Florida Chapter

Official State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame


Please Rise and Honor the Class of 2019

The attendance for this special 2019 Honors Weekend and 20th Anniversary was unprecedented.  Thanks for joining us!   We welcomed Lisa and Lee Roy Smith, NWHOF and Museum Director.  They were here to celebrate with board members, alumni, inductees and their guests at the Wyndham Disney Springs Resort.



  Friday night 20th Anniversary / Meet and Greet Social


Mike Zarra, Jeff Malavsky, Doug "Raz" Rasmusson, Dr Eric Hughes, Jim Smoot and Mark DeAugustino were the center of attention at the casual gathering.  The Hall was represented by 40 alumni.  Exciting news was released by Development Director and inductee Jeff Malavsky.  He announced that the Florida Chapter will offer an annual $1000 scholarship to a deserving graduating senior wrestler.  We will have more information in early October.


[caption id="attachment_2256" align="alignleft" width="195"] The Smoots[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2255" align="alignleft" width="195"] Hall of Famers[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2302" align="alignleft" width="150"] Meet & Marry![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2290" align="alignleft" width="300"] Schenk Bombed![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2286" align="alignleft" width="157"] A Family Affair[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2296" align="alignleft" width="150"] Mr and Mrs Jackson class of 2017[/caption]

 


[caption id="attachment_2293" align="alignleft" width="300"] A brush with Fame......Hall of Fame![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2292" align="alignleft" width="150"] Bald is Beautiful![/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2300" align="alignleft" width="150"] Keiser's new coach is a
Hall of Famer[/caption]

 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Saturday Morning Testimonial


After a great breakfast with lunch meat included, the brunch was over and it was time for family and good friends to share with the audience those attributes that make these candidates so very special.  Their ability to develop character was the overwhelming theme.  These six men where given credit for developing future doctors, chemists, business owners and leaders. The Hall of Fame is Full of characters! The John and Helen Vaughn Award was received by Kristy Jeffrey. She achieved pioneer status in Florida for her participation as a female wrestler in an all male sport.


[caption id="attachment_2299" align="alignleft" width="150"] "Thanks for showing me how to be a man coach"[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2338" align="alignleft" width="150"] Meet Kristy Jeffrey Vaughn Award[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2341" align="alignleft" width="150"] A Hall member's testimony[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2339" align="alignleft" width="150"] "I wrestled, just to be around coach"[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2342" align="alignleft" width="150"] Jane trying her best to end a long testimonial[/caption]

 


[caption id="attachment_2340" align="alignnone" width="150"] "Coach saved my life"[/caption]

Induction Night


 The Saturday night ceremony had all the pomp and circumstance of a "royal procession". A parade of alumni, inductee escorts, tuxedos, gowns, and his majesty, Master of Ceremonies Bob Burns.  An evening for speeches, green jackets and medallions.  Take a virtual visit to the NWHOF and Museum web page and lookup your Florida heroes.  They can now be found in Stillwater.  Congratulations to the Board, alumni, inductees and their families for a job well done.  Thanks Lee Roy and Lisa Smith for your support.


[caption id="attachment_2363" align="alignleft" width="150"] Alumni March[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2364" align="alignleft" width="150"] Alumni Roll[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2359" align="alignleft" width="150"] Board with 2019 Inductees[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2360" align="alignleft" width="150"] Family Sharing the Honor[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2361" align="alignleft" width="150"] Can't do it without family[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_2362" align="alignleft" width="150"] Behind every inductee are those who make it happen[/caption]

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