Monthly Archives: July 2018

STILLWATER, Okla. – Seven individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of wrestling will be inducted into the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, it was announced Friday.

Dale Estep, Tony Macias, Greg Newell, Darren Peaster and Nick Williams were chosen for Lifetime Service to Wrestling, while John Henry Ward will receive the Outstanding American award and Larry Tettleton will be presented the Medal of Courage honor.

The Lifetime Service to Wrestling award is awarded annually to coaches, officials and contributors who have given a minimum of 20 years of service to wrestling. The Outstanding American honor is given to former wrestlers who are highly successful and use the disciplines learned in wrestling in their profession and the Medal of Courage is presented to a wrestler or former wrestler who has overcome what appear to be insurmountable obstacles.

The seven new honorees will be inducted during a banquet set for Sunday, Oct. 14 at what was formerly the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame at 4040 North Lincoln in Oklahoma City. A reception begins at 3 p.m., with dinner at 4 p.m. and the induction ceremony at 5 p.m.

Reservations are $55 per person and can be purchased online at www.ok-nwhof.ticketleap.com or by contacting Howard Seay at [email protected] or (918) 639-8868.

2018 HONOREE BIOS:

Dale Estep was a two-time state champion wrestler at Geary High School and competed collegiately at Adams State for two years before returning to the state to attend Southwestern Oklahoma, where he graduated. He took over as head coach at Noble High School in 1968 and held that post for 22 years, racking up an impressive 223-38 dual record. Estep’s teams had 15 top-10 state tournament finishes and he coached 12 state champions along with 21 All-Staters. In all, he spent 34 years at Noble as a coach, teacher and athletic director. Estep also served a long stint as a state coordinator for the International Wrestling Exchange program that brought teams from Japan, New Zealand, Germany and Poland to Oklahoma.

Tony Macias was a four-time state qualifier at long-time powerhouse Perry High School in the late 1950s, finishing with a 62-8-1 career record and winning one state championship before going to Oklahoma. He earned All-America honors as a sophomore and helped lead the Sooners to the 1960 national title, but injuries cut short his career. Macias began a long coaching career while still attending OU, starting the Noble High School program in 1960 before going on to coach at Guthrie High School and Southeast High School He led Southeast to one state championship and two state runner-up finishes, then left in 1972 to coach at Southwest Oregon Community College. Macias spent one year there, leading SWOCC to their first-ever winning season and a 14th-place national finish before returning to Perry to open a restaurant that he ran for the next 44 years before his death in 2017. Macias helped with the Perry youth wrestling program for decades, including taking several teams to Mexico City to compete.

Greg Newell grew up in Kansas and graduated college from Bethany College in the state before starting a 25-year coaching career. He got his coaching start in Larned, Kansas and was there for seven years, then moved to Durant, Oklahoma in 1980. Newell started the school’s physical education program in 1982 and worked as a wrestling official for four years before returning to coaching in 1986 when he began both the junior high and high school wrestling programs at Durant. He went on to coach in Durant for 18 years before his retirement, building a competitive program that resulted in dozens of former wrestlers going on to become coaches themselves. Newell still works closely with Durant wrestling, including serving as radio broadcaster for the team.

Darren Peaster enjoyed a productive career on the mat, finishing as a three-time state placer at Claremore High School in addition to earning All-America honors at both Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Central Oklahoma. Peaster graduated from UCO in 1987 and spent three years as an assistant coach with the Bronchos before going into the high school ranks. He was an assistant for two years at Ponca City and four at Choctaw, helping the Yellowjackets capture a pair of dual state titles and two state tournament championships. He took over as Putnam City High School’s head coach in 1996 and was there two years before going to Catoosa High School, where he spent 11 years. Peaster guided Catoosa to two dual state crowns and a couple of state tournament championships in earning Coach of the Year honors twice and in 2007 he was a finalist for the National High School Coach of the Year award. Peaster racked up 254 career wins, coaching one four-time state champion and several three-time winners before retiring from coaching in 2013, though he still serves as director of student services at Catoosa.

