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The ISU 1964-1968 Wrestling Team Story

There is no intention to malign or impugn the integrity or reputation of anyone, in particular the University, in this narrative, but only to portray the challenges and adversity this team faced during their tenure at ISU.  Through fate or happenstance, the team experienced eight coaches during the 64-68 period. In spite of that, the team won two Big Sky conference Wrestling championships and placed 2nd twice. Here is our story in a nutshell.

Dean Thomas, the coach who recruited us in 1964, had a dream to build a conference championship wrestling team at ISU. A former football star at ISU, he had been assistant football coach and wrestling coach since 1957.  We were all drawn to him, his personable style and charisma. Rick Yeates knew him well.  Rick remembers, “During my high school wrestling career I had the occasion to meet Coach Dean Thomas many times.  I had a special affinity with him as he would often remind me.  We grew up in the same small town in southern Idaho.  He would tell me he had a vision of developing a powerful wrestling program at ISU and he wanted me to be a part of it.”  

As our team assembled in the fall of 64, our first test came up against a more established program.  Our team started out strong and by the end of the meet had unexpectedly dominated them.  The exuberance our coach exhibited was like the kid who came down Christmas morning to find the bicycle he so coveted under the tree.  The ride home was alive with excitement as we discussed the potential of our future.  We all left for Christmas break excited but returned to find that our much admired and highly respected coach Dean Thomas had lost his life in an automobile accident. 

It was a huge shock and it took the team a long time to get over it. The team entered a downward spiral where there were times we would recruit wrestlers of limited experience to fill in weight classes rather than forfeit them. Legendary Athletic Director, Dubby Holt and football coach Babe Caccia, both did what they could to fill in. But they couldn’t hire a new permanent wrestling coach until the beginning of the next season, because the wrestling coach also had to be an assistant football coach.  By the end of the 64/65 season, the last two meets with Utah and Utah State were canceled with the intent of preparing for the conference finals.  To quote the yearbook “After coach Thomas’ death the wrestling team was plagued with illnesses, dismissals, and dropouts.”  The team still finished second in the conference, even with the diminished roster. We finished with three individual conference champions and our team trainer as the interim coach. And the core, recruited by coach Thomas at the beginning of the year, were all still with the team.  

The second season brought renewed hope with the hire of a new coach who had a strong wrestling background.  Early on, word filtered down that the 65/66 recruits would have to help build the team because no one from the original team was “that good.”  This had the potential to cause division as it seemed we were once again being disrespected. But our team placed second again in the Conference. This coach did not return for our third season.  We were now faced with our fifth coach, who again was hired as a football coach and would also coach wrestling.  Due to some poor decisions, likely caused by his overconfidence, we lost a match with a junior college.  So, this coach left in the middle of the season and we were once again faced with a temporary coach, followed by a graduate assistant to finish the season.  In spite of the turmoil, our team won the conference championship, beating out the long-dominant Montana State team. This would be the second of 7 straight conference championships for ISU wrestling.

Our fourth year brought another new coach who was number eight.  Tom Jewell was handed a difficult situation.  He had a team that was very skeptical of another football coach who would also coach wrestling.  We saw the same old scenario, and continued to feel disrespected and undervalued.  We had become a group of individuals competing from a sense of pride rather than the feeling of a team.  Tom slowly gained our confidence and demonstrated that he truly cared about our well being.  Our team had talent but lacked focus and a sense of unity.  Tom turned this around and for the first time since Dean Thomas, we felt we had an advocate who had our back and cared about us as individuals.  The team came alive and finished the season with seven out of ten conference champions, three All Americans, and three future ISU Sports Hall of Famers.
 
Our four years were filled with a lot of adversity, disappointments, a lack of continuity and our perception that the University did not value our sport as highly as we thought they should.  It was only due to perseverance and tenacity that we found success.  The team found its potential when finally placed in a situation where it was allowed to thrive.  Proverbs 27 tells us, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  This adversity strengthened us and caused us to bond as a team and created lifelong friendships.  The lessons we learned through this experience provided the framework for success in life. We want to make it clear that the University was facing the same troubles and was not at fault, but through the eyes of those involved, there were many disappointments.  We all owe Idaho State University a debt of gratitude for the experience and the education which provided the cornerstone for the success we found during the rest of our lives.

Summary:

What made these ISU teams special is that they were, perhaps, some of the last NCAA Division I teams in the nation to embrace the true meaning of a student-athlete. These teams were known for their academic achievements, as well as the conference championships. These teams produced individuals with PhD’s, Master’s degrees, a police chief, professor/college administrators, military officers, a Navy pilot, YMCA and business executives, and wrestling coaches/teachers. It was truly a student/athlete team who valued learning as well as sport.

Team Members by Year.

Written by:

Rick Yeates
yeates@comcast.net
Gary Huff
glhuff2@olypen.com

~~~~~

Individual Team Member Stories

Jessie Eddy

After graduating from ISU, Jessie Eddy became the wrestling coach at Parma High School.  Charlie Litchfield of the Idaho Press Tribune reported that Jess coached wrestling for over 34 years at Parma, retiring in 2003 after becoming the winningest coach in state history, which in turn led to a National Wrestling Hall of Fame induction.  Eddy's career record includes 443 victories, six state championships and 26 district championships. He had 34 individual state champions who won 44 titles. Jessie continues to coach tennis and teach driver’s education courses. Read more about this coaching giant ...

Jess and Jean Eddy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. They were married June 14, 1964, in Lamar, Colorado. The couple has two children, Randy (Jodi) of Parma and Greg (Tara) of Lamar, Colorado. They also have five grandchildren. Jessie and Jean celebrated by going to their granddaughter’s wedding in Lamar. Read more ...

Leroy Harris

After leaving ISU I had tryouts with the San Francisco 49-ers and in 1970 with the Baltimore Colts as a defensive back. That was the year they had the biggest NFL strike, with no vets in camp. The Colts ended up winning the Super Bowl that year. I am currently teaching and the football coach at Clark County School District. 

In 1980 I was hired as Highlands High School's football coach, becoming the first African American to hold such a position in the Sacramento area. Our teams had immediate success, winning 11 games taking the Scots to the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game in our first season. I was also honored to be the high school football coach of the year. Our teams won the area championships and the California State Championship. I have also held the position of Vice Principal and Principal at Grant High School and Martin Luther King Junior High School. Other honors include being inducted into the ISU Hall of Fame for Football and Wrestling, 1966-1969.

Back in the 80s I was in private business owning my own restaurant. That was quite an experience and it gave me an opportunity to meet people from all parts of life. I earned a Master's degree from California State University, Sacramento.

Gary Huff

After graduating from ISU, I enrolled in the Doctor of Religion program at Claremont Graduate School of Theology in Southern California. My focus was on understanding and working with teenage drug users. Psychedelic drug use was of out of control in the late 1960’s. I received my doctorate in 1972 and my wife Lony and I celebrated heartily. Since our marriage, in my second year of grad school, she had worked to help put me thru school. We were both from Anaconda, Montana so we also had some California cultural shock to go through.

During grad school I wrestled in a AAU club for a couple of years and coached high school wrestling, on the side.

After graduation I did a one year internship as a youth minister in Arcadia California and was ordained in the Methodist Church. Lony and I soon realized that wasn’t a good fit for us. So after the internship I took a position with the YMCA in Fullerton CA, in a Y that was just for teenagers, and I served as a counselor for disturbed teens. After two years, the Y CEO asked if I would help start a new Y next door, in Yorba Linda, CA and focus on prevention rather than rehabilitation. It was the perfect fit for me: a mix of body, mind, spirit and social skills.

I would spend the next 26 years in various YMCA positions: Associate Executive at the Downtown Seattle YMCA, CEO at the Boise Idaho Y, Regional consultant covering the 56 Northwest Y’s for the National YMCA and finally as leader of the 16 Seattle Area YMCA’s. My wife Lony and I enjoyed all the positions. She was helpful in moving my career forward. She worked as a legal assistant where ever we went. The discipline I learned during my wrestling years helped in everything that I did.  I retired in the year 2000 and we moved to Sequim, WA, foothills of the Olympic Mts.

Bob Huff

After graduating in 1968 I spent over five years in the Army as an Infantry officer.  I went through Airborne and Ranger schools and served a tour in Vietnam with the 1st Air Calvary Division.  I was a rifle platoon leader for 6 months and a rifle company commander for 6 months operating along the Cambodian border and into Cambodia during the invasion.  In June of this year I attended the first ever reunion of our rifle company which was held in Chandler, OK.  Over 50 members of the company attended and I had not seen any of them for 45 years.  It was an amazing and emotional experience.  While in the Army I met my wife, Cynthia, and we have been married over 43 years.

After getting out of the Army I spent the next 25 years in law enforcement as a police officer with Santa Barbara and then the Pasadena Police Department.  I had lots of interesting assignments including as a patrol officer during the time when the powerful drug PCP was rampant.  I am glad they didn’t have cell phone cameras back then.  I was a motorcycle officer for two years, and then a homicide detective which was probably the most interesting and demanding of all.  I rose through the ranks as a patrol sergeant, watch commander and finally became the chief of the 350 member Pasadena Police Department.  While with the PPD I also spent three years planning for the security of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl games.  After I retired we moved to Grants Pass, OR the next day where we have been ever since.  I can’t stress how much my wrestling and weightlifting background helped me in my military and police careers.  

John Hutchison

After graduating from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in education I joined the Navy (1968) and spent a little over 21 years as a Naval Aviator and Naval Officer. I was honored to receive the Navy Wings of Gold in 1970 as a pilot/naval aviator.  After a tour at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, I received a Master of Science degree in Systems Acquisition Management.  Others