Lou Thesz Award History



This annual award will be given to an individual who is considered a “wrestler” first and a “performer” or “showman” second. The recipient should have legitimate wrestling credentials and should be so recognized by those in the business. Lou Thesz chose the first five recipients of this award – Antonio Inoki, Jack Brisco, Danny Hodge, Verne Gagne and Dick Hutton (as Hutton died before he was able to receive the award, his award was posthumous) – and future honorees will be selected by the CAC Board of Directors. The recipient of this Award should have significant time in the business and should have held at least one recognized version of a World Title.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2008	Steve "Dr. Death" Williams
2007	Danny Hodge
2006	Verne Gagne
2005	Jack Brisco
2004	Antonio Inoki
Posthumous (Dick Hutton was to receive this award; however, as he passed before the award was presented, it will be displayed along with his induction in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute & Museum in Waterloo, IA)	Dick Hutton
In 1995 Lou Thesz wanted to honor Gary Albright for both his amateur wrestling career and his work in the UWFi. This award, though not related to the present version of the Lou Thesz Award is remembered on this page both to remember Lou and to honor the recipient.
1995	Gary Albright