Nick Williams was a three-time state placer in high school, winning a state title as a senior, and then was a three-year letterman at Oklahoma State in the mid-1990s before embarking on a lengthy coaching career that continues today. He spent one year at Mangum and six at Madill before taking over the Altus High School program in 2004. Williams’ teams have won 14 district titles and five regional championships and he’s had seven top-four state tournament teams, including a pair of runners-up. He has coached 20 state champions, 19 All-State participants and 11 high school All-Americans in compiling a 223-78 dual record. Williams has served as vice president of the Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association in addition to coaching in the All-State dual.

John Henry Ward was a 1965 state champion for Tulsa Rogers High School and then was a rare two-sport collegiate All-American at Oklahoma State. He was a two-time Big Eight champion and placed third in the national tournament in 1969 for the Cowboys, then earned All-America honors on the gridiron that fall at defensive tackle. Ward was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 1970 and played on two Super Bowl teams during a six-year career in the NFL. Ward spent much of his adult life dedicated to public service, including a 13-year stint as Executive Director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma. He also served 10 years as Executive Vice President of the Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Ward, a member of both the OSU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, died in 2012 after a battle with cancer.

Larry Tettleton was born with limited physical abilities on his right side and saw very limited action on the mat, but his contributions to the sport are substantial.   Larry’s disability hasn’t affected his positive attitude, his enthusiasm for teaching and coaching or his motivational skills in getting the best out of those he comes in contact with. Tettleton got involved in wrestling as a junior high manager and continued in that role throughout high school and college, where he helped Central Oklahoma to the 1992 NCAA Division II national championship. Larry became an assistant coach at Edmond North High School in 1994 and in 12 years during three stints as an assistant coach there helped the Huskies to an 86-41-2 dual record and the 2013 state championship. He has also spent 11 years as head junior high coach in Edmond, having compiled an impressive 130-23 dual record with eight conference championships, two state titles and one Oklahoma Junior High Coach of the Year award. Tettleton has coached 15 individual state champions, nine high school All-Americans – including two champions – and two collegiate national champions. Larry decided to expand his involvement with wrestling in 2012 when he became an official. He’s quickly became one of the best in working local, regional and national events and in 2016 was selected Oklahoma USA Official of the Year. Tettleton was named recipient of the “Champion of Character” award by the Edmond City Council in 2013.

 

America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation and now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. It also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport.

For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.or

 

 

 

 

It’s ISHA Silent Auction Time

Start thinking of items that you can donate to the ISHA Founder’s Fund Silent Auction to be held in conjunction with the ISHA Conference hosted by the 49ers Museum on September 26-28.

We are asking for all items to have a minimum $50 retail value.  If you have any questions or something that could be added to a package, please email Dana Hart at [email protected]

ISHA 2018 Silent Auction Form

The Chicago Cubs wanted to showcase their history and give their visitors some interactive surprises when visiting their offices at Wrigley Field.  The project team at Xibitz, Inc. worked with the architects/designers to collaborate and fabricate an interactive graphic wall, reminiscent of the “train schedule” moving signs in Penn Station, NYC and the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.   In addition, Xibitz created showcases, video arrays and other environmental graphics for a totally engaging environment that makes any visit to the Cubs Front Office a memorable experience.

Xibitz, Inc. is a custom fabrication company based in Grand Rapids, MI, providing design support, engineering of designs, fabrication, installation and complete turn-key project management.  Contact Susan Fisher with any questions or requests:

[email protected]
Mobile: 310 897 7265
www.xibitz.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A six-man list of racing pioneers, legends and modern-day champions joined “The First Lady of Motorsports” in a colorful and accomplished 2019 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) inductee class announced at Daytona International Speedway (DIS).The Class of 2019 was unveiled in a press conference at DIS – site of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday night – by Motorsports Hall of Fame of America President Ron Watson and Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile.

