A native of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dick was a 1940 Iowa State Wrestling Champion at 135 pounds. After two years of work and four years of military service, Dick attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) graduating in 1949. There he wrestled in a room with seven national champions from 1946 to 1949. He coached for four years at Britt, Iowa, beginning in 1949, then Carroll, Iowa for two years, coming to Owatonna in 1955 where he coached the next 30 years, retiring in 1985. At OHS, Dick's teams accumulated a 281-116-4 record and won 11 district titles, 6 region (section) titles, and 2 Big Nine Conference titles. Four teams finished in the "Top 5" in state with his 1962 team winning the state title. He was named Minnesota "Coach of the Year" in 1985 and May 4, 1985 was proclaimed "Coach Dick Black Day", by Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich. He is also a member of the Dave Bartelma (Minnesota) Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Owatonna High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He received the NWCA "25 Year" service award. Thirty of Coach Black's Athletes went on to coaching careers of their own. He coached six individual state champions, 48 region champions, and 70 district champions. Coach Black finished with 341 career coaching victories. He continues to support the Jayne Black Memorial Scholarship. Dick was part of an influential group of coaches who tried to improve wrestling in Minnesota. In fact, he was a pioneer in the idea of a three-class system long before the idea became reality. The Dick Black Invitational, probably the state's toughest during its time, was named in his honor. Dick is still a great supporter and fan of wrestling. He has attended State High School Tournament every year since. 1949.