The National Wrestling Hall of Fame is turning 40 years old in 2016. The Hall of Fame will be inducting and honoring the 40th class at the 40th Anniversary Honors Weekend on June 3-4 with a grand re-opening in its Stillwater, Okla. location.
The current $3.5 million complete renovation will allow visitors to experience the rich history of wrestling in a new way, including interactive exhibits. There is a vast and expanded use of digital technology to preserve photographs, videos, and other historical items. The Hall of Fame has a striking new layout, which has been modernized to offer an even more stunning experience for guests.
Much has changed since America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling opened its doors on Sept. 11, 1976. The first class enshrined was Raymond G. Clapp, Fendley Collins, Tommy Evans, Edward C. Gallagher, Art Griffith, Danny Hodge, Clifford P. Keen, Dave McCuskey, George Mehnert, Hugo Otopalik, Rex Peery, Myron Roderick, Billy Sheridan, and Jack VanBebber.
The interior of the Hall of Fame and Museum building will be all new, but it will not change how Distinguished Members are honored. The four Distinguished Members in our 40th Anniversary Class will be enshrined with granite plaques like the original 14 members in the Class of 1976.
The Class of 2016 includes
Distinguished Member William B. Harlow
Distinguished Member Carlton Haselrig
Distinguished Member Brandon Slay
Distinguished Member Dick Wilson
Medal of Courage – Randy Bortles
Outstanding American – Joseph Galli Jr.
Meritorious Official – Marcia D.W. Haise
Order of Merit – Ron Good
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award – Mark Hall II
Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award – Katie Brock
This year’s Distinguished Members each had tremendous careers. Slay was a 2000 Olympic champion in freestyle, two-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Pennsylvania and current Assistant National Freestyle Coach with USA Wrestling. Haselrig won three NCAA Div. I and three NCAA Div. II heavyweight national titles for Pitt-Johnstown. Harlow was a three-time NCAA finalist and an NCAA champion for Oklahoma State and won a World silver medal in freestyle. Wilson was a three-time Olympian in Greco-Roman and a three-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Toledo.
Another constant from that first day is the life-size green marble statue, which not only greets visitors to the museum, but is also commemorated in the Hall of Fame logo. It is a copy of the classic Greek statue “The Wrestlers” by Cephisodotus in the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy. The statue in the Hall of Fame is the only one in the world in green marble, and was first seen by the late wrestling legend and past Hall of Fame president Myron Roderick when he was in Europe for the Olympics.
The NWHOF has developed countless exhibits, books and other projects in the last 39 years. It has showcased great moments and individuals, but more importantly we’ve highlighted the diversity of the sport with special-themed exhibits featuring females and ethnicities including African Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans.
The first time the public will have the chance to see the new National Wrestling Hall of Fame will be on Friday, June 3 at its Reception and Presentation of Plaques at 6 p.m. at 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue. The Class of 2016 induction will be on Saturday, June 4 at OSU Student Union, South Hester St in Stillwater starting at 6 p.m. with a reception in French Lounge, followed by the 40th Honors Banquet in Student Union Ballroom.
Media is invited to these special activities and can attend by contacting Jack Carnefix of National Wrestling Hall of Fame at 732-213-2121. Those wishing to interview any of the inductees during the weekend by phone should contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-659-9637.