Simon Roberts

1988 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Simon O. Roberts, a trailblazer in American wrestling history, holds the distinction of being both the first African American to win an Iowa high school state wrestling championship and the first African American to win an NCAA wrestling title. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Roberts began his wrestling career at Davenport High School under Coach Jim Fox. He quickly rose through the ranks, winning sectional and district titles at 133 pounds in both 1953 and 1954. In 1954, he made history by defeating three-time state champion Ron Gray to win the Iowa state championship at 133 pounds—a groundbreaking moment that made him the first Black state wrestling champion in Iowa. That same year, he also won the Waterloo YMCA Invitational, finishing his high school career with an outstanding 43–6–3 record.

Following a brief stint in the U.S. Air Force, Roberts enrolled at the University of Iowa in 1956, where he wrestled under coach Dave McCuskey. He quickly emerged as a national contender, going undefeated in dual meets as a sophomore and placing third in the Big Ten Conference. In 1957, after finishing second at the Big Ten Championships, Roberts went on to capture the NCAA title at 147 pounds, becoming the first African American NCAA wrestling champion. He continued his success in 1958 by winning the Big Ten Championship, and by the end of his collegiate career, he had compiled a remarkable 62–8–4 record, cementing his place among the greatest wrestlers in University of Iowa history.

Roberts transitioned to coaching in 1966, leading the wrestling program at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Illinois, until 1970. His passion for helping others extended beyond athletics. In 1973, he became the Director of Adult Basic Education at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois, where he focused on helping adult learners gain critical education and life skills. He furthered his own education by earning a master’s degree in adult continuing education in 1981, and remained active in public service programs, including alcohol and drug abuse prevention initiatives in the Davenport area.

In recognition of his pioneering accomplishments and lifelong service, Roberts received numerous honors. He was the first African American inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988, and later joined the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in 2007. In 2012, he served as Honorary Captain for the Iowa–Iowa State wrestling dual meet. In addition to his athletic achievements, Roberts made civic history by becoming the first African American elected official in the Quad Cities, serving on the Davenport Park Board during the 1970s.

Simon Roberts’s legacy is one of historic firsts, athletic excellence, and lifelong commitment to education and public service. He not only broke barriers on the mat but opened doors off of it, serving as an enduring symbol of resilience, leadership, and inspiration in both the wrestling world and his community.

Simon was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988 with Dale Bahr.