Terry Dawson

As a senior at Puyallup High School in 1967, Terry was a state wrestling champion at 154 pounds. His effort on the mat earned him a scholarship to Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake and as a freshman, he was elected co-captain and was unbeaten (12-0-1) in league meets at 152 pounds. The regional success qualified him for the national junior college tournament in Worthington, Minnesota in 1968 where Terry placed fourth. As a sophomore at Big Bend, Terry was again unbeaten against conference opponents, this time at 160 pounds. For the national tournament he decided to move up to the 167-pound weight class so that he wouldn't have diet so much. It was a good move as Terry was crowned the National Junior College Champion in 1969.

"I remember back in high school, the swim coach, Hall of Famer Jerry Hartley, came to me and said, 'Why don't you turn out for the swim team. I can make you a state champion.' I felt bad telling him I couldn't because I was a wrestler. Months later after I won the state championship in wrestling he said, 'Congratulations Terry you were right, you are a wrestler.' So that was my gift."

Terry, who was born in Tacoma on December 30, 1948, retired after 33 years with the Tacoma Fire Department, and has privately coached and tutored wresters over the years. Along the way, he's tried to replicate his wrestling success in handball, racquetball, bowling, softball, golf, skiing and mountain climbing (six summits of Mount Rainier).