The seven MSHFA Class of 2019 honorees, the top vote-earners from an impressive list of 43 nominees from all walks of motorsports, include automotive and racing pioneer Augie Duesenberg (Historic), three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti (Open Wheel), engineering genius Phil Remington (Sports Cars), motorcycle road racing World Champion Kevin Schwantz (Motorcycles), championship-winning driver/owner Don Schumacher (Drag Racing) and Tony Stewart (Stock Cars) and popular motorsports ambassador and iconic race queen Linda Vaughn (At Large).

“Deserving and dynamic are two words that come to mind when I think of the accomplished men and woman that comprise the Class of 2019,” Watson said. “This group has won hundreds of races and dozens of championships in competition and the hearts and adoration of millions of race fans both at and away from the track.”

The Class of 2019 will be enshrined into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in its 31st annual induction ceremony next March, the traditional black-tie gala that will be the crowning event of a two-day, multifunction MSHFA induction celebration on March 11-12 in Daytona Beach.

After traditionally holding its annual induction in the summer for decades, the MSHFA returns to the spring date in 2019 for the second consecutive year. The date shift puts the MSHFA induction amid a mass of March motorsports and automotive activity in Florida. The IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring, plus the AMA Daytona SuperCross, Flat Track TT and DAYTONA 200, as well as Bike Week in Daytona Beach, all take place in a 10-day period that now includes the MSHFA induction.

“Moving to March places our annual induction ceremony right in the middle of one of the most diverse and busy times for motorsports and automotive events all year in Florida,” Watson said. “The initial date switch earlier this year was very well-received, and we look forward to building on the success.”

With the host venue expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, the 2019 MSHFA Induction Ceremony will be preceded on March 11 by the traditional “Heroes of Horsepower” reception and strolling dinner at the MSHFA Museum, located in the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours facility.

For more information, visit the MSHFA at www.mshf.com or call 386.681.6843.

The MSHFA Class of 2019:

Augie Duesenberg (Historic) – August Samuel Duesenberg, with inductee brother Frederick Duesenberg (MSHFA Class of 1997), built some of the greatest racing cars of their generation. With Fred as the designer and Augie handling the manufacturing, they built some of the last “hand-made” race cars that dominated the Indianapolis 500 in the mid-1920s. Augie also served as crew chief for the brothers’ Duesenberg racing team. As engine builders for cars, boats and aircraft, their motors appeared in many race-winning vehicles including those driven by three Indianapolis 500 champions (1924, ’25, ’27).

Dario Franchitti (Open Wheel) – From 2007-2012, Dario Franchitti was as good as any driver in open wheel racing history, winning four championships and three Indianapolis 500s – 2007, 2010 and 2012 – in six seasons, which includes the year he took off (2008) to try his hand at NASCAR. Born in Scotland, Franchitti came to the U.S. in 1997 and the following year he won three races and a season-best five poles with Team Green. He began his string of Indy 500 victories and championships in his final year with Andretti Autosport (2007) and continued the run to two more Brickyard victories with Chip Ganassi (MSHFA Class of 2016).

Phil Remington (Sports Cars) – Wherever Phil Remington went, wins and championships followed. The WWII flight engineer was one of the most successful chief engineers in sports car racing history. As chief engineer at Shelby-American, they captured the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship and built the Ford GTs that became in 1966 and 1967 the first American cars to win Le Mans. Next, “Rem” helped Holman and Moody win the 1968 Daytona 500. Later that year he joined Dan Gurney’s All American Racers, where over the next 40-plus years he was central to the team’s success in everything from the Indianapolis 500 to sports car racing.

Don Schumacher (Drag Racing) – Don Schumacher’s first career in drag racing was impressive but his second has made him one of the all-time greats. As a Funny Car pilot, “The Shoe” won the 1972 Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Stars, 1973 AHRA World Championship, five NHRA national events and about 70 percent of his 560 match races. He retired from driving to devote more time to his business and family. Since his return more than a decade later, Don Schumacher Racing has amassed 16 NHRA world championships through 2017, including son Tony’s eight titles, and more than 300 wins. DSR was the first team to win Top Fuel and Funny Car titles in the same year, which it has done four times.

