Since opening its doors in 1976, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum has annually honored those who have helped shape the sport of amateur wrestling.

What started with a small Saturday night banquet has grown into one of wrestling’s premiere events known as Honors Weekend held every summer in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For three days every June, the wrestling family comes together for fellowship and a chance to celebrate the world’s oldest sport and its current class of inductees.

The Class of 2010 will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum June 4-5, 2010. The nine following recipients mark the 34th class since 1976.

* Dave Auble, Russell Camilleri, Rulon Gardner and Lincoln McIlravy will be inducted as Distinguished Members
* Chief Chad Smith will be honored with the Outstanding American award
* Dr. Bernard Feldman earns the Order of Merit
* Richard Yarosh is honored with the Medal of Courage
* Jim Ramirez will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement for Officials
* Logan Stieber will be honored with the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.

“Honors Weekend authenticates the sports legacy makers. It’s a true celebration of wrestling,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the NWHOF. “It continues to evolve with activities and fellowship that evokes the wrestling community’s pride for the sports great heritage.”

The Native American Wrestling Experience will also be celebrated as the long standing relationship between wrestling and the Native American culture was uncovered in the most recent Hall of Fame exhibit and book.

Honors Weekend officially kicks off Friday evening with a public reception and presentation of plaques.

Friends and family join the honorees for, what some say, is the best part of the weekend as the granite plaques and individual displays are unveiled for the first time to the public.

Saturday morning features an 18-hole golf tournament at Stillwater Country Club, a course that has hosted NCAA Championships. 

Non-golfers can enjoy guest speakers, a fashion show, poker tournament, and club activities like tennis and swimming. This year’s guest speaker will be Billie Stone Fogarty speaking on “How to turn Who You Think You Are into Who I Know I Am.” The fashion show by Betty and Bud Townsend’s shop Elizabeth’s is titled “Read Set Summer” and will feature great fashions from their store.

The evening festivities begin with a pre-banquet reception followed by the black-tie dinner and always emotional induction ceremony.

For more information on Honors Weekend contact the Hall of Fame at 405-377-5243 or visit the internet at:
https://nwhof.ticketleap.com