International Wrestling Institute and Museum

Class of 1999
Class of 2000
Class of 2001
Class of 2002
Class of 2003
Class of 2004
Class of 2005
Class of 2006
Class of 2007

George Tragos/Lou Thesz
Hall of Fame Inductions
Class of 2007
An overflow crowd of excited wrestling fans were on hand July 14 for the ninth annual inductions into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame inductions held here. The event was the first to be held in the new facility, which moved from Newton to Waterloo in January.

"This was an incredible event," said Jay Roberts, longtime board member. "It was great for wrestling and for Waterloo. The crowds were tremendous."

"Everyone should make an effort to come here," said the legendary Judo Gene LeBell, who came in from Los Angeles. "It's like a library burning."

Inducted this year were Red Bastien, Steve "Dr. Death" Williams, Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig, Dale Lewis and The Great Gama. Bastien and Williams were on hand to receive their plaques, and Leonice Henning, Curt's widow, and Larry Hennig, Curt's father, accepted on behalf of Curt, who died in 2003.

Dan Hodge, Class of 2000, accepted on behalf of Dale Lewis. Both wrestled at the University of Oklahoma, and Hodge helped break Lewis into the game.

The inductions room began to fill up at 10 a.m., a full hour before the festivities. A live radio show, hosted by Kyle Klingman, associate director, was held in the adjoining library, with many past inductees being interviewed.

"We moved here to have a larger space and we may need to move again," quipped Mike Chapman, museum's executive director, when he saw the full house.

The inductees met in the library before the inductions then walked into the Tragos/Thesz wing to a loud ovation. Each gave a short speech, and then adjourned to another room where tables were set up for autographs.

"The museum is fabulous," said Williams, who was a great amateur wrestler before entering the pros. "I had heard good things about it but it even exceeds my expectations."

Dr. Death also wrestled on a show Friday night at nearby Young Arena. The card was the work of Harley Race and the WLW, and drew a crowd of over 400. Race later announced all proceeds were being donated to the museum. Also wrestling on the card were Joe Hennig, Curt's son, and Ted DiBiase, Jr., son of Ted DiBiase, who received the Frank Gotch Award for 2007.

At the banquet Saturday night, Chapman began his remarks by telling the group that Frank Gotch defended his world title in 1909 in Waterloo. The match was held at the Syndicate Theater - which stood on the very spot where the banquet was being held, in the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.

Chapman also introduced hall of famers who were in attendance, including Verne Gagne (class of 1999), Dan Hodge (Class of 2000), Jim Raschke and Dick Beyer (Class of 2002), Brad Rheingnas (Class of 2004), Harley Race (Class of 2005) and Larry Hennig (Class of 2006), as well as Gotch winners Tom Drake (2001), Judo Gene LeBell (2005) and Nikita Koloff (2006).

Other events during the weekend included a Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday at Gates Park Golf Course.

When the museum moved to Waterloo, it attached the name Dan Gable to it, in order to honor the Waterloo native who became a legend in amateur circles, both as a wrestler and as a coach. Gable was on hand throughout the weekend to greet fans.

Other special guests who came were Charlie Thesz, the widow of hall of fame namesake Lou Thesz; Eve Managoff, the widow of Bobby Managoff, the first Gotch Award winner, and Mary Lee Pesek, the daughter of John Pesek, Class of 2004.

A new award was introduced at the inductions. The Lou Thesz Award will go each year to a person who has made significant contributions in benevolent activities, helping others through times of adversity. The first winner was Bill Murdock and the Eblen Foundation in Asheville, SC, a group that gives support to underprivileged families. Charlie Thesz made the presentation.

The second annual Jim Melby Award, presented for excellence in writing on professional wrestling, was given to Mike Chapman. Shelley Bonin, Jim's daughter, made the presentation.

"All in all, it was a fabulous weekend, one of the best events we've ever had," said Kyle Klingman, associate director. "We can hardly wait until next year."

“On the Mat” is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. The broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show.

“On the Mat” can be heard live on the Internet at www.kcnzam.com or locally in Northeast Iowa on 1650, The Fan. Feel free to e-mail radio@wrestlingmuseum.org with questions or comments about the show.
Click here for archived shows.

Weekly news, commentary and insight. (continued)

Museum Information
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday - Saturday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission:
$5 for adults
$3 for students (17 and under)
Children 6 and under are free


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Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum • 303 Jefferson St. • Waterloo, IA • 50701
319.233.0745 • 319.233.3477 fax • info@wrestlingmuseum.org
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