Growing up one of eight children of a poor family in Oklahoma, Wayne A. Martin knew that a college education was his sure way to escape poverty. Wrestling brought him that opportunity and so much more.

A four-sport athlete—basketball, track, football and wrestling—at Tulsa, Oklahoma’s storied Central High School, Martin found his true calling on the mat under the tutelage of legendary coach Art Griffith. He won state championships as a junior and senior for Central in 1931 and 1932 and caught the eye of Coach Paul Keen at the University of Oklahoma. A scholarship offer soon ensued.

At a time when freshmen wrestlers were not eligible to compete, Martin became the Sooners’ first-ever three-time All-America in any sport, winning three NCAA wrestling championships in three different weight classes. He pinned his way through the national tournament in 1936, earning the coveted Outstanding Wrestler Award. He finished his career with an overall record of 39-2, pinning 51 percent of his opponents with 21 falls. Equally impressive, he graduated in 1936 listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll.

Although he won the 1936 Olympic Trials, Martin injured a knee in training and was unable to compete. He turned his attention to coaching, leading Elk City High School until World War II broke out. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940-44 rising to the rank of captain, and was the Armed Forces Champion in wrestling, boxing and judo in 1943 and 1944. He owned and operated the Hollywood Athletic Club and trained famous actors such as John Wayne, Johnny Weismuller, Jack Benny and Bob Hope before returning to Tulsa in 1946.

For 17 years, Martin trained members of the Tulsa Police Department in hand-to-hand combat, serving as the head of the Tulsa Police Academy Training Facility and becoming Chief of Police in 1959. He also served as Tulsa County Undersheriff in 1970, earning the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service to the State of Oklahoma in 1971.

Martin was named to the Helms Foundation National Sports Hall of Fame in 1962.

In recognition of his tremendous achievements as a wrestling champion, Wayne A. Martin is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.