Remembering John Vaughan and his love for wrestling

A group of people from across the nation came together on Saturday in Tampa, Fla. to celebrate the life of John Vaughan. They all knew John during his incredible 91-year life, and wanted to be there for his family and for themselves. These were people who understood the impact that John Vaughan made in the world.

John Vaughan was a wrestling guy. Plain and simple, he loved the sport of wrestling and was willing to help in any way that he could.

If every person within wrestling who was impacted by John Vaughan came together, there would not be an arena big enough to hold them all. It is not be a stretch to say that nobody has helped wrestling as much in an unselfish, caring way as John Vaughan did.

If you have been involved in wrestling for a while, you would know John if you saw him. He was the pleasant, white-haired gentleman who seemed to be at every single major wrestling event in the USA and around the world. He and his wife Helen were always together at wrestling activities. He was usually surrounded by people, all who wanted to stop and talk with him about the sport and about life. He and Helen were always there, always involved.

Many people within wrestling did not know John Vaughan’s life story, his incredible career in business and science. During World War II, Vaughan was part of the team that hardened the nose of the armor-piercing bullet that penetrated the steel plates of the indomitable Panzer tank. It was one of the most important innovations during the war, and helped our nation to be victorious. His professional success continued the rest of his life. Vaughan secured over 10 patents and built his companies into major successes.

Vaughan mastery in his business career gave him the resources to do whatever he wanted to do with his life. What John Vaughan chose to do was to use what he had to give to others and to support them in their dreams. It was through wrestling that Vaughan was able to make so much happen for other people.

You have to go back to the 1930s to trace Vaughan’s career as a wrestler, where he competed for Case Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. He was undefeated as a junior and senior, and continued wrestling on his YMCA team for a number of years. There is no doubt that John Vaughan considered wrestling to be an important part of his life.

It would be an understatement to say that John Vaughan was an important and valuable leader within USA Wrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. John was much more than that. He stepped up when most needed for these organizations, not only financially but also with his counsel and commitment to find others with a similar passion and ability to help.

It would be fair to say that neither USA Wrestling nor the National Wrestling Hall of Fame would have reached its current level of success and growth if it had not been for John Vaughan’s personal involvement.

John had a passion for the athletes involved in wrestling. He took a personal interest in doing what he could to assist them and to make them successful. For many years, he was the sponsor of Greco-Roman Team USA, providing the funds that gave direct support to our best wrestlers and the entire program. During the years that Vaughan was the national team sponsor, the U.S. Greco-Roman performance improved dramatically, winning a number of medals and putting the United States on the world’s radar screen.

He also was involved in funding a bonus program for wrestlers in all styles who won medals for the United States at the World Championships and Olympic Games. This was very important in helping these athletes stay involved in the sport and continue to win for our nation. It was also a deserved reward for these wrestlers and their families who reached the highest levels of achievement in their profession.

Many people were aware of what John Vaughan did for some of the more publicized projects within wrestling. However, what many people didn’t know was that he also was involved in other wrestling-related activities, providing financial support and other resources at so many levels of the sport.

The world’s largest youth wrestling tournament is entitled the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals, held each year in Fargo, N.D. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame will forever have a complete wing named the John Vaughan Hall of Honors. At his alma mater, the Case Western university hall of fame is named the John Vaughan Hall of Fame.

But there are so many other college teams, tournaments, sports programs and individual athletes who received direct support and encouragement from John Vaughan. A majority of what John Vaughan did for wrestling never was written up in a press release or announced over a loudspeaker. For every wrestling activity that bears his name, there were countless others that were quietly and anonymously strengthened through his efforts.

John and Helen may have done things without fanfare, but they did not do them from a distance. John Vaughan was right alongside the athletes and coaches, part of the team effort. You might say that John may be the world’s greatest wrestling fan. If there was a major event going on, anywhere in the world, you could find John and Helen, in the front row, enjoying the action and being directly involved.

Just ask any prominent wrestler from the last few decades if they were friends with John Vaughan. So many of the people who were champions in our sport and are leaders within wrestling developed a strong personal relationship with this amazing man. You don’t have to explain what John Vaughan means to wrestling to these individuals. He helped change their lives.

What John Vaughan really was to wrestling was its close friend in the truest sense of the word.

A friend is somebody that you can count on. A friend will be there, in good times and bad. A friend puts your interests in front of his or her own. A friend will listen, and a friend will give advice when it is needed. A friend does not have a personal agenda. A friend is there for the right reasons and at the right times.

Wrestling lost a great friend this past week. On behalf of USA Wrestling and everybody who loves our sport, we just want to say thank you, one more time. You are already missed, friend.

Gary Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling and is a founder of the National Wrestling Media Association and is a 2005 recipient of the NWCA Meritorious Service Award.

Gary Abbott