By Karl Lauer
Danny Hodge…. The Wrestler’s Wrestler
Born and still living in Perry, Oklahoma some 75 years ago on May13th, 1932, Oklahoma’s favorite son. One of the most respected and admired wrestlers of all time.
Those of us who know Danny Hodge have a hard time believing that this mild mannered, easy going, perfect gentlemen is and was one of the most feared men ever to wear wrestling tights or put on the boxing gloves. Only 2 men in history have held national championships in both sports, Paul Berlenbach and Danny Hodge.
Hodge stormed out of the Oklahoma plains in the early 50’s, first capturing the state title while at Perry High School, upon graduating joined the Navy and won a spot on the 1952 Olympic Wrestling team in Helsinki, at 19 he placed fifth, and the world new there was a new man soon to become a legend. Upon military completion he entered the University of Oklahoma. Over the next 4 years and 46 matches later he had won every major title, defeated all top 46 wrestlers in the country, including 3 national titles and named the NCAA wrestler of the year in both his junior and senior years. The most impressive statistic is he was never taken off his feet during the entire career, never surrendered a take down. A feat considered great in single match, let alone 46 of them
Still to this day the greatest rip off and disgrace in OLYMPIC officiating was when in 1956 at the Olympics in Melbourne, Danny who had defeated all 4 opponents faced the Bulgarian wrestler, winning on points and with his rolling move the referee declared his shoulders touched and decaled a pin for his opponent. Danny suffered his first loss and had to settle for the Silver medal. His next and final match against the Russian wrestler he applied his three quarter nelson with such force, pinning the Russian and having the hold barred from all future Olympics, as to brutal and vicious.
Upset with the Olympics he decided to give boxing a try, 17 straight victories and the national Golden Gloves championship he turned pro, giving up any future Olympic chances, The pay offs were not what he expected as a boxer, so their loss was the wrestling’s worlds gain. Danny returned to his real first love WRESTLING,
For almost the next 20 years, Danny dominated the NWA Jr. heavyweight division, wrestling all the top stars and winning the title from the legendary Angelo Savoldi. In Japan he is a legend and only Lou Thesz and Dick Beyers can claim the same fame in Japan. His matches with Thesz, Monroe, Briscoe and all the top stars of the 60’s and 70’s are classified as a wrestlers dream match, A match with Danny Hodge could be a 2 years training session in a hour or a night you would never want to repeat. His unbelievable grip and upper body strength could make you yell like a stuck pig, many guys tried his legendary grip and handshake only to drop to their knees in pain. Danny is the only Wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the golden era, on April 1, 1957 he is on the cover, and also has the distinction to be on the cover of the Perry, Oklahoma phone book, a place usually only US Presidents and famous locations are found.
Danny has received almost every honor the wrestling world has to offer, is a Wrestling Institute Hall of Fame member, A 2 time Cauliflower Alley honoree, and for the 3rd time this coming April will receive the Lou Thesz memorial award, making him the only 3 time all category CAC honoree. Many major wrestling tournaments today are called the Danny Hodge invitational he is truly loved and respected by all who know him. At 75 he still is active in the amateur wrestling world and will give you a lesson anytime. There may be a few as good as Danny Hodge but I think all will agree there are non-any better. Danny will be the first to tell you, if his lovely wife Delores had not supported him these 50 plus years, the legend of Danny Hodge would be a cattleman in Oklahoma. If you do not know Danny, be sure to shake his hand “gently” before you leave, your in for a treat, to meet this very humble and remarkable athlete and a man I have called a friend for a long time.
Born and still living in Perry, Oklahoma some 75 years ago on May13th, 1932, Oklahoma’s favorite son. One of the most respected and admired wrestlers of all time.
Those of us who know Danny Hodge have a hard time believing that this mild mannered, easy going, perfect gentlemen is and was one of the most feared men ever to wear wrestling tights or put on the boxing gloves. Only 2 men in history have held national championships in both sports, Paul Berlenbach and Danny Hodge.
Hodge stormed out of the Oklahoma plains in the early 50’s, first capturing the state title while at Perry High School, upon graduating joined the Navy and won a spot on the 1952 Olympic Wrestling team in Helsinki, at 19 he placed fifth, and the world new there was a new man soon to become a legend. Upon military completion he entered the University of Oklahoma. Over the next 4 years and 46 matches later he had won every major title, defeated all top 46 wrestlers in the country, including 3 national titles and named the NCAA wrestler of the year in both his junior and senior years. The most impressive statistic is he was never taken off his feet during the entire career, never surrendered a take down. A feat considered great in single match, let alone 46 of them
Still to this day the greatest rip off and disgrace in OLYMPIC officiating was when in 1956 at the Olympics in Melbourne, Danny who had defeated all 4 opponents faced the Bulgarian wrestler, winning on points and with his rolling move the referee declared his shoulders touched and decaled a pin for his opponent. Danny suffered his first loss and had to settle for the Silver medal. His next and final match against the Russian wrestler he applied his three quarter nelson with such force, pinning the Russian and having the hold barred from all future Olympics, as to brutal and vicious.
Upset with the Olympics he decided to give boxing a try, 17 straight victories and the national Golden Gloves championship he turned pro, giving up any future Olympic chances, The pay offs were not what he expected as a boxer, so their loss was the wrestling’s worlds gain. Danny returned to his real first love WRESTLING,
For almost the next 20 years, Danny dominated the NWA Jr. heavyweight division, wrestling all the top stars and winning the title from the legendary Angelo Savoldi. In Japan he is a legend and only Lou Thesz and Dick Beyers can claim the same fame in Japan. His matches with Thesz, Monroe, Briscoe and all the top stars of the 60’s and 70’s are classified as a wrestlers dream match, A match with Danny Hodge could be a 2 years training session in a hour or a night you would never want to repeat. His unbelievable grip and upper body strength could make you yell like a stuck pig, many guys tried his legendary grip and handshake only to drop to their knees in pain. Danny is the only Wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the golden era, on April 1, 1957 he is on the cover, and also has the distinction to be on the cover of the Perry, Oklahoma phone book, a place usually only US Presidents and famous locations are found.
Danny has received almost every honor the wrestling world has to offer, is a Wrestling Institute Hall of Fame member, A 2 time Cauliflower Alley honoree, and for the 3rd time this coming April will receive the Lou Thesz memorial award, making him the only 3 time all category CAC honoree. Many major wrestling tournaments today are called the Danny Hodge invitational he is truly loved and respected by all who know him. At 75 he still is active in the amateur wrestling world and will give you a lesson anytime. There may be a few as good as Danny Hodge but I think all will agree there are non-any better. Danny will be the first to tell you, if his lovely wife Delores had not supported him these 50 plus years, the legend of Danny Hodge would be a cattleman in Oklahoma. If you do not know Danny, be sure to shake his hand “gently” before you leave, your in for a treat, to meet this very humble and remarkable athlete and a man I have called a friend for a long time.
Congratulations to Danny Hodge for
being the 2007 CAC Lou Thesz recipient.
