Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bobby Stites Honored With Cowboy Wrestling's Gallagher Award
February 18, 2009 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith announced today that Bobby Stites is this year's recipient of the Cowboy wrestling's Gallagher Award. Stites will be recognized at Sunday's Bedlam Series dual vs. Oklahoma at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Gallagher Award is presented annually to an OSU wrestling alumnus who exemplifies the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions.
“It's hard for me to believe that I am now part of this elite group of people who have won the Gallagher Award,” Stites said. “Just to be involved with it is amazing to me and I am honored. When Coach Smith told me that I was getting this award, I didn't know what to say. I was speechless.”
“Bobby's dedication and service to the sport of wrestling extend well beyond his days as a wrestler at Oklahoma State,” Smith said. “He coached in the state of Oklahoma for a long time and won a state title at Bixby in 1987.”
As a Cowboy wrestler, Stites was a two-time Big 8 champion in 1972 and 1973. He secured All-America recognition those two seasons as well, placing second at the 1973 NCAA Championships after taking fourth the previous season. He compiled a 21-4 record his junior year and was 16-1 as a senior. The Cowboys won the Big 8 team title in each of his four seasons and won the NCAA title his sophomore year.
After graduating from Oklahoma State, Stites coached five years at Bartlesville Sooner HS before moving on to a three-year stint at Ardmore HS. He spent the bulk of his coaching career at Bixby HS, where he coached the Spartans to the 1987 state title during his 20-year tenure there. After retiring, Stites helped with the wrestling program at Berryhill High School.
He and his wife, Paula live on Grand Lake. They have two sons who both wrestled for Oklahoma State, Ryan (31) and Cody (22).
“Being a part of the Oklahoma State program makes my wrestling career that much more important to me,” Stites said. “It's an amazing program. Even though you can go other places, there is no place like Oklahoma State.”
Gallagher Award Recipients
1986 – Rex Peery
1987 – Frank Lewis
1988 – Myron Roderick
1989 – Tommy Chesbro
1990 – Joe McDaniel
1991 – John W. Divine
1996 – Ray Murphy
1997 – John Smith
1998 – Grady Peninger
1999 – Kenny Monday
2000 – Pat Smith
2001 – Kendall Cross
2002 – Mike Sheets
2003 – Doug Blubaugh
2004 – Grover Rains
2005 – Bobby Douglas
2006 – Charles Hetrick
2007 – Fred Davis
2008 – Lee Roy Smith
