Exciting activities planned for 32nd annual Hall of Fame Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., May 30-31
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by NWHOF
STILLWATER, Okla. - Wrestling dignitaries from across the country will begin arriving in Stillwater throughout this week for the 32nd annual Honors Weekend and Induction Ceremony of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum scheduled for May 30-31, 2008.
"With this event, wrestling gathers to pay tribute to the best and the brightest that this sport has to offer," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall. "We are thrilled to include with our distinguished class of 2008 award winners, the Penn State University wrestling program which celebrates its 100th anniversary of collegiate competition. The 1953 Nittany Lions, the first east coast team to win an NCAA Division I title, will also be recognized, continuing our commitment to honor not just outstanding individual efforts but also extraordinary teams."
Four new Distinguished Members and one Outstanding American will be inducted. The class of new Distinguished Americans includes wrestlers: Ricky Bonomo, Mike Houck, Wayne Martin, and Bobby Weaver. Chick fil A executive Dan T. Cathy will be honored as the Outstanding American.
Rounding out the list of awards to be presented, the winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award is Utah's Justin Chamberlain. Winner of the Order of Merit is Tulsan Richard Small; Blind wrestler Dr. James V. Mastro will receive the Medal of Courage, and the winner of the Lifetime Achievement for Officials is Jerry Wager.
"Unfortunately, Bobby Weaver is ill and will be unable to attend," Smith said. "We are very disappointed that he won't be able to join us as we express our admiration for what he has given to our sport, but we send our best wishes to him for a speedy and complete recovery."
A State Chapter Presidents Conference is scheduled prior to Honors Weekend on Thursday and Friday morning.
"We always get a good number of inductees, board members, and wrestling dignitaries attending each year's ceremonies," Smith said. "By including our state chapter presidents, we are rewarding our grass root volunteers for the great job of extending our mission on a state-by-state level."
Smith said he is expecting visitors from 43 states to come to Stillwater over Honors Weekend, indicative of the Hall's national appeal.
Honors Weekend officially kicks off Friday evening with a public reception and presentation of plaques at the Hall of Fame and Museum. After the new plaques are revealed, guests will join Penn State wrestlers in a ceremony honoring their program's rich history.
Saturday morning features an 18-hole golf tournament. Non-golfers can enjoy guest speakers, a fashion show, poker tournament, and club activities like tennis and swimming. Everyone comes together for lunch before an afternoon break.
The evening festivities begin with a pre-banquet reception followed by the black-tie dinner and induction.
On Sunday morning, the weekend may be over for honorees, but for the Board of Governors, the work is just beginning. The board holds one of two annual meetings that morning at the Hampton Inn.
"This is an occasion that makes everyone feel good about the sport and stimulates a camaraderie that inspires people to want to do what they can to help this sport grow," Smith concludes.
For more information on Honors Weekend contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum at 405-377-5243 or visit our website at www.wrestlinghalloffame.org.
"With this event, wrestling gathers to pay tribute to the best and the brightest that this sport has to offer," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall. "We are thrilled to include with our distinguished class of 2008 award winners, the Penn State University wrestling program which celebrates its 100th anniversary of collegiate competition. The 1953 Nittany Lions, the first east coast team to win an NCAA Division I title, will also be recognized, continuing our commitment to honor not just outstanding individual efforts but also extraordinary teams."
Four new Distinguished Members and one Outstanding American will be inducted. The class of new Distinguished Americans includes wrestlers: Ricky Bonomo, Mike Houck, Wayne Martin, and Bobby Weaver. Chick fil A executive Dan T. Cathy will be honored as the Outstanding American.
Rounding out the list of awards to be presented, the winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award is Utah's Justin Chamberlain. Winner of the Order of Merit is Tulsan Richard Small; Blind wrestler Dr. James V. Mastro will receive the Medal of Courage, and the winner of the Lifetime Achievement for Officials is Jerry Wager.
"Unfortunately, Bobby Weaver is ill and will be unable to attend," Smith said. "We are very disappointed that he won't be able to join us as we express our admiration for what he has given to our sport, but we send our best wishes to him for a speedy and complete recovery."
A State Chapter Presidents Conference is scheduled prior to Honors Weekend on Thursday and Friday morning.
"We always get a good number of inductees, board members, and wrestling dignitaries attending each year's ceremonies," Smith said. "By including our state chapter presidents, we are rewarding our grass root volunteers for the great job of extending our mission on a state-by-state level."
Smith said he is expecting visitors from 43 states to come to Stillwater over Honors Weekend, indicative of the Hall's national appeal.
Honors Weekend officially kicks off Friday evening with a public reception and presentation of plaques at the Hall of Fame and Museum. After the new plaques are revealed, guests will join Penn State wrestlers in a ceremony honoring their program's rich history.
Saturday morning features an 18-hole golf tournament. Non-golfers can enjoy guest speakers, a fashion show, poker tournament, and club activities like tennis and swimming. Everyone comes together for lunch before an afternoon break.
The evening festivities begin with a pre-banquet reception followed by the black-tie dinner and induction.
On Sunday morning, the weekend may be over for honorees, but for the Board of Governors, the work is just beginning. The board holds one of two annual meetings that morning at the Hampton Inn.
"This is an occasion that makes everyone feel good about the sport and stimulates a camaraderie that inspires people to want to do what they can to help this sport grow," Smith concludes.
For more information on Honors Weekend contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum at 405-377-5243 or visit our website at www.wrestlinghalloffame.org.
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