Nov 30, 2018
As a tall, skinny college freshman, Frank Lewis was "a little
tired" after six years of wrestling and planned to give full
attention to his studies at Oklahoma State University.
But he needed a physical education credit and a wrestling class
would provide an easy grade. Members of the class were required to
compete in the all-college intramurals and when he failed to win
the championship his pride was stung. He decided to concentrate on
wrestling again.
Frank Lewis concentrated so well that he became a national champion
and the gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic Games at Berlin.
A state high school champ and four-time medalist from 100 to 155
pounds, he possessed the raw talent from which coach Edward C.
Gallagher could mold a winner. But because of his rapid growth, the
youngster didn't have the stamina to wrestle the longer college
matches. And because of a minor heart condition, his coach had to
devise a special training routine to build stamina without putting
a strain on his health.
Despite these difficulties, he established a collegiate record of
45-5, winning the NCAA title in 1935 after placing second the year
before. Both years he contributed vital points to the Cowboys' team
trophies.
In 1935, he won the National AAU crown and became the first
contestant to be officially recognized as outstanding wrestler of a
National AAU tournament, receiving a gold watch for this honor. A
year later, he swept undefeated through the series of Olympic
trials, then defended his position against his alternate on the
boat to Europe.
In the Games, he scored a fall the first day, another the second
day. He wrestled three times the third day, but stamina no longer
was a problem and two more falls offset a narrow loss to Tur
Andersson of Sweden as Frank Lewis became the only American to win
a championship.
As a wrestler of ultimate achievement and a lifelong example of
perseverance and dedication to goals, Frank Wiatt Lewis is honored
as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of
Fame.
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