Dick Meldrim’s path would change with one meeting. After a home meet, the Cortland native and assistant coach at Cortland High School met with Fred Brown, the official at that evening’s match, and talked about him becoming an official.

Dick joined the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association in 1978 and is in his 48th year on the mat. He was selected to officiate the Sectional Finals in his very first year as an official and was qualified by the Section to referee the Finals over 35 times. Dick has also officiated four New York State level tournaments. He has officiated across six decades. Dick has also been active in officiating in the high softball community for 35 years and participated himself in men’s fast pitch softball for over 50 years.

During those years, he served the Syracuse chapter as President and Rules Interpreter. In 2010, Dick was elected to the New York State Wrestling Officials Executive Board, serving for six years as Vice President, President, and Past President. Dick was awarded the Lou Pettinelli Award in 2018 and was inducted to the Section III Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dick graduated from Cortland Junior Senior High School, where he was a back-to-back two-time Section IV Champion in 1971 and 1972. Dick placed 3rd in the 1972 State Championships. While at Cortland, he compiled a four year Varsity record of 90 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie. For two years while in Section IV, he was undefeated.

After matriculating to Cornell and Cortland State, finding his collegiate career cut short by injuries, for three years Dick was assistant coach to Section III and National Wrestling Hall of Fame member, the late Gary Dillingham. One of Dick’s proudest achievements was the formation of the Central New York Pee Wee League in 1998, which is still thriving today due to the continuing contribution of many others.

Dick spent over 40 years in the athletic clothing business. He and the Syracuse Wrestling Officials Association started the tradition of team warm ups for sectional champions to wear to the State Championships, free of cost to the wrestler, for Section III Wrestlers. Other sections would eventually follow suit. Dick and Bonnie, his beautiful wife of nearly 40 years, now live in their 140 year old camp on Tully Lake. They are the proud parents of children A.J., Cortland County court attorney (and active wrestling official) and Haley, Assistant Dean of Admission at Saint Joseph’s College of Nursing, and proud grandfather to Mary and Tully Meldrim, along with family dogs Hubbs, Murray, and Ryno.

 Dick would like to recognize the impact and legacy of those who came before him in the Wrestling officials community, names such as John Arcaro, Carl Koenig, Reed Hawke, Lou Pettinelli, Frank Marotta, Fred Brown, and a host of others too numerous to count. He is excited to see young officials carry on that legacy and, as always, looks forward to supporting them in any way he can. Dick remains an active official.