Ross Flood

December 28, 1910 - May 23, 1995

One of his ancestors, Daniel Boone, was a fair-to-middlin' sharpshooter, and when Ross Flood went hunting for wrestling championships his aim was just as good.

At Blackwell, Ross and his brother John became the first twins to win Oklahoma high school championships. Then Ross pursued his wrestling career at Oklahoma State University under coach Edward C. Gallagher.

Undefeated in 30 matches at 126 pounds, he won three National Collegiate championships in 1933, '34 and '35, each time leading the Cowboys to NCAA team honors. As a senior he was voted outstanding wrestler of the national tournament.

His achievements continued to mount when he won National AAU championships in 1935 and '36 and another outstanding wrestler trophy. He then earned a place on the U. S. Olympic team and captured the silver medal at 123 pounds in the Berlin Games.

In the 1937 Pan American Exposition at Dallas, he won the gold medal at the expense of three other national champions, despite severe rib injuries which brought an end to his competitive career.

For six years he was a successful high school coach in Stillwater, then entered the Navy to spend five years as a physical instructor, including wartime service in the Pacific theater. He returned to coaching in 1946 to revive the wrestling program at Southwestern Oklahoma State, then purchased a livestock auction in Stillwater, which he operated for three decades.

Billy Sheridan, the famed Lehigh coach, often declared that Ross Flood provided the best example he had ever seen of wrestling skills and techniques.

In recognition of his tremendous achievements as a wrestling champion, Aaron Ross Flood is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
1978
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1935
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
1
Season
1934
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
1
Season
1933
School
Oklahoma State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
126
Place
1

College Season Records:

Season
1935
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Senior
Bouts
11
Wins
11
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
6
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1934
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Junior
Bouts
10
Wins
10
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
8
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1933
School
Oklahoma State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
11
Wins
10
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
5
Win PCT.
90.91
Place
1st
Season
Career
Bouts
32
Wins
31
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
19
Win PCT.
96.88

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
1949
School
Southwestern Oklahoma
Division
Duals
5
Wins
0
Losses
5
Ties
0
Win PCT.
0
Season
1947
School
Southwestern Oklahoma
Division
Duals
9
Wins
6
Losses
3
Ties
0
Win PCT.
66.67
Season
1946
School
Southwestern Oklahoma
Division
Duals
2
Wins
0
Losses
2
Ties
0
Win PCT.
0
Season
Career
Duals
16
Wins
6
Losses
10
Ties
0
Win PCT.
37.5

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations