Mr. Robert Gonzales, Manhattan High School and former Shawnee Heights High School Head Wrestling Coach, has worked diligently since at least 2001, with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma to form the Kansas Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
In an effort to honor those individuals in the State of Kansas who have dedicated themselves for the betterment of the sport, Mr. Gonzales has divided the State into six (6) districts; Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest, South Central, and Southeast.
The Criteria for State Awards is:
1. Lifetime Service to Wrestling
A. Integrity
B. At least 20 years of service to wrestling
C. A commitment to the community and the youth in it
2. State Outstanding American
A. Integrity
B. Former wrestler at some point in their life
C. Highly successful in their profession or nationally famous for their work
D. Used the disciplines learned in wrestling to reach those levels
3. State Medal of Courage
A. A current or former wrestler who has overcome exceptional challenges
The first inductees to the Kansas Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame were honored with a dinner on November 9, 2003 in Colby, Kansas. All of the honorees were from Northwest Kansas.
The 2003 and first honored inductees are:
"Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Dr. Warren J. "Barney" Boring - St. Francis
Mr. Jake Durham - Norton
Dr. Ed Keller - St. Francis
Mr. Steve Lampe - Colby
Mr. Gordon "Buzz" Matson - Oberlin
Mr. Alvin "Al" McCall - Goodland
The second Ceremony, which honored individuals from South Central Kansas, was held November 7, 2004 at the Best Western Wichita North, Park City, Kansas.
The 2004 honorees were:
Outstanding American from the State of Kansas
Mr. Patrick W. Miller (Valley Center High School)
"Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Mr. Lawrence G. Alley Contributor (Douglass Kids Wrestling Club - Founding Father)
The Late Antoine N. Bontz III - Contributor (Wichita Wrestling Club)
The Late Thomas F. Faust - Contributor (Derby Kids Club - Founding Father)
Mr. Gus Garcia - Coach (Atwood High School, Augusta High School, Augusta Kids Club)
Mr. C. Dee Gard - Coach - Official (Wichita Heights)
The Late Francis J.Hagan, M.D. - Contributor (Founding Father)
Mr. C. Duwane Miller - Coach (Douglass, Kapaun Mt. Carmel)
Mr. Lyle W. Neville - Coach (Hutchinson High School)
Mr. Bill P. Stanhope Coach - Official - Contributor (Colwich Kids Wrestling Club - Founding Father)
Please review the Criteria for selection, and if there is an individual which we have forgotten and is not on the list in the following post, kindly notify:
Richard D. Salyer
RichardDSalyer@sbcglobal.net Robert Gonzales
RobertGo@Manhattan.k12.ks.us If there any questions, kindly notify me, or post on this forum and I will respond as expediently as possible.
Thank you!
