LEROY ALITZ wrestled as an 85 pounder for Mason City (IA) high school in the 1930s. After a stint in WW II, he went on to become an All-American under Dave McCuskey at Iowa State Teachers College in 1948. Alitz placed fourth in the 1948 Olympic trials.

He was named head wrestling coach at West Point Military Academy in 1954, where he won 146 dual meets and produced Army's only NCAA champion, Mike Natvig, in 1962 and '63. He was the founder of the “Freshman Easterns” while coaching at Army (later known informally as the “Plebe Tournament”).

He served as president of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association and helped develop the Eastern and National Wrestling Officials Associations. Additionally, Alitz was President of National Wrestling Coaches Association in 1968 and chair of NCAA Wrestling Rules Committee from 1971-77. He was elected as a Distinguished member to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992. He passed away in 2006.