Were it not for the high school wrestling coaches of this land, there would be few -if any -collegiate and post-graduate stars to earn national and international acclaim. Among these vital contributors to the sport, Billy Martin stands at the highest level.

His record at Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, is a story of phenomenal success, 259 dual meet victories and but nine defeats, 22 state team titles in 23 years, 106 individual state champions.

Six of his wrestlers went on to capture 10 National Collegiate championships. Two of them competed in the Olympic Games. Many others earned All-America honors. One year, 10 of his proteges appeared in the same NCAA tournament, representing a variety of schools.

Yet the measure of a high school coach rests not only on the written records. His true impact on the sport is achieved through his influence on the lives of young men. Here, the diminutive figure of Billy Martin stands among the giants.

He began his education in wrestling as a 1940 graduate of Michigan State. But he never faltered in extending that education, nor in sharing it with others. Always seeking a new and better method, he became known as an innovator of wrestling maneuvers, such as the Granby Series.

His educational efforts for wrestling are not measured by scholastic seasons. Through clinics and summer camps, he carried his knowledge of wrestling and its values to thousands of youngsters and their coaches.

Billy Martin was the founder of organized wrestling in Virginia, developing programs at all levels across the state-high school, collegiate, intramural, recreational and community activities.

For a lifetime of leadership in the development of wrestling, for his contribution to the education and well-being of young athletes, William Patrick Martin is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.