The National Wrestling Hall of Fame of the New York State Chapter announces eight new inductees into the Hall of Fame including retired Owego Apalachin Athletic Director and Wrestling Coach Dick Brown, and this year’s winner of the Outstanding American Award.
The awards recognize excellence in wrestling in the Upstate New York area, preservation of the rich and colorful history of wrestling in New York and inspiring future generations of New Yorkers to participate in one of the oldest and best sports in the world.
This year nine individuals will be honored on Sept. 20 at the Double Tree Hotel in East Syracuse. They are Richard H. Brown – wrestling coach at Owego Fee Academy; Jeffery Cuilty – wrestling coach at Wallkill High School; Dennis DiSanto – wrestling coach at Somers and Mahopac High Schools; Sam Ella – wrestling coach of Norwich High School – posthumously; Frank Giltner – official and coach at Norwich High School – posthumously; Joseph Gustainis – coach at Caledonia-Mumford High School; Donald New – coach at Canastota High School; John Roselli – coach at McQuaid Jesuit High School; and Dr. Thomas Martin – physician at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton has been selected to receive the Outstanding American Award.
Richard H. Brown was hired in August 1952 as a physical education teacher and coach at what would soon become the Owego-Apalachin Central School District.
At Owego Free Academy, he coached varsity baseball, wrestling, football and cross-country.
He became Owego’s varsity wrestling coach in the fall of 1953 and developed the Indians into a Section IV powerhouse. His 173-74-3 record over 19 seasons is one of the best in Section IV history.
His teams won seven league titles and two Section IV class titles. He coached 61 league champions and six Section IV champions, including the first sectional champion from Tioga County. His wrestlers placed in the top four of Section IV a total of 34 times.
He stepped down from coaching in 1972, when he was appointed permanent athletic director at Owego.
As athletic director, he helped build a very successful sports program that resulted in 53 team titles during his tenure. He also served as vice president and president of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference between 1977 and 1983, when he retired after 31 years in education.
In 1984, he was elected to the Section IV Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was chosen as an inaugural member of the Owego-Apalachin Wall of Fame, located in Owego Free Academy.
The world of Owego Free Academy sports harbors a million memories. Tell us your memories of Coach Dick Brown. In your own words, recall your past experiences with Coach Brown and email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com.
