Earl McCready was the first wrestler to ever win three collegiate championships, claiming NCAA titles at heavyweight for Oklahoma A&M in the years 1928, 1929, and 1930. He never lost a wrestling match in college and also played on the A&M football team.

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Earl made the 1928 Canadian Olympic team, participating in the Amsterdam Games. He was selected to be the flagbearer for the entire Canadian national championships and the British Empire Games.

Earl turned pro in 1930 and worked all over Canada and the northwestern United States, and was well known for his clean style of wrestling. He was extrememly popular in New Zealand, Australia, England, and South Africa.

He is a member of six hall of fame and is considered by many to be the greatest amateur wrestler ever to come out of Canada. Beset by physical problems, including diabetes, McCready retired from the rind in 1958 and lived in Edmonds, Washington, the remainder of his life. He died on December 9, 1983.