NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME

Board of Directors
President: Bill Archer
Vice President: Garry Bender
Treasurer: Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Bennett
Secretary: Diane Archer

Board of Directors
George Keeney, Chairman
Dr. Bill Welker
Dr. Tim Miller

West Virginia State Chapter


2006 Inductees

(Additional feature AT THIS LINK)


Chuck Smith pictured at matside for the Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles.

Chuck's wife Britney accepts his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame, at the 2006 induction ceremony.
Chuck Smith -- "Distinguished American"

Chuck Smith was a wrestler at Independence High School. During his competitive years, Smith was a place winner in several invitational tournaments. As a senior, Chuck Smith was a regional champion and placed fourth at the West Virginia State Championships. His love for wrestling has never diminished.

After high school, Smith served his country for 4 years in the United States Marine Corps.

When his military duty was over, Chuck Smith joined the Beckley City Police Department. During that time, Smith coached in the youth wrestling leagues. Chuck was also the assistant coach at Park Middle School for two years, finding time to referee junior high and high school matches as well.

In the 2005-2006 season, Woodrow Wilson High School could not find a wrestling coach, and the program was in danger of being dropped from the school's athletic program. Chuck Smith would have none of that and graciously offered to take over the helm. He devoted a great deal of time with his wrestlers, keeping the program intact and competitive.

In August 2006, as an undercover police officer, Chuck Smith was fatally wounded by a drug dealer during a drug bust at the age of 29. Chuck's wife, Britney, and daughter, Taylor, along with his parents, Charles and Sonya, brother Roy and sister Robyn, will all share this honor with him.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame proudly honors Chuck Smith with the "Distinguished American" award, class of 2006.



Coach Nardone (left) receives award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Emil Nardone -- "Medal of Courage"

At the age of eight, Emil fractured his leg playing baseball. While recovering from his injury, he contracted a staph infection that developed into osteomyelitis in his right ankle. The infection was not diagnosed in time. Thus, Nardone became very ill and the doctors had to perform an immediate blood transfusion. But his troubles didn't end there. The blood that he received was tainted with Hepatitis C, ultimately causing the loss of his leg in 2004.

Emil Nardone graduated from Union HS in 1966. In 1974, he started teaching at Union Junior HS, where Nardone initiated the first wrestling program. He also started their first youth wrestling program in 1978.

In 1980, his physical problems returned. The hepatitis C virus became active. Coach Nardone had to battle through severe illness, medical treatment, and liver cirrhosis for the next 15 years. However, from 1983 to 2002, Emil Nardone started the first wrestling team at Bishop Donahue HS. He produced five state champions and one OVAC champion, along with winning over 150 dual meets. Coach Nardone was inducted into the Bishop Donahue Athletic Hall of Fame (1993).

In 2002, Emil Nardone had to retire due to his physical problems, but his legacy of determination lives on at Bishop Donahue.

Emil Nardone presently resides in Benwood with his loving wife, Kathy. They have two sons, Drs. Emil & Matt Nardone.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Emil Nardone with the "Medal of Courage" award, class of 2006.



Vernon E. "Tiny" Marlow


Michael Marlow accepts the award on behalf of his father.


Vernon E. "Tiny" Marlow -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"

Tiny Marlow graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1955. In 1965, his older brother, Alfred B. Marlow, asked him to work as weigh master and work scoring tables for the Wood County Small Fry Wrestling Association.

Soon thereafter, Tiny Marlow became President and then Treasurer of the Wood County Small Fry Wrestling Association, the positions he served for almost 20 years. He also coached in the program for years, and was official scorer of the Wood County Junior High Tournament for many years as well as directing many other K-12 wrestling competitions.

Tiny established the West Virginia Junior State Championships in 1978, which is a now major fundraiser for the small fry association. Steve Grimm, presently serving as Wood County Assessor, has said "Tiny made the Wood County Small Fry Program self-supporting."

Tiny Marlow "retired" from the Wood County Small Fry Association in 1984, but he continued as a devoted booster of PHS wrestling. In fact, the 1990-91 PHS wrestling program was dedicated to him. Coach Joe Handlan, Jr. once stated, "You just can't beat Tiny. Many wrestlers in West Virginia have affectionately dubbed Tiny Marlow as Mr. Wrestling."

Tiny resides in Parkersburg, with his loving and devoted wife, Betty (45 years). They have three children, Michael, John and Rebecca.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Vernon E. "Tiny" Marlow with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2006.



Coach Mauck (left) receives award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Ron Mauck -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"

Ron Mauck has been the director of the OVAC Wrestling Tournament, one of the largest conference tournaments in the country, since 1979. In 2006, the 53rd annual competition was renamed the Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Championships for his undaunted dedication to the mat sport.

