As a wrestler, as a high school coach, as an administrator, as an official, Finn Eriksen lived by the rules. Some might say, in truth, that he also lived for the rules. In the early years, when wrestling had no orderly structure, he helped create one. It stands today as the foundation of wrestling's growth and progress.

In high school in his native Denmark, Finn had no wrestling opportunity, but was an outstanding gymnast. When he entered the University of Northern Iowa in 1927, the skilled athlete soon became a star wrestler.

He emerged onto the coaching scene in 1932 and found the sport in low esteem. There were no elementary or junior high programs, few high schools had practice rooms or mats, there were no summer camps, few qualified coaches and virtually no literature for the novice coach. American wrestling rules were vague and poorly coordinated.

To Eriksen this shambles was intolerable. While building a dynasty at West Waterloo High School, he worked to lift other programs up to his standards of excellence. When he retired after 12 years as coach and entered three decades as a public schools administrator, his efforts to coordinate the sport increased tenfold.

His brilliant coaching produced many stars. In 1947, six of his proteges competed for various schools in the NCAA tournament. Two became champions, one placed second, another fourth. All of his wrestlers showed the discipline and character so typical of their mentor.

He was an outstanding referee and officiated in the 1952 Olympics, the first Iowan to earn an international license. But most of all he was an educator. He conducted countless clinics for wrestlers, coaches and officials and was the author of many articles in national publications.

In recognition of his lifelong contribution to the development of wrestling, and his profound impact on the sport as an interpreter of the rules, Finn B. Eriksen is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.