Founders Award

In 2014, 45 years after its inception, the Board of Directors and the Selection Committee of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame created a “Founders Award” to honor three founding members. Bob Howard, Nehl McKone, and Don Gooder were the only board members to serve as the board’s representative on the Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee operates independently of the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors and determines who will be inducted each year. As representatives of the board, these three founding members have played a key role in the growth of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Bob Howard served as the first board representative to the Selection Committee, followed by Nehl McKone, and then Don Gooder. Mr. Howard passed away in 1976, McKone in 2009, while Mr. Gooder continues to serve in that capacity.

Don Gooder shares his thoughts on the history and future of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Q: How did all this get started 45 years ago?
A: It started a few years before we formally organized the Hall, when Tom Peckham was wrestling at Iowa State. A group of men from Cresco traveled all over the country to watch him compete. When Iowa State won the national title in Wyoming, we hosted a party out there. The group decided to hold a dinner in Cresco, and we had a couple of successful events at the Tower Club at Vernon during the first few years.

Russ Smith, the Waterloo Courier sports editor, attended those dinners and wrote about them. After some discussion with our group and Russ, we decided to start handing out awards. Russ helped us organize a Selection Committee, and that’s the short version of how it all began.

Q: Who were some key people who got it started?
A: The original organizers and board members were Chris Flanagan, Dale Turnmire, Nehl McKone, Gayland Peter, Bob Howard, Joe Vokaty, and myself.

The original Selection Committee included Russ Smith, Keith Young, Finn Eriksen, Spade Harmon, and Bob Howard.

Q: How was the Hall of Fame funded?
A: We tried to earn a little money from dinner ticket and drink sales, and that approach hasn’t changed. The plaques we give out were expensive, and I’m pretty sure we had to take out a loan at one point. Over the years, our founding and board members often reached into their own pockets to keep things going.

Q: What were some of the highlights through the years?
A: The first major highlight was moving the Hall from the basement of the theater to the Welcome Center. That helped bring us much more public attention. Another was when we trademarked our name—it protected our identity and the hard work we’d put in. Developing our website was another milestone. It safeguarded all the information in the Hall of Fame and allowed people from around the world to “visit” us online.

Q: 45 years later and it still works?
A: Our board members over the years have been unselfish and willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. While we all have our own opinions, we set them aside for what’s best for the Hall. The Selection Committee is incredibly important; it’s made up of some of the most respected wrestling people around. Inductees know and respect the committee members and are honored to be chosen. We’re supported by a solid group of businesses and individuals, and we also have a loyal group of people who attend our banquet every year. I could name them, but I’d surely leave someone out.

Q: What’s in the future?
A: The future is nothing but bright. We proved we’re now self-sustaining when we funded the Hall of Fame’s expansion and remodeling last year. And since we’re in Iowa, we’ll never run out of great wrestlers to honor!