Ron Mauck, a West Liberty State College graduate who earned his master's in safety education from WVU, started the first wrestling program at Follansbee High School in 1965. In fact he coached the school's first and only state champion, Lou Dailey. Coach Mauck also mentored John Craig, who later was an All-American grappler at West Liberty State College.

When Brooke High School opened in 1968, Mauck was named head coach and produced the "Bruins" first state champion, Jim Suddoth. He was also instrumental in starting the Brooke Classic, which has been consistently spotlighted by national magazines as one of the top 20 wrestling invitationals in the country.

In 1985, Coach/Director Ron Mauck was selected as the OVAC Tournament's prestigious 10th "Mr. Mat" award winner. The West Virginia wrestling coaches named him the "Wrestling Man of the Year in 1987." Most recently, he was inducted in the OVAC and Brooke County Halls of Fame in 2006.

Ron Mauck and his devoted wife, Mary Lou, reside in Wheeling and have two sons, Eric and Jay, a daughter Melissa, and four grandchildren.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Ron Mauck with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2006.



Coach Harris (right) receives award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
William W. "Toby" Harris -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"

A 1966 graduate of the West Virginia Institute of Technology, Toby Harris lettered four years in football and two years in baseball. He was captain of the football team his senior year.

Coach Harris initiated the first wrestling program at Greenbrier West High School in 1968, where he was coach for 23 years. Toby also started the Rainelle Junior High Program in 1983 and Rainelle Youth Wrestling Program in 1984.

In 1986, he instituted the first Rainelle Open Tournament, where he still serves as the event's director.

At Greenbrier West, Coach Harris garnered a 181-75-2 dual meet record. His 1977 mat squad were WV State Team Runner-ups, producing two individual state champions - Mike Golden and Rodney Stidom. For his efforts, Coach Toby Harris was named the 1977 AA Coach of the Year by his colleagues.

During his coaching tenure, Coach Harris produced over 20 all-state wrestlers, including sons Joel and Chad, who were both state runner-ups. A Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Famer (2002), Coach Harris was most recently selected the 2005 Regional Retired Coach of the Year.

Toby Harris and his loving wife, Claudia, are the proud parents of three children - Joel, Chad, and Cara.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors William W. "Toby" Harris with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2006.


Coach White (left) receives award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Steve White -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"

Coach Steve White wrestled and graduated from Nitro High School. He also earned a BA degree from West Virginia State University. A Vietnam veteran, White was awarded 3 Purple Hearts and 3 Bronze Stars for his valor in the conflict.

As an outstanding official for 25 years, Steve White refereed 11 Regional Tournaments and numerous West Virginia State Championships.

In 1973, White became head wrestling coach at Nitro Junior High School, where his teams never experienced defeat for five years. He then took on the duties of head wrestling coach at Nitro High School. Over 22 years at the helm, Coach White's teams earned six top-10 finishes at the state tournament, including third-place team honors.

During this time, Coach White produced 11 state champions, 4 runner-ups, and 21 state placers. He had three individual state champs in 2001 (Matt Easter, Chris Johnson, and Robbie Ripley) and in 2003 (Anthony Easter, Matt Easter, and Mitch Casto). In fact, Matt Easter was the second 4-time state champion and an All-American. Coach White was named the regional coach of the year 3 times (1990, 1994, and 2000) for his efforts as a highly successful mat mentor.

Steve and his wife, Carole, reside in Winfield. They have two children, Danielle and Steve, along with six grandchildren (another on the way).

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Steve White with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2006.




Rocky DeLorenzo (left) and David DeLorenzo (right) receive award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Bob DeLorenzo -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"

A 1959 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, Bob DeLorenzo was a heavyweight state champion under the tutelage of legendary Coach Bill Kerr. Bob later matriculated at West Virginia University on a football scholarship, where he played as a two-way starter for three years.

In 1970, Bob DeLorenzo was assigned the head coach positions of both football and wrestling at his alma mater, Fairmont Senior. He produced two state runner-up gridiron teams. Coach DeLorenzo's mat squads were just as successful.

Bob produced many conference and regional champions, and all-state wrestlers. DeLorenzo also mentored state champion Pat Bonasso, who was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the 1973 West Virginia State Championships. Bob was the originator of the "Parade of Champions" at the 1975 state tournament, which added a "touch of class" to the event.

After coaching, Official DeLorenzo was just as colorful. Bob refereed numerous regional and state championships. He has often stated that this phase of his lifetime wrestling adventure was on par with his other mat sport experiences. DeLorenzo enjoyed the arena atmosphere and intensity of the fans, especially when overseeing an important match.

Bob and his wife, high school sweetheart, Sharon, have three children: Rockie, David, and Gina. They also enjoy doting their two granddaughters.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Bob DeLorenzo with a "Lifetime Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2006.



2006 Induction Ceremony Feature


Hall of Fame Main Page

Return to the WV-Mat front page