Kevin Schwantz (Motorcycles) – Kevin Schwantz started riding at four, became a top motocross rider in his teens, then switched to road racing, where he became a Daytona 200 winner, 500cc World Champion and 25-time victor on the international Grand Prix circuit. He finished second to Eddie Lawson (MSHFA Class of 2002) in the 1986 Daytona 200, and the following year began his epic rivalry with Wayne Rainey (MSHFA Class of 2008). Rainey took the 1987 title, but runner-up Schwantz won five of the six last races, then followed with a victory in the 1988 Daytona 200. His world championship came in 1993 and in 125 GP starts, Schwantz prevailed 25 times, the second American all-time behind Lawson. The FIM later retired his No. 34.

Tony Stewart (Stock Cars) – Where there’s Smoke, there are victories and championships for Tony Stewart, both as a driver and more recently as a team owner. Few modern drivers come close to his versatility, speed and quiet assistance to racers in need. The only person to win championships in IndyCar (1997) and NASCAR (2002, 2005, 2011), Stewart also won the 1994 USAC National Midget Series, 1995 USAC Triple Crown and 2006 IROC titles. His 2011 Cup crown was the first by an owner-driver since Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Inductee Alan Kulwicki (MSHFA Class of 2010). As an owner, he has won an additional Monster Energy Series championship with Kevin Harvick (2014), the 2017 Daytona 500 with Kurt Busch, and his four-car team has been a dominant force so far in the 2018 Monster Energy Series.

Linda Vaughn (At Large) – The “First Lady of Motorsports” transformed the role of beauty queen into an enduring ambassadorship. It’s hard to imagine anyone more beloved by fans and racers alike in the history of the sport. The Dalton, Georgia native carved her own niche after winning the Miss Atlanta Raceway title in 1961 and Miss Pure Firebird immediately thereafter. Best known for her long association with Hurst Industries, where she became “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter” after besting 200 contestants for the title. Vaughn appeared in the motorsports-oriented films Gumball Rally (1976), Burnout (1979) and Stroker Ace (1983). Already recognized by the MSHFA, she was presented with the Bob Russo Heritage Award in 2004. Her eponymous autobiography was published in 2016.

About the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America: The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) held its first induction ceremony in 1989. The facility was headquartered in Novi, Michigan from 1989-2015 and relocated to Daytona Beach, Florida in 2016. The MSHFA is the only hall of fame that encompasses the full spectrum of American motorsports: cars, motorcycles, off-road, powerboats and airplanes. The overriding mission of the MSHFA is to celebrate and instill the American core values of leadership, creativity, originality, teamwork and spirit of competition embodied in motorsports. The MSHFA is operated by the nonprofit Motorsports Museum and Hall of Fame of America Foundation Inc. Learn more at www.MSHF.com or call 386.681.6843. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MotorsportsHOF/ and Instagram and Twitter at @MotorsportsHOF.

NEW EXHIBIT NOW OPEN THROUGH 2018

Seventy years ago, stock car racers took to the Daytona Beach-Road Course to make a historic run: the first race of NASCAR’s inaugural season. That year, 1948, proved to be a defining one for the sport, foreshadowing both the accomplishments and the adversity the organization would face in the decades to come.

In celebration of this landmark anniversary, the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s temporary exhibit “1948: Proving Grounds” delves deeper than ever before into this inaugural season’s significance to American and motorsports history. Return to a time of dirt tracks and prewar coupes, when drivers, track operators, and those who led NASCAR were redefining motorsports creating what would become America’s longest-running auto racing sanctioning body.

Rare artifacts (some of the Hall of Fame’s oldest) are featured alongside cars from the era. Throughout the exhibit, straight-from-the-track stories of daring and grit transport guests to the 1940s, inviting them to experience firsthand the thrill of the race.

“1948: Proving Grounds” exhibit included with admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.