Stanley Henson to Receive Gallagher Award on Sunday

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State wrestling coach John Smith has announced Stanley Henson as the recipient of the 2017 Gallagher Award, which will be presented prior to Sunday's dual against Iowa. The Gallagher Award is presented annually to an OSU alumnus who exemplifies the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions.

"There is no one more deserving of this award than Stanley Henson," Smith said. "You look at his career and it's been a career of excellence, not just on the mat, but in his profession. He's made a difference in a lot of people's lives. I'm very pleased that he's getting an award that's named after his coach. It is well-deserved."

Stanley Henson joined the Oklahoma State wrestling team under Edward C. Gallagher. Defeated only once in three seasons, Henson won three NCAA championships and each time led the Cowboys to the team title. In 1937, he became the first sophomore to be voted outstanding wrestler of the national tournament. He continued to excel the next two years, but the nation's coaches were not yet ready to present their cherished award to any man a second time.

During a European tour in the fall of 1938, he suffered a severe shoulder injury which hampered him during his senior year but couldn't prevent a third NCAA title, this one at 155 pounds after two at 145.

After five years as a physical instructor and wrestling assistant at the Naval Academy, Henson was able to concentrate fully on the study of medicine, completing his degree in 1950 at the University of Maryland. A highly respected surgeon, he was one of the first to combine his athletic and medical interests in the rapidly growing field of sports medicine, where he became a nationally known lecturer and consultant.

As a dominant figure in the sport of wrestling and a continuing example of the qualities of self-discipline, sportsmanship and integrity, Dr. Stanley Willard Henson Jr. is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

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
2009 - Bobby Stites
2010 - Bill Harlow
2011 - Eddie Griffin
2013 - Jim Shields
2014 - Mike Jones
2015 - Jay Arneson
2016 - Hardell Moore
2017 - Stanley Henson

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos