Doug Blubaugh

December 31, 1934 - May 16, 2011

In the shadowed ruins of Rome's ancient Basilica, Doug Blubaugh battled the world champion from Iran for the Olympic gold medal. Emam-Ali Habibi had never known defeat.

Three times the Persian attacked, each time throwing the young American into danger. Then a swift counterattack from Blubaugh hurled his opponent to his back ... suddenly the struggle was ended.

Thus did an Oklahoma farm boy reach the apex of a brilliant athletic career, earning the 1960 Olympic gold medal at 160.5 pounds, and with it recognition as the outstanding wrestler in the world.

Doug Blubaugh was no stranger to the role of champion. He won NCAA honors for Oklahoma State in 1957 and National AAU Freestyle titles in 1957, when he was named outstanding wrestler, and 1959.

A year before his Olympic conquest, he won a gold medal in the 1959 Pan American Games at Chicago, matching the 1955 achievement of his brother, Jack. They were the first brothers to capture Pan Am titles.

Blubaugh is remembered, too, for his epic struggles with a former college teammate, Phil Kinyon. Over four years of Freestyle competition, they met 13 times. The first 12 bouts ended in draws, 11 scoreless. Five of these were in the 1960 Olympic trials, before Blubaugh crashed through for the takedown and victory that sent him on to Olympic glory.

From a competitive career totaling more than 400 victories against just 17 defeats, Blubaugh turned to coaching and won added respect for his teaching skills and his honesty and dedication. After seven years as an assistant at Michigan State, during which he was Freestyle coach of U. S. teams in the 1971 Pan American Games and World Championships, he spent a decade as head coach at Indiana University.

As a champion athlete of awesome achievement, and as a living example to young men of the highest standards of character and integrity, Douglas Morlan Blubaugh is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
1979
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1957
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
157
Place
1
Season
1956
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
157
Place
2
Season
1955
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
147
Place
3

College Season Records:

Season
1957
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Senior
Bouts
12
Wins
12
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
2
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1956
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Junior
Bouts
10
Wins
8
Losses
2
Ties
0
Falls
0
Win PCT.
80
Place
2nd
Season
1955
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
9
Wins
7
Losses
1
Ties
1
Falls
0
Win PCT.
77.78
Place
3rd
Season
Career
Bouts
31
Wins
27
Losses
3
Ties
1
Falls
2
Win PCT.
87.1

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1984
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
2
Losses
17
Ties
0
Win PCT.
10.53
Season
1983
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
22
Wins
9
Losses
12
Ties
1
Win PCT.
40.91
Season
1982
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
11
Losses
12
Ties
0
Win PCT.
47.83
Season
1981
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
21
Wins
14
Losses
6
Ties
1
Win PCT.
66.67
Season
1980
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
25
Wins
15
Losses
9
Ties
1
Win PCT.
60
Season
1979
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
10
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
1978
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
15
Wins
6
Losses
9
Ties
0
Win PCT.
40
Season
1977
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
18
Wins
10
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
55.56
Season
1976
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
25
Wins
11
Losses
12
Ties
2
Win PCT.
44
Season
1975
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
27
Wins
6
Losses
20
Ties
1
Win PCT.
22.22
Season
1974
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
28
Wins
4
Losses
22
Ties
2
Win PCT.
14.29
Season
1973
School
Indiana
Division
Division I
Duals
12
Wins
4
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
33.33
Season
Career
Duals
255
Wins
102
Losses
145
Ties
8
Win PCT.
40

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