By Mike Sempervive, Torch Team Contributor

Dick Hutton, the man who was handpicked by Lou Thesz to follow his reign as NWA World champion, died at the age of 80.

Hutton, who was born on October 4, 1923 in Amarillo, Texas, is one of America's most legendary amateur wrestlers. A four-time All-American at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), Hutton was a NCAA heavyweight champion in 1947, 1948 and 1950. He would have won four straight, but he lost to Verne Gagne in the 1949 finals via a controversial referee's decision. Hutton's record of appearing in four straight finals, and winning three, went unmatched for 28 years, and unbroken for 44 years until fellow Oklahoma State standout, Pat Smith won four straight. He was also a 1948 Olympian in London, where some predicted him to medal as a super-heavyweight freestyler. Unfortunately, he was forced to withdraw in the third round due to a ruptured blood vessel in his arm. He finished sixth.

After seeing the success of his college rival Gagne in the pro ranks, Hutton went to Tulsa promoter Leroy McGuirk to help get him into the pro wrestling ranks. McGuirk, who was a fellow Oklahoma A&M alum who had was a two-time NCAA All-American, and a 1931 NCAA champion. It was became quickly known that Hutton was the "real deal" among the wrestling fraternity, and that he had a bright future in the business.

When Lou Thesz wanted to drop the strap and begin touring without the constraints of the belt, he handpicked Hutton as his replacement. On November 14, 1957 in Toronto, Hutton defeated Thesz by submission. He would go on and hold the belt for 421 days before losing the belt to Pat O'Connor, in the NWA's crown jewel territory of St. Louis. Hutton's reign has long been said to have been rather bland and colorless, an accusation he fired back at a little in a interview with the Phantom in Wrestling Perspective #97: "...was I the only one who failed? Pat O'Connor came after me. He was no great shakes as a draw. Even Buddy Rogers couldn't hold it together, which was something of a surprise to me. Gene Kiniski? No way was he a big draw. It got so bad with the NWA that Lou had to come back and take over again as champ."

Although his "boring" reign may be one of the reasons that he's not been inducted into the Observer Hall of Fame, Hutton's accomplishments have been recognized elsewhere. He is a "Distinguished Member" of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, where his professional wrestling exploits are surprisingly acknowledged by the usually anti-pro ranks: "Contrary to the usual professional image, he became known for his honest, gimmick-free wrestling." He was also a 2001 inductee into the Tragos-Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Newton, Iowa, as well as being a member of the Oklahoma State Hall of Fame.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003 at South Heights Cemetery Chapel in Tulsa.

To read more about Hutton, check out Greg Oliver's article from Slam Wrestling: Former NWA champ Hutton dies.

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