Tribute to Terry McCann, a giant in amateur wrestling

Terry McCann, University of Iowa wrestler.
(Photo: 1955 Hawkeye yearbook, from
author's collection)
 

Three years ago – June 7, 2006 – Terry McCann passed away at age 72 after a more than a year-long bout with cancer.

He was a father, grandfather, husband… a business leader… and an athlete who excelled in two sports, surfing and wrestling, winning a gold medal in freestyle competition at the 1960 Olympics in Rome.

For those of in the wrestling community, Terrance J. McCann will be forever remembered for his considerable contributions to the sport, not just on the mat, but also in guiding organizations that guide wrestling.

Born in 1934, Terry McCann grew up on the northwest side of Chicago, the oldest of six children (including younger brother Francis, who also made a name for himself as a wrestler and coach). Terry and Fran were introduced to wrestling as youngsters when they participated in a program conducted on the local playground, and continued wrestling at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago.

Terry McCann became a three-time Chicago city champion, and won the 112-pound title at the 1952 Illinois high school state tournament his senior year by pinning his finals opponent in just 37 seconds.

After high school, Terry McCann headed straight west of Chicago, to Iowa City… and the University of Iowa, where he wrestled for the Hawkeyes at 115 pounds for head coach Dave McCuskey. Among his teammates: Simon Roberts, the first African-American NCAA champ, and future Hawkeyes head coach Gary Kurdelmeier.

After a heartbreaking defeat in the semifinals of the 1954 NCAAs his sophomore year, Terry McCann redoubled his efforts on the mat, never losing another match his last two years at Iowa. His junior year, he won his first Big Ten title … only to top that achievement a couple weeks later with his first NCAA title, beating Oklahoma State's Dave Bowlin in the 115-pound finals at the 1955 NCAAs. Senior year, Terry earned another Big Ten title, and his second 115-pound NCAA championship … this time, beating Bill Hulings of the University of Pittsburgh in the finals.

At his wife Lucille’s urging, Terry McCann continued his wrestling career after graduation from Iowa… by moving his young family to Oklahoma to train for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

The road to Rome was paved with injuries and illness, but Terry McCann made the U.S. Olympic team. At the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Terry McCann won his first three matches but lost in the fourth round. Fortunately, he came back the next day to pin Russia's Michail Shakov, then earned decisions in his last two bouts to win the gold medal in freestyle at 125 pounds… joining U.S. teammates Shelby Wilson and Doug Blubaugh as gold medallists.

Terry McCann’s involvement in wrestling continued. He was instrumental in the establishment of the U.S. Wrestling Federation, the predecessor to today’s USA Wrestling, and served four years as its president. He also was on the board of FILA (the international governing body for Olympic wrestling) for six years.

In 1975, McCann became executive director of Toastmasters International, the organization that helps individuals develop communication and leadership skills, retiring in 2001 to the beach in southern California. He became active in surfing, and was leader of two surf organizations.

Then, in April 2005, Terry McCann was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a lung disease caused by asbestos, which the wrestler was exposed to in a refinery job in Oklahoma while training for the Olympics. He put up a tough fight, even filming a commercial to urge citizens to contact Congress about proposed legislation that would have prevented individuals like him from suing asbestos manufacturers, but passed away on June 7, 2006 at age 72.

Lee Roy Smith, executive director for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, said of Terry McCann, "Although his stature was small, his attitude, confidence, courage and leadership while representing the sport both nationally and internationally was that of a giant."

Resources

2007 InterMat profile of Terry and Francis McCann

Photos and info on Terry McCann in college and at 1960 Olympics