Hall of Famer Verne Gagne Passes Away
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recently lost one of its most legendary members. Verne Gagne passed away on Monday, April 27, 2015.
Gagne is a member of two halls of fame within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999, and he was given the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award by the Minnesota State Chapter in 2003.
A standout athlete at Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota, Gagne was a state high school wrestling champion in 1942 and 1943. His football and wrestling career was interrupted by a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps in 1943.
Verne returned to the University of Minnesota where he won four Big 10 titles and Division I NCAA wrestling championships in 1948 and 1949. He also earned All-American Honorable Mention in football at the University of Minnesota.
Gagne became a successful professional wrestler and AWA promoter from 1949 to 1986. Gagne was a key financial contributor to amateur wrestling and a great ambassador for the sport.
Gagne is a member of two halls of fame within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999, and he was given the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award by the Minnesota State Chapter in 2003.
A standout athlete at Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota, Gagne was a state high school wrestling champion in 1942 and 1943. His football and wrestling career was interrupted by a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps in 1943.
Verne returned to the University of Minnesota where he won four Big 10 titles and Division I NCAA wrestling championships in 1948 and 1949. He also earned All-American Honorable Mention in football at the University of Minnesota.
Gagne became a successful professional wrestler and AWA promoter from 1949 to 1986. Gagne was a key financial contributor to amateur wrestling and a great ambassador for the sport.
Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations