Robert Therry graduated from Waukegan High School in 1945 and earned his bachelor's degree from Butler University in 1951.

An accomplished pitcher in baseball, Therry never wrestled in high school as Waukegan did not begin its wrestling program until 1947.

Therry was an accomplished educator and coach for 34 years, beginning in 1951 as an English teacher at Rock Falls High School. He moved to Downers Grove High School in 1954 followed by Wauconda High School in 1955 and finally North Chicago Community High School in 1957.

Therry started the wrestling program at each of his stops. In addition to 27 years as a wrestling coach, he also served as a football coach for 10 years, a baseball coach for nine years and an athletic trainer for 12 years.

From 1957 to 1977, Therry's teams won 55 trophies, including 15 consecutive conference titles in both the Tri-County and North Suburban leagues. His teams won 11 Illinois High School Association district titles and five IHSA sectional championships.

During a period when team finishes were determined by the individual wrestlers placements, Therry's teams won the state title in 1970 while finishing second in 1969, third in 1961 and fourth in 1964.

He coached 10 IHSA state champions and 34 additional medalists, and four of his wrestlers were Prep All-Americans. His dual meet record at the time he was honored was 285-128-10.

Therry worked approximately 40 years as an official, including 10 years at the IHSA state tournament. He worked numerous college events, including the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Tournament.

He also contributed off the mat, including serving on the IHSA Wrestling Advisory Board from 1966-71 and as tournament clerk and recorder at the 1964 Final Olympic Trials. He was director and host of the United States Olympic Midwest Trials in 1972 and chairman of the Illinois Prep All-American selection committee for 20 years. He was a founder and officer for the Mid-States Wrestling Officials Association, which was the fore-runner to the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, and served as a committee member for the Mayor Daly Wrestling Club in the 1960s.

Therry was named National Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 1978 and Coach of the Year by Illinois Scholastic Wrestling News in 1970. He was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 1975 and received the IWCOA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. Therry served as Grand Marshall for the IHSA state tournament in 1985 and was inducted into the Waukegan Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

All in all, not a bad resume for someone who never wrestled.