 times he officiated in the NCAA Division I championship finals … state champion at Notre Dame … Led the Irish to the 1968 state team title.
BOB MYERS ... Strength and weight training coach for high school and college wrestlers for 40 years … Leading force as Chattanooga hosted the 1993 and 1995 Freestyle World Cup competitions.
MIKE PARKER … TSSAA Official for 29 years … Charter member and treasurer for the Chattanooga Takedown Club …Coached East Ridge to a state title in 1975 …Wrestled at East Ridge and UTC.
SCHAACK VAN DEUSEN … 2001 National Assistant Coach of the Year at Baylor … Head coach of the 1970 Notre Dame state champions … Wrestled at Baylor, Virginia and Chattanooga.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)
| Dining Out | Business | Movies | Focus | About Us |
| Church | Living Well | Memories | Outdoors | Real Estate | Student Scene | Travel |