Note:  Former St. Cloud State University wrestler Gary Smith recently received a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award by the Minnesota Chapter.  Smith was honored along with seven other individuals on April 22, 2017 at the Austin (Minn.) Holiday Inn Conference Center.   The following is a previously published story on Smith put together by Spencer Yohe.

For a person who never wrestled in high school, Gary Smith took it to the highest level at St. Cloud State University!

Gary went to Grove City High School in Minnesota and was recruited  to St. Cloud State for Track and for Football.    Gary got interested in wrestling when Wrestling Coach Willis Wood  offered to take him out for a bite to eat after football practice,  Coach Wood also served as an assistant football coach.  After eating, they talked in the car till 2.30 am in the morning, and needing some sleep,Gary told Coach Wood he would come out for wrestling.  It turned out to be a life changing decision.

All Gary did was put together a 45-13-9 record.  Gary was untouchable as a junior and a senior.  Gary won back to back NAIA National Championships at 191 pounds, and was selected SCSU's Outstanding Wrestler award in 1964.  Gary was also in the 1964 Final Olympic Trials at New York City.  Gary also placed 3rd in the NAIA Track and Field Championships his junior year in the Shot Put!  Gary's shot put record at SCSU stood for over 30 Years.
 

Gary embarked on an outstanding wrestling officiating career.  Gary officiated from 1965 to 1990.  It's safe to say Gary has officiated more National Wrestling Championships than any other official in Minnesota History.  Gary officiated the NJCAA Tournament for 20 years (15 as Head Official, 12 in the NAIA, 10 in the NCAA I Tournaments (1980-1990), and 4 National Catholic Tournament Championship!  That adds up to 46. IMPRESSIVE to say the least!  Gary is currently on the NWHOF Outstanding Official of Merit Ballot!  Gary also officiated 10 Midlands Tournament.

At that time, The Midlands was the Most Prestigious Folkstyle Wrestling Tournament in the World! The tournament  included Olympic Champions, World Medalists, and wrestlers still competing active along with the top wrestlers and teams in the NCAA.  In addition to to the National Tournaments and Midlands Gary worked 3 Big Eight and 7 Big Ten Tournaments, 5 as Head Official.

Another highlight was working the East/West Dual in 1987.  Gary was recently elected for a NWHOF Lifetime Service Award by the Minnesota Chapter.
Gary will be honored along with seven other individuals on April 22, 2017 at the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center.  Well Deserving!!

Gary also presently serves on the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors in Canton, Ohio!  

Gary's mentor in wrestling was Willis Wood.  Willis was young enough to work out with Gary every night.  Coach Wood was a 2-Time HWT Big 10 Champ," so we had a lot of very intense workouts."

"There were a lot of good officials that I watched while we wrestled.  There, I learned a lot things I would do the same and things I would not do.  Working with Bob Siddens and our own Don Meyers were very influential in forming my style of officiating and wrestling."

Don Meyers paid Gary Smith the highest compliment:  "Gary Smith was a good official all the time, Not just some of the time!!"

Gary's fondest memory as a wrestler was winning the National title and repeating the next year.

"As an Official there are too many to relate all of them; but here are a few:
Officiating the 100th Bedlam Dual between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State at Oklahoma State  was a blast, great wrestling and a great crowd, chairs on the floor right up to the mat.  Before the match checking in to the hotel, the desk guy said why would you even officiate this match, last year they had a riot.  It worked out ok.  Even the local paper gave a nice plug to the Official!

Working A dual with Iowa and Iowa State was very tense, a loud crowd and great wrestling.  The scream rule came out of this match when Dan Gable put Lou Banach on the mat recovering from an ankle injury.  Every time he got in trouble (maybe  5 times) he would scream.  I did not stop the match for any of them, he got out of trouble every time and did win the match."  Gary was on TV after the match explaining his decision.  The next year the scream rule went into effect."

Working the NJCAA Tournament in Worthington for twenty years was "Special"!  Roy Minter was a Junior College wrestling coach (Willmar CC) who got me involved with the JC's.

Gary served as Head Official for 15 years and was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1979.

"They had a great group of officials and the comradeship of this group was great".  Gary misses this part of officiating.

The following Hall of Fame Honors came on the heels of the NJCAA.  The NAIA Hall of Fame honored Gary as an Athlete in 1981.  St. Cloud State University Athletic Hall of Fame came calling in 1983 inducting him into their hall, and again in 2004 when the 1963  Husky Wrestling team was honored and inducted!!

Gary believes wrestlers choose to wrestle because it's challenging.  Wrestling taught him to set goals and stay on track to achieve them. " "It's essential that you make a commitment to set goals.   Set a timetable for your goals, medium term and long term and evaluate your goals periodically.  Remember, think BIG, have a dream and hard work. These are the things from wrestling that have helped me have a successful career.  Wrestling Can Change Your Life!"

Gary also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, OK.  Gary retired a few years ago and has been fortunate to have things to keep him occupied.  Gary still does consulting jobs on the side to keep the intellectual challenge juices going.  Gary enjoys serving  on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board  the past 15 years, where he chairs a few committees  and hopefully makes a difference. It's been a fun hobby.  Gary also enjoys a playing 9 holes of golf periodically.   Wife Jan and Gary travel a lot on vacations and  to see the children and grandchildren.  Gary gets in some fishing now and then.  The local granddaughters love to fish their small lake!

Gary has  had an outstanding Professional career background; which is of Hall of Fame qualities as well.  Gary served in various leadership positions with Waldorf Paper, and  Hoerner-Waldorf from 1965-1977.  From 1977 to 1984 Gary held a number of high leadership roles with Cummins Engines.   From 1984-87, Gary was Vice President of White Engine Company in Canton,Ohio.

From 1987-1996 Gary served as President of Hercules Engines, Inc. (previously White Engines).  Gary was President of Signa StorTech Systems, Inc. from 1996-1998 and served as Chairman in recent years.  Gary was President & CEO of High Plains Corporation in Wichita, Kansas  from 1998-2001 (now owned by Abengoa).

As Gary says, their family has been certainly blessed .  Gary & Jan celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary in September.  Their four children include Tim's family with two daughter's  living in Atlanta, GA.  Daughter Chris and her family live in Columbus, Indiana with a daughter and two sons.  Son Chad and his wife live in Lexington, Kentucky.  Son Lane's family lives in Canton, Ohio  where Gary and Jan live as well.  Lane's family has three daughters.    In addition, granddaughter Molly has a a daughter and a son on the way.