Charlie "Tuna" Peterson graduated from Owatonna High School in 1957. He attended the University of Minnesota and later graduated from Luther College, Decorah, IA. In 1961. At Luther College, Charlie lettered in football, wrestling and golf. He was an NAIA national runner-up in wrestling in 1961. Charlie began his teaching and wrestling coaching career at McKinley Junior High School in Cedar Rapids, IA. He then moved to Tracy, MN where he also taught Physical Education and was the Wrestling Coach. Following the Tracy coaching job, he moved to Wayzata, MN where he coached from 1967 to 1976. There he compiled an impressive 91-49-1 record for dual meets. In 1974, his Wayzata team placed second in the MSHSL "One Class" Minnesota State Tournament, with an undefeated dual meet record of 16-0. Charlie was on the original Minnesota State Tournament Committee for several years and recommended the first state high school dual meet tournament in the nation! Something that has grown in great interest and numbers ever since. Throughout Charlies' coaching career and later, he was very active in promoting high school wrestling in the state of Minnesota. He was inducted into the Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1974, the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Owatonna High School Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1976, Charlie began a new career as a salesman with Josten's and moved his family to Houston, Texas. In 1978 they moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he took a new sales job with Champion Products and sold athletic garments to high school athletic departments. In 1981, they relocated to Wayzata, MN. One of Charlie's great joys was time spent on the golf course. He was a prominent and active member of the Burl Oak Golf Course. He was involved in and promoted the First Tee Burl Cup. He was a recognized good golfer and played in many wrestling fund-raising tournaments. Charlie was a fun-loving person who always had a smile on his face. He knew everyone by name and made people feel good when they talked to him. He married his childhood sweetheart and classmate, Marjorie Jane Austin in 1962. Charlie passed away on Feb. 18, 2020 at the age of 80. Charlie is survived by his former wife, two daughters, Margaret Peterson (Tom Simington) and Jennifer Peterson (Peter Berridge) and three grandsons, Isaac, Brandon and Geremiah and his long-time companion, Pauline Fischer, who accompanied Charlie to many wrestling events. Charlie Peterson will long be remembered with that BIG SMILE and the energy and excitement he always displayed at matside. He will also be known for building the foundation of a high school program with a good youth program. The Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame proudly honors the late Charlie Peterson with a well deserved honor, with his induction into the Hall of Fame. Charlie Peterson will always be remembered as one of the finest high school coaches in Minnesota Wrestling History. Congratulations to Charlie Peterson and family.

Charlie "Tuna" Peterson graduated from Owatonna High School in 1957. He attended the University of Minnesota and later graduated from Luther College, Decorah, IA. In 1961. At Luther College, Charlie lettered in football, wrestling and golf. He was an NAIA national runner-up in wrestling in 1961. Charlie began his teaching and wrestling coaching career at McKinley Junior High School in Cedar Rapids, IA. He then moved to Tracy, MN where he also taught Physical Education and was the Wrestling Coach. Following the Tracy coaching job, he moved to Wayzata, MN where he coached from 1967 to 1976. There he compiled an impressive 91-49-1 record for dual meets. In 1974, his Wayzata team placed second in the MSHSL "One Class" Minnesota State Tournament, with an undefeated dual meet record of 16-0. Charlie was on the original Minnesota State Tournament Committee for several years and recommended the first state high school dual meet tournament in the nation! Something that has grown in great interest and numbers ever since. Throughout Charlies' coaching career and later, he was very active in promoting high school wrestling in the state of Minnesota. He was inducted into the Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1974, the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978, and the Owatonna High School Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1976, Charlie began a new career as a salesman with Josten's and moved his family to Houston, Texas. In 1978 they moved to Madison, Wisconsin where he took a new sales job with Champion Products and sold athletic garments to high school athletic departments. In 1981, they relocated to Wayzata, MN. One of Charlie's great joys was time spent on the golf course. He was a prominent and active member of the Burl Oak Golf Course. He was involved in and promoted the First Tee Burl Cup. He was a recognized good golfer and played in many wrestling fund-raising tournaments. Charlie was a fun-loving person who always had a smile on his face. He knew everyone by name and made people feel good when they talked to him. He married his childhood sweetheart and classmate, Marjorie Jane Austin in 1962. Charlie passed away on Feb. 18, 2020 at the age of 80. Charlie is survived by his former wife, two daughters, Margaret Peterson (Tom Simington) and Jennifer Peterson (Peter Berridge) and three grandsons, Isaac, Brandon and Geremiah and his long-time companion, Pauline Fischer, who accompanied Charlie to many wrestling events. Charlie Peterson will long be remembered with that BIG SMILE and the energy and excitement he always displayed at matside. He will also be known for building the foundation of a high school program with a good youth program. The Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame proudly honors the late Charlie Peterson with a well deserved honor, with his induction into the Hall of Fame. Charlie Peterson will always be remembered as one of the finest high school coaches in Minnesota Wrestling History. Congratulations to Charlie Peterson and family.