Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Ladies of Oklahoma State Wrestling
February 05, 2014 | Cowboy Wrestling
Feb. 5, 2014
STILLWATER, Okla. - It's been said that behind every great man stands a great woman--this is no different in the cases of Oklahoma State wrestling's former coaches.
JoAnn Roderick and Shirley Chesbro, wives of former Cowboy wrestling coaches Myron Roderick and Tommy Chesbro, and Karen Gallagher, the granddaughter of Ed Gallagher, shared what Gallagher-Iba Arena means to them and some of their fondest memories in the facility.
The No. 8 Cowboy wrestling squad will celebrate 75 years of Gallagher-Iba Arena during Sunday's match against the 10th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. Doors open at 1 p.m.
JoAnn Roderick, wife of Myron Roderick
"Gallagher Hall was the place where I first saw my future husband, Myron Roderick, 62 years ago. It was the place where Myron won his last individual NCAA championship as a senior at Oklahoma A&M. It was the place where Myron met with Mr. Iba and was offered the job as head wrestling coach in 1956. And, it was and is the place where Myron, our family and I have spent a big part of our lives enjoying Cowboy athletics. Gallagher Hall is the place where Myron and I made lifelong friends with athletes, coaches and fans. It's the best building on the OSU campus. Gallagher Hall means many happy memories.
"My most treasured memory of Gallagher Hall...that is a tough one. I guess that would be watching Myron step on that beautiful floor the first time as head wrestling coach at the age of 22 to a packed and loud arena."
Shirley Chesbro, wife of Tommy Chesbro
"It's a place where my husband, Tommy, had his office for 38 years. He was there 15 years as a coach and 23 years as a facilities director. It was a very big part of our lives. We raised our three sons during that time. Todd, my youngest son, was a year old when Tommy started coaching at OSU. We just have so many memories in Gallagher-Iba. Todd won all four of his state high school wrestling championships there. He wrestled all of his college matches there. One of my sons was an OSU cheerleader. My other son got to wrestle in Gallagher Hall when he was in high school. All of my sons had their high school graduations there, so we have a lot of memories there. Some are bittersweet, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. Gallagher-Iba is just a very special place for our family.
"One memory that always stands out in my mind was in 1978 at the Big 8 finals when Daryl Monasmith beat defending national champion Frank Santana. He had to win that match for us to have a chance to win the championship, and he won, 7-4. There were so many fans there, and honestly, it was the loudest I've ever heard Gallagher-Iba. Everyone's ears were ringing, and it was noted later that light bulbs shattered. That was a very true story. Then our heavyweight Jimmy Jackson came out and pinned his guy in 21 seconds. That always, for me, was something that I would always remember. It was just something that doesn't happen too often, and it was just so exciting. It's always in my mind when I think about a match in Gallagher-Iba."
Karen Gallagher, granddaughter of Ed Gallagher
"Although my grandfather died before I was born, I got to know him through my grandmother, my father, and members of his wrestling team. I have been going to wrestling matches and basketball games since I was very small. I was always so proud to tell people that Gallagher Hall was named after my grandfather. When I was young, most people had known my grandfather, and they thought he was such a great coach as well as a fine gentleman.
"To me, Gallagher Hall means a sense of great pride to honor a man who gave so much of his life to the wrestling program and to his wrestlers. My most treasured memory would be when I was in Gallagher Hall and one of my grandfather's former wrestlers came up to me and told me his memory of my grandfather. He told me that my grandfather had instilled in his wrestlers that they were going to win their matches. His wrestlers always knew they were going to win; it was just a matter of by how much. The wrestler's name was Joe McDaniels. At that moment, I was so proud to be his granddaughter."
