*REX PEERY, Pittsburgh coach was a three-time champion for Oklahoma State from 1933-1935. While Pitt’s head coach, he achieved an epic feat by coaching two sons, Hugh and Ed, to NCAA titles in six straight years ,1952-1957. Clara and Rex Peery had married at age 19, a month after the Wall Street Crash. They got by and became parents during Rex’s freshman year at OSU. Ed was born a few hours before Rex won his third title, confirmed by matside telegram minutes before his final. Peery was a 1936 Olympic alternate, won National AAUs twice and lettered in baseball.  He was unbeaten in HS and never lost at OSU.

      Peery’s stellar coaching career ran 29 years, the first 13 at Oklahoma high schools. Rex coached Pitt from 1949-1965 and Hugh was his first All-American. Nine Peery wrestlers won an EIWA record 13 NCAA titles and 11 reached 19 finals.  He had 12 straight top ten teams; four straight Top Threes. His college dual record was 116-43-3; his wrestlers won 23 EIWA titles during the league’s greatest era. Rex then served in Pitt athletics as assistant professor until retirement.  He coached the USA team in the 1964 Olympics and served 12 years on the Olympic Wrestling Committee.  He founded of USA Wrestling programs in PA and served on its national governing council, plus the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors.