*RAY SWARTZ, Navycoach built two
distinct careers of national and international coaching. In the
mid-1930’s, he built Central Oklahoma into a national power
that placed 2nd in 1936 with two NCAA champions.
Ray’s18-9-1 record included two wins over Oklahoma and a tie
with Oklahoma State, coaching three Top 10 teams. He began at Navy
in 1939 and won four straight team titles, ’43-46, the last
to do so until 1996. He was 125-35-4 over 21 seasons and his top
college star, Pete Blair, was a 2-time NCAA champion in
’54-55 and won Olympic bronze in 1956. Swartz NCAA rules
committee chairman, and published articles on wrestling and combat,
a pioneer of the international styles.
An expert teacher of coaches and
officials, and a referee/judge in four Olympics, his career
highlight came in 1952 as Olympic coach. His team earned a gold and
two silvers, and one of his Navy proteges, Joe Henson, won bronze.
In his native Oklahoma Swartz was a two-time state champion and
starred in five sports. His wrestling career at Oklahoma State was
limited by the first-ever three-time NCAA champion, Earl McCready.
Swartz was a Cowboy football and track standout.