Thompson, Allen among Hall of Fame inductees

by Jim Nelson, special from the Waterloo Courier

WATERLOO - Tolly Thompson's message is simple: "Eat it, live it, love it and like it."

Wrestling was at the root of that philosophy for Thompson, who became one of five new inductees into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday during a ceremony at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

"Growing up here, living here ... growing up in Northeast Iowa ... To go into the Dan Gable, Glen Brand Hall of Fame is an honor," Thompson said.

He joined New Hampton native Gordan Hassman, Iowa national champion Dan Holm, Waterloo native Mike Allen (pictured right) and Iowa City West head coach Mark Reiland as part of the 2010 class.

"I started when I was five," Thompson said of wrestling. "I didn't know anything different. I enjoyed it. Mom and dad probably got tired of me running around in a singlet with headgear on.

"It (wrestling) has to be your best friend, and it was my best friend."

Thompson was a two-time state runner-up at Janesville before becoming a three-time all-American and 1995 NCAA heavyweight champ at Nebraska.

In 2005, he earned a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Like Thompson, Allen holds his induction above all other honors he's received. The Waterloo native retired after a decorated 35-year officiating career last spring, which included inductions into the East High Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla.

"Going into the East High School Hall of Fame was nice, going in the National Hall of Fame was nice, and like I said before and not to show less appreciation for the others, but to be here six miles from my home ... to be able to walk to this museum and see my name here as an official ... I love it. I feel very fortunate," Allen said.

Hassman won a state championship at New Hampton in 1960 and went on to become a three-time all-American at Iowa State. Holm, a native of Libertyville, Ill., was a three-time all-American at Iowa and was a national champion in 1975 as part of the Hawkeyes' first NCAA championship team.

Reiland won two state titles at Eagle Grove and was an NCAA champion at Iowa in 1991. He has coached Iowa City West to six state championships - two traditional and four dual titles.

The museum also honored Cresco native Norman Borlaug and former Waterloo Courier Sports Editor Russ Smith with awards, while introducing the first Russ Smith Community Impact Award, which was presented to members of Smith's family.

The award will be given in subsequent years to a person demonstrating exceptional local impact on wrestling.