Photos from Friday's Events  Photos from Saturday's Events    
Mark Scott
Medal of Courage Award
The wrestling family gets together every year on the first weekend in June to celebrate the induction of new members to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla. The 2004 version of "Honors Weekend" is being held Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5.    The weekend is all about families, not only the national wrestling community, but also the individual families of those who are being honored. Each award winner is usually accompanied by members of their family who have shared their wrestling  journey.    The spirit of family has been developed over the years by the Hall of Fame staff and Board of Governors, who have established a program for the weekend that allows those involved to share in the joy of their achievement and experience the goodwill and friendship that makes wrestling a special sport.    
Myron and Joanne Roderick 
The person who has set the tone for Honors Weekend for so many years is wrestling legend Myron Roderick, who serves as the Hall's president. This year's weekend also marked a special highlight in his life, his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Joanne. The entire Roderick family, including their children and grandchildren, are always involved with the Hall of Fame activities, and were there to support Myron and Joanne again this year.    The week officially gets rolling on Thursday night, with a reception at the Hall of Fame, featuring light hors d'ouevres. Friday is an active day, as a luncheon is held for honorees, Board members, golfers and guests. Those that choose to golf hit the links, while a ladies luncheon is hosted for the women who are not golfers. Friday night features a reception and dinner, a casual activity where friends can meet and share food and drink and good stories. Awards are given for the golf tournament by Dave Martin and Roderick, a humorous way to end the dinner.    Saturday is the big day, starting with a relaxed brunch in the mid-morning. Other members of the Hall of Fame who are there during the weekend are recognized, and the award winners are once again introduced to all the guests.     
Distinguished Members
At noon is the formal presentation of the plaques, where each of the honorees are taken to their location in the Hall of Fame, and photos are taken at their individual displays. This is a special time, where each honoree is given the spotlight, and their achievements are recognized.    The evening features the Honors Banquet, a formal dinner that is black-tie optional. Each of the award winners are placed at the head table with a guest, and speeches are delivered. For many, this is an emotional and memorable occasion, when all of the inductees receive honor and respect for their     Throughout the weekend, an open house at the Hall of Fame allows visitors to wander around the facility and take in the thousands of displays and memorabilia. Anyone who has never been to the Wrestling Hall of Fame will be astonished at the amount of interesting and exciting materials on display, bringing the history of the sport in the United States alive. It takes hours and hours to see all of the treasures in the Hall of Fame, and each year there is new material to discover. A new section featuring the FILA Hall of Fame, which recognizes the world's best athletes, is an amazing addition. Anybody who enjoys wrestling, no matter what age, must make a pilgrimage to the Hall of Fame at some point in their lives.    Honors weekend is a special time shared with special people in a family setting.    The 28th Honors Banquet will feature the following honorees:    DISTINGUISED MEMBERS    Les Anderson, Nevada, Iowa  Don Behm, E. Lansing, Mich.   Larry Hayes, Ankeny, Iowa  Jim Zalesky, Iowa City, Iowa    Anderson was a two-time NCAA champion for Iowa State and long-time assistant coach for the Cyclones. He also coached at Blue Earth HS (Minn.) and the Univ. of Washington. Anderson was an active leader in sport, including leadership within USA Wrestling and National Wrestling Coaches Association.    Behm won a silver medal at 1968 Olympics in freestyle wrestling, as well as two World silver medals. He won gold medals at Pan Am Games, Tbilisi tournament and Veterans Worlds. He competed at Michigan State Univ., and coached at East Lansing HS (Mich.)    Hayes was Iowa State's first three-time NCAA champion, winning titles in 1959, 1960 and 1961, as well as two Big Eight titles. He also served as assistant coach at Iowa State and coached in high schools in Iowa.    Zalesky won three NCAA titles for the Univ. of Iowa and four All-American honors. He won 89 straight matches. He first served as assistant coach at Iowa and Minnesota. He has been head coach at Iowa since 1998, winning three straight NCAA team titles (1998, 1999, 2000) and coaching numerous national champs and All-Americans.    OUTSTANDING AMERICAN  (This award recognizes a wrestler for achievements in society)    Kevin Short, Basel, Switzerland  Short is a musician, in demand around the world in both opera and concert. His companies have included The Metropolitan, Chicago Lyric, and New York City Opera.  In Europe, he has performed with Staattheatre Stuttgart and the Munich Prizregenten theatre. Orchestral highlights including the Nagano Winter Olympics Orchestra at the 1998 opening ceremonies. He was a high School wrestler at Lackey HS (Md.) and is a graduate of Morgan State, Curtis Institute of Music and Julliard School of Music.    ORDER OF MERIT  (selected by Distinguished Members, honors leadership within wrestling)    Jim Keen, Ann Arbor, Mich.  Keen serves as CEO for Cliff Keen Athletic, a major equipment manufacturer in wrestling and athletics. He is the son of Hall of Fame coach Cliff Keen, and wrestled at the Univ. of Michigan. He serves on Hall of Fame's Board of Governors, and is also active with USA Wrestling, and National Wrestling Coaches Association. Keen sponsors many major wrestling events at all age levels.    MEDAL OF COURAGE  (recognizes wrestler for overcoming major challenges on way to success)    Mark Scott, Colorado Springs Colo.  Scott has served as Director of State Services for USA Wrestling since 1989, directing membership programs and state activities. He was the Tournament Director of 2003 World Wrestling Championships in New York. Prior to joining USA Wrestling, he was a longtime wrestling leader in Wyoming, including three years as USAW state chairperson. He is a respected PA announcer for sport, as well as a referee. Scott was a youth and high school wrestler in Wyoming who had both legs amputated below the knee after an auto accident, then became a leader in the sport.      LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR OFFICIALS  (the top honor for a wrestling referee in the nation)    Fred Richardson, Reading, Pa.  Richardson has officiated nationally for 35 years, working 15 NCAA Div. I Championships, 20 EIWA Championships, several Div. II tournaments and eight Pennsylvania high school events. He has worked every Virginia Duals event since inception in 1980. Richardson is respected for integrity. He was also a high school and military wrestler, also has been a youth coach.    REGIONAL DAVE SCHULTZ HIGH SCHOOL EXCELLENCE AWARDS    Jordan Leen, Soddy Daisy, Tenn.  Steve Luke, Massillon, Ohio  Brandon Mason, Council Bluffs, Iowa  Nathan Morgan, Bakersfield, Calif.