Jun 28, 2016
Episode 4 of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's LEGENDS
podcast features 2016 Distinguished Member William "Bill"
Harlow.
Thought to be the best wrestler ever to come from Tennessee and one
of the greatest big men to wrestle at Oklahoma State University,
William B. Harlow was a state champion, a three-time NCAA finalist
and a three-time national freestyle champion.
When he arrived at Oklahoma State, however, he felt as though he
had a lot of catching up to do technically and spent his years in
Stillwater as a “human sponge” absorbing everything he could learn.
With Distinguished Members Yojiro Uetake, Bobby Douglas, and Gene
Davis as teammates during his collegiate career, learning
opportunities were scattered throughout the wrestling room. He
quickly gained a reputation as a slick and smooth wrestler, using
technique rarely seen in a man of his size.
Harlow finished second in his first trip to the NCAA finals as a
sophomore in 1964. As a junior, he won the Big Eight Conference
title, but again finished as runner-up in the national tournament.
Finally, as a senior, he moved up to 191 pounds and compiled a
21-0-1 record and won both the Big Eight and NCAA championships.
With Uetake and Davis, he led OSU to the national team title, the
second of his tenure as a Cowboy. Overall, he finished his
collegiate career with a record of 54-5-2.
Harlow began his wrestling career as an eighth grader, competing
for the high school team at St. Andrews School in Sewanee, Tenn.
Over five years, he lost only one match and, as a senior in 1962,
won the national prep championship, the state championship and his
fifth Mid-South championship, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors
at all three tournaments.
After leaving Oklahoma State, he concentrated on freestyle, winning
three national titles, including being named Outstanding Wrestler
in 1974. He represented the USA at the 1970 World Championships in
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and won a silver medal,
As he continued to train and compete, he began a high school
coaching career that would last for almost 50 years, beginning in
Illinois. He returned to Oklahoma, coaching at Broken Arrow High
School for 16 years while teaching and working as an administrator.
He was principal and wrestling coach for three years at Kellyville,
Okla., High School before serving eight years in Alaska as an
administrator and wrestling coach. He returned to Oklahoma to teach
and coach at Sapulpa High School until his retirement in 2013.
Harlow received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the
Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. In
2010, he was presented The Gallagher Award, given annually to an
OSU wrestling alumnus who exemplifies the spirit and leadership
eminent in the tradition of champions.
In recognition of his achievements as both a wrestler and a coach,
William B. Harlow is honored as a Distinguished Member of the
National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
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