The following letter was sent by Charles Bennett reflecting on the OSU wrestling program that he knew.
My father William J. Bennett brought his family to Corvallis in 1921 so that the 2 older boys, Robert & Ralph, could enroll at the Oregon Agicultural College in Electrical Engineering. Robin Reed was a classmate of theirs, so we all followed his great career at OAC. He defeated all "comers", large and small, and won the gold medal at the 1924 Olympics, defeating fellow teammate Chet Newton. My brothers graduated in 1925, but Robin came back to OSU and received his diploma a few years later. (I watched him on TV.)
Robin became coach of the OAC wrestling team, but I believe it was 1926, OAC sponsered a National wrestling tournament, and afterwards President W. J. Kerr "wiped out" the college wrestling program. Robin went on to be come a successful businessman, and a successful professional wrestler. My brother Robert, who was employed in this area, and I used to attend Robin's colorful matches in the old Moose Hall on 2nd Street in Corvallis. Robin always gave the huge crowd a colorful show. I remember when he used to grab the "ropes" with both hands over his head, and put a scissorhold on his opponent, often Bulldog Jackson, and throw [him] out of the ring. It was good clean fun in those days.
I entered OSC in the Fall of 1934, and the wrestling program consisted of "Intramural" matches, and the two people that survived each weight would gather for the college championship in matches at the OSC Gym. The matches drew large crowds. Jim Dixon scheduled "Home & Home" matches with Linfield College, and we won both of them. In 1936, Jim took 5 of [us] wrestlers to the "Olympic Tryouts" on the campus of the University of Washington. Rodney Shultis was a member of SIGMA CHI, so we enjoyed the hospitality of this fine fraternity. I might add that none of us went on the road to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
We discovered that the Multnomah Club, and the colleges Washington State College and the University of Washington had wrestling teams (University of Washington doesn't have one anymore), so when we returned to Corvallis, we formed a Wrestling Club, and elected Ted Tibbut President. Ted took a petition to Mr. Ruzek, chairman of the OSC Board of Control, and to our delight, wrestling was reinstated. We were happy!
Coach Dale Thomas really developed a great program. He cared about wrestlers, and even had an annual reunion for wrestlers past and present, and I usually attended. At one reunion he invited those pretty ladies who had served as cheerleaders at the wrestling matches. Dale had a "Life" magazine that had the pictures of the "Gals". The University President terminated the program. [That] shows you "can't win them all".
Joe Wells is also carrying on OSU wrestling. My son Richard and I were even invited to a couple of "banquets". At one banquet we sat with Joe and his wife. At another we visited with Mrs. Robin Reed, and she said she had never seen her husband wrestle. I told her about the matches!
I now watch OSU sports on TV, as my travel is restricted.
If you are still with me, thanks for reading.
Charles
Charles "Chuck" Bennett, Class 1938
-letter written January 12, 2006
