When he returned to Oklahoma State University as only its fourth head wrestling coach, Tommy Chesbro followed a trail blazed by not one, but three Hall of Famers.

But in 15 years with the Cowboy reins, Chesbro eclipsed the victory totals of all three of his illustrious predecessors.

From 1970 through 1984, his teams won 227 dual meets against only 26 defeats, a 90 per cent winning record. He closed his coaching career with a 43-match winning streak, including 22 victories in 1983. During that season, the Cowboys shut out 10 opponents, one of the foes posting the rare score of minus 1, thanks to a penalty against its coach.

Chesbro's Cowboys won the NCAA team championship in 1971 and placed among the top four teams a dozen more times. He coached 20 individual NCAA champions and 20 National AAU and USA Wrestling titlists, headed by World and Olympic champions John Smith and Kenny Monday and three-time NCAA heavyweight king Jimmy Jackson.

In 1992, while serving as the university's director of athletic facilities, Chesbro scored a memorable "post-career" coaching victory. Interim coaches Smith and Monday were away, training for the Olympic Games, so Chesbro led the Cowboys into a match against arch rival Oklahoma. Their 43-0 victory was largest margin in the 72-year history of wrestling's storied Bedlam Series.

Chesbro was a state high school champion wrestler and a starter on Oklahoma State's 1959 NCAA championship team. In eight years as a high school coach, he had a record of 51-23-8, bringing his victory total to 278. His teams won one state title and twice were runners-up.

For his success in carrying on the rich tradition of a great collegiate wrestling program, Tommy Edward Chesbro is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.