Regarded as one of the best amateur wrestlers of all-time in addition to an extensive pro wrestling career, Danny Hodge passed away at the age of 88 on Christmas day.
While the cause of death isn't known yet, he had been battling dementia for several years. He and his wife had three children.
The Perry, Oklahoma, native was a member of the Professional Hall of Fame; the International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame; the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for both amateur and pro wrestling, the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame (1996), and more. He also earned the Cauliflower Alley Club lifetime achievement award (2004) and the Lou Thesz Award (2007).
The Oklahoma state wrestling champion went to the University of Oklahoma and amassed a sterling 46-0 record with three Big Seven titles, and three NCAA titles at 177 pounds. He was never even taken off his feet as a college wrestler, an incredible feat. The annual award given to the NCAA's best wrestler every year is named after him.
He competed at two Olympics, winning the silver medal in Australia in 1956. He later tried his hand at boxing, amassing a winning record in both the amateurs and pros.
Known for abnormal hand strength due to being born to two sets of tendons in his hands, he went into the pro wrestling world following training from Leroy McGuirk and Ed "Strangler" Lewis, debuting in the fall of 1959 and become a major star, especially in the McGuirk's midwest territory and in the parts of the southern U.S. He held the NWA junior heavyweight title eight times, won several NWA Tri-State titles, and others, including in Japan.
His career ended in 1976 after a car accident nearly cost him his life.
Dave Meltzer will have more on Hodge's life and career later today.
