FRITZ MCGINNESS TO RECEIVE ORDER OF MERIT FROM WRESTLING HALL OF FAME 
  The Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame have the opportunity each year to nominate one person for the Order of Merit. This award recognizes someone outstanding for extraordinary contributions to the sport of wrestling above and beyond athletic achievement or coaching success. 
 Fritz McGinness of Shawnee, Kan. Has been selected to receive this prestigious honor for 1999. The Order of Merit will be presented to him at the June 5 Honors Banquet in Stillwater, the home of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 
  The Northwestern Missouri University graduate has impacted the sport of wrestling in many ways. McGinness' slate of wrestling experience includes coaching, officiating, and interpreting wrestling rules on a state and national level and producing many videos. 
  As associate director of the National Federation of High School Associations since 1977, McGinness has been the principal liaison for wrestling to all of the nation's high schools.    
  He started in 1961 as a high school coach and official and became rules interpreter for the Kansas High School Association in 1972. Since he has joined the NFHS, he has also been the liaison to the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, editor of wrestling publications, producer of films and videos and the national rules interpreter for high school wrestling.  Since 1982 he has been the high school representative on the NCAA Rules Committee. 
  He has been production coordinator and technical staf for the videos "Wrestling the Right Way," "Wrestling for the 90's" and "Wrestling Rules Update." 
  He has also served as the production coordinator for all NFHS sports films and video productions. There are a total of 39 productions in the sports of basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, track and field, girl's gymnastics, swimming and diving, spirit and softball. 
  McGinness has served on the Board of Directors of USA Wrestling since 1977, where he has held the offices of secretary, treasurer and vice president.  He has also been active on several USA Wrestling committees, such as the executive, law, finance and the constitution committees, serving as Chairman for several of these committees. 
  McGinness has served on National Wrestling Hall of Fame's State Chairman Organization Committee and Selection Committees.  
  McGinness has made his way through the ranks, beginning as a coach and teacher in 1961 and now serving as an associate director of the NFHS. Along the way, he has been a counselor, athletic director, assistant principal and associate principal at Crane Junior High School and Topeka West High School in Topeka, Kan. 
  Fritz McGinness has made great contributions to the wrestling world through his hard work, dedication, and a general love for the sport. His time has come to stand and be recognized for all that he has done with he is awarded the 1999 Order of Merit.