Starting in 1951, as a freshman at Baltimore's City College, Dr. Lou Ruland began a life's journey involved in wrestling that continues to this day. During his days at City, he quickly developed the skills that would make him a college champion. It was also at this time that he began to excel in lacrosse as well as in wrestling.

Dr. Ruland's outstanding leadership was recognized during his freshman year at Johns Hopkins University when he was selected as captain of the wrestling team. In 1954, when Hopkins decided to eliminate the wrestling program as an intercollegiate sport, Dr. Ruland's leadership came to surface. He convinced the school to permit him to act as a player-coach and compete as a club. The team was invited to the Mason-Dixon Inter-Collegiate tournament where they tied for the team championship. As a result, wrestling was re-instated the following year and has been a varsity sport ever since. Dr. Ruland repeated individual weight championships in 1954 and 1955.

Even while majoring in pre-med, one of the most demanding courses of study at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ruland competed in wrestling all four years. During that same period, he also was a member of the highly successful lacrosse team and he was selected as an All-American in I953, 1954, and 1955. He was also co-captain of the lacrosse team in 1955. Upon graduation, Dr.

Ruland was accepted into the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. After graduation from Dental School, Dr. Ruland entered the United States Air Force, where he was selected for a one-year surgical internship. He was then appointed as Head of Surgery for two years at the Pease Air Force Base.

After completing his tour of duty with the United States Air Force, Dr. Ruland settled into married life with his wife, Carmella. He established his dental practice in Annapolis, Maryland and raised a family of what was to become five sons. All of his children followed in their father's footsteps as outstanding students and highly competitive athletes. All of Dr. Ruland's sons participated in wrestling and lacrosse in high school and some competed at the college level. Two of his sons, John and Michael, became dentists and joined their father in his practice. Three other sons, Lou, Chuck, and Robert, are

Orthopedic Surgeons. His son Robert wrestled for four years at the University of Virginia. The Ruland's carry on the sports tradition as coaches in youth leagues.

Dr. Ruland is currently semi-retired and enjoying his interests which include sculpting, painting, fishing, golf, and visiting with his grandchildren. Dr. Ruland clearly exemplifies the qualities that the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates when it confers its Outstanding American of the Year Award.