Bill Hinchley is one of the foremost names when it comes to wrestling and contributing efforts for its improvement in Minnesota.

The long-time chairman of Minnesota/USA Wrestling and nationally recognized official has long been a workhorse for the development of wrestling in Minnesota.

What started out with his two sons getting involved in wrestling turned into a lifetime love commitment and pasttime.

The 1959 Medford (Minnesota) High School graduate never wrestled because it was not offered. Bill said that he would have wrestled if given an opportunity, but instead played both football and basketball.

Upon graduation he enlisted in the Army in October of 1959, and took advanced training in Alabama's Redstone Arsenal, specializing as a technician in the missile field. He was discharged in October of 1962 after a stint that included two years in Germany.

Hinchley was then hired by Jostens as a multi-functional technician in February of 1963 and worked with the company until retirement in 2013. In his 50-year career with Jostens he worked as a supervisor and engineer at their original facility in Owatonna, Minnesota.

During his career he took numerous courses in management from Minnesota State University-Mankato, which he utilized at Jostens and later during his reign as chairman of Minnesota/USA Wrestling.

Bill's sons were good wrestlers in the Owatonna wrestling program, from youth to high school. In addition to supporting his sons, Bill became motivated and got involved in many capacities, including public address announcer at OHS wrestling events, head official for OHS high school tournaments, president of the Owatonna Wrestling Association, treasurer of the Owatonna Sports Boosters, clinician for many Minnesota/USA Wrestling and other USA Wrestling national events, head official for several USA Wrestling tournaments throughout the nation, tournament Director for numerous Minnesota/USA Wrestling state and national competitions, director of officials for Minnesota/USA Wrestling, president of Minnesota/USA Wrestling and Chairman & CEO of Minnesota/USA Wrestling.

For his many contributions Hinchley received numerous honors, including the Silver Whistle award and Volunteer of the Year from Minnesota/USA Wrestling, a Lifetime Achievement award from USA Wrestling Mat Officials Association, and a Legend award from Jostens. The Owatonna tournament is the Bill Hinchley Freestyle & Greco Roman Open in his honor.

A member of the Southeast Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Dave Bartelma-Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame, Hinchley was awarded the Outstanding Cadet National Tournament Mat Official award and National Official of the Year by USA Wrestling.

Marty Morgan, an NCAA champion and former assistant head wrestling coach at the University of Minnesota says it best when he describes Hinchley, "Bill's devotion to wrestling is only matched by a handful of people in the state of Minnesota. His knowledge and fairness as an official is unmatched."

The Hinchley family includes Bill's supportive wife, Genelle, and three adult children Brian (Jana) Hinchley in Lakeville, Minnesota, Bruce (Melissa) Hinchley in Castle Rock, Colorado and Gretchen (Luke) Hinchley-Lundquist of Maple Grove, Minnesota. They also have nine grandchildren who are all good athletes.