Longtime USA Wrestling leader Ben Bennett of Kansas, 77, passed away
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Ben Bennett during a visit to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater. Photo courtesy of National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Ben Bennett of Junction City, Kansas, 77, who served as a USA Wrestling volunteer leader and member of the national staff, passed away on Thursday.
Bennett served as President of USA Wrestling (1986-87) and was a member of the Board of Directors for more than a decade. Bennett also served a term as secretary of USA Wrestling. Among his volunteer national leadership positions with USA Wrestling was National Chairman for Kids. He was named USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year in 1979.
“We are saddened to hear of Ben Bennett’s untimely passing. Considered by many as one of our organization’s ‘founding fathers,’ Ben Bennett invested in and contributed to USA Wrestling at a very high level. He will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ben’s family and the countless individuals whose lives were impacted by this great man,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
He was also a longtime wrestling leader for USA Wrestling-Kansas, including serving as the state chairperson. He was a Northern Plains Regional chairperson and vice-chairperson. He was heavily involved in the early years of USAW-Kansas, which developed into one of USA Wrestling’s most successful state associations.
Bennett had an impressive coaching record to go along with his administrative leadership. He coached Junction City High School to three state championships and 27 individual state champions. In 1980 he was named Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association, and in 1983 was Wrestling USA Magazine's Man of the Year. Bennett was named Kansas Wrestling Coach of the Year three times.
He was elected to the Kansas chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 and to the KWCA Hall of Fame in 2011. He played a volunteer leadership role at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also served a term as a member of the Executive Board of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1986-88.
In late 1987, Bennett resigned as USA Wrestling president to work in management on USA Wrestling’s national staff as Events Director. Hired by Executive Director Gary Kurdelmeier, Bennett served at the national headquarters first in Stillwater, Okla., then moved with the company when it relocated in Colorado Springs, Colo. in June 1988.
In recent years, Bennett returned to volunteer involvement with the wrestling community in Kansas.
In addition to his wrestling leadership, Bennett was also a community leader in Kansas. He was elected as a Geary County Commissioner in 2006, representing the 1st District of western Geary County. He was serving in his fourth term at the time of his death. He had served as a Junction City recreation director. In addition to his wrestling coaching duties at Junction City High School, he taught government classes and served as assistant football coach.
“Not only Kansas, but the entire wrestling nation, owes Ben a huge thanks for all the work he did during the critical developmental stages of our organization. He will be missed,” said USA Wrestling-Kansas state chairperson Mike Juby.
Ben Bennett of Junction City, Kansas, 77, who served as a USA Wrestling volunteer leader and member of the national staff, passed away on Thursday.
Bennett served as President of USA Wrestling (1986-87) and was a member of the Board of Directors for more than a decade. Bennett also served a term as secretary of USA Wrestling. Among his volunteer national leadership positions with USA Wrestling was National Chairman for Kids. He was named USA Wrestling’s Man of the Year in 1979.
“We are saddened to hear of Ben Bennett’s untimely passing. Considered by many as one of our organization’s ‘founding fathers,’ Ben Bennett invested in and contributed to USA Wrestling at a very high level. He will be sorely missed, but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ben’s family and the countless individuals whose lives were impacted by this great man,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
He was also a longtime wrestling leader for USA Wrestling-Kansas, including serving as the state chairperson. He was a Northern Plains Regional chairperson and vice-chairperson. He was heavily involved in the early years of USAW-Kansas, which developed into one of USA Wrestling’s most successful state associations.
Bennett had an impressive coaching record to go along with his administrative leadership. He coached Junction City High School to three state championships and 27 individual state champions. In 1980 he was named Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association, and in 1983 was Wrestling USA Magazine's Man of the Year. Bennett was named Kansas Wrestling Coach of the Year three times.
He was elected to the Kansas chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 and to the KWCA Hall of Fame in 2011. He played a volunteer leadership role at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He also served a term as a member of the Executive Board of the U.S. Olympic Committee from 1986-88.
In late 1987, Bennett resigned as USA Wrestling president to work in management on USA Wrestling’s national staff as Events Director. Hired by Executive Director Gary Kurdelmeier, Bennett served at the national headquarters first in Stillwater, Okla., then moved with the company when it relocated in Colorado Springs, Colo. in June 1988.
In recent years, Bennett returned to volunteer involvement with the wrestling community in Kansas.
In addition to his wrestling leadership, Bennett was also a community leader in Kansas. He was elected as a Geary County Commissioner in 2006, representing the 1st District of western Geary County. He was serving in his fourth term at the time of his death. He had served as a Junction City recreation director. In addition to his wrestling coaching duties at Junction City High School, he taught government classes and served as assistant football coach.
“Not only Kansas, but the entire wrestling nation, owes Ben a huge thanks for all the work he did during the critical developmental stages of our organization. He will be missed,” said USA Wrestling-Kansas state chairperson Mike Juby.
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