Ken Mara began his officiating career as a way to earn some extra cash after getting married.

It marked the start of the career of one of the country's top wrestling officials.

Mara worked 25 years as an NCAA wrestling official, and refereed 20 NCAA Division I national championship finals matches. He also officiated NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III regionals, and served five years as an NCAA Division I official evaluator.

Mara officiated at NCAA National Duals Championships, Big Ten Championships, Southern Conference Championships, Virginia Duals, Mid-American Conference Championships, Southeast Conference Championships and All-Academy Championships.

He also had more than 50 years of service to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, including officiating 28 TSSAA state championships in 35 years as a high school wrestling official.

After stepping off the mat, he continued to work as an evaluator and supervisor.

Mara was a Tennessee state champion and helped Notre Dame High School win the Tennessee state team championship in 1968. He went on to wrestle at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

He received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008, and was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.

Mara was presented the TSSAA Distinguished Service award in recognition of his 50 years of service in 2020.