USA Wrestling Man of the Year award to be named in honor of Myron Roderick

USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, has dedicated its annual Man of the Year Award in memory of the late wrestling legend Myron Roderick.


USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender announced this recognition during a special memorial dinner held in Roderick's honor at his alma mater Oklahoma State on Saturday, Feb. 11.


Roderick passed away at the age of 77 in December 2011. Roderick was one of the most influential figures in American wrestling history, a man who made an amazing impact as an athlete, college coach, administrator and visionary. His life impacted so many people within wrestling, and his passion for the sport truly made a profound difference.


He was one of the founding fathers of USA Wrestling, as it developed from the U.S. Wrestling Federation of the late 1960s to what it has become today. From 1969 to 1974 he served as the USWF's executive director, setting the foundation for the organization which later evolved into today's USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport.


"Myron Roderick, by many accounts, was the father of USA Wrestling" said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "I can't think of a more fitting award than our highest honor to be named in Myron Roderick's memory."


USA Wrestling's Man of the Year Award was created in 1970, when Roderick served as the organization's Executive Director. In the 40 years of this special award, each of those honored have made a major impact on the sport and the organization.


The first Man of the Year was Rex Peery for 1970. The most recent Man of the Year was Mike Novogratz for 2010.


This is the third major USA Wrestling award to be named in honor of an individual. USA Wrestling's Freestyle Athlete of the Year award recognizes two-time Olympic champion John Smith. USA Wrestling's Freestyle Coach of the Year award recognizes Olympic champion and past USA Wrestling President Terry McCann.

PAST MYRON RODERICK AWARD WINNERS

AS USA WRESTLING MAN OF THE YEAR

2010 - Mike Novogratz

2009 - Greg Strobel

2008 - Sonny Greenhalgh

2007 - Van Stokes

2006 - Steve Silver

2005 - Al Bevilacqua

2004 - Jeff Levitetz

2003 - Set Agonian

2002 - Al Kastl

2001 - James Ravannack

2000 - Rulon Gardner

1999 - Duane Morgan

1998 - Scott Beck

1997 - Rick Tucci

1996 - Dave Schultz

1995 - Leroy Evans

1994 - James E. Scherr

1993 - Arthur J. Martori

1992 - Bruce Baumgartner

1990 - Eugene Barone

1989 - John Vaughan

1987 - Dave Rudrud

1986 - Jeff Blatnick

1985 - Dr. Dan Gould

1984 - Gary Thompson

1983 - Don Sondgeroth

1982 - Frank Rader

1981 - John Roberts

1980 - Rick Bay

1979 - Ben Bennett

1978 - Werner Holzer

1977 - Vince Zuaro

1976 - Ken Kraft

1974-75 - Russ Hellickson

1973 - Jack Stanbro

1972 - Melvin Jones

1971 - Bud Linholm

1970 - Rex Peery