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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Jerry Des Forges added to this discussion on April 9, 2015

I sent this out to the GCWCOA earlier this week. For those who do not receive those emails, I wanted to post it here.

Gene Gibbons suffered a heart attack and is currently in a coma. Please send prayers to him and his family.


A little bio of Gene from the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame

NCAA and Big Ten champion at Michigan State University, 1951. National AAU junior champion in 1948, national AAU runner-up in 1949 and 1950 and five-time Lake Erie AAU champion. Wrestling coach at Cleveland John Marshall High School 24 years, producing state championship team in 1961 and 13 individual state champions. Charter member of Ohio High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. Picked by amateur Wrestling News as Coach-of-the-Year, 1969.



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on April 9, 2015

Gene is a great man and a giant in our sport. Thoughts and prayers.



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Jim Behrens added to this discussion on April 13, 2015

I got word this morning that Coach Gibbons has passed.
I don't have any more info right now but if any comes my way, I will be sure to let you know.
The sport lost a great one.
RIP Coach



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on April 13, 2015

i quote from facebook:
Gene's Wake at Corrigan Cracciun
20820 Lorain on Wednesday 2-4 and 6-9 (thats Fairview Park)
Funeral on Thursday at 11:30 at St Angela

a few of the highlights of Gene Gibbons career, as i recall them:

...West hs Cleveland 3X state runnerup
...Michigan St U undefeated NCAA champion 1951 167 lb
...twice 4th in Olympic Trials
...long career head coach John Marshall hs Cleveland, not sure how long but i'm thinking over 40 years
...brought Olympic Trials to Cleveland 1976
...many years member US Olympic Wrestling Committee
...charter member Ohio HS Wrestling H of F
...2006 Ironman Legacy award recipient



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on April 14, 2015

Pretty sure Coach Gibbons coached at least one state championship squad at John Marshall.

He was an icon in the history of Ohio wrestling. My condolences to Terry and the Gibbons family.



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on April 14, 2015

team state champs (one class) 1961, coached 13 indiv champs and 42 place winners when their were 4 placewinners per wt, not 24 like today. (& there were only 11 wt classes)

grip of iron, when he shook your hand even as a elderly man, u felt he could break it if he wanted to. He and Mike Milkovich had a great rivalry.



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on April 14, 2015

During the 1990s, he was taking his teams to the Hephner Tournament in Youngstown. Always had a couple tough kids--sometimes more. We always talked when we were competing at the same event. Not an ounce of arrogance...esp. when you consider how much he'd accomplished personally and as a coach. He had no interest in telling you about his past. It was all about his current kids and teams.



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on April 14, 2015

great photo, 2 Old Lions of Ohio wrestling- taken a few summers ago- on left Gene Gibbons and on right Mike Milkovich

http://titanwrestlingclub.com/images/GeneGibbons-BigMike.JPG



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Discussion Topic: Gene Gibbons
William Danforth added to this discussion on April 14, 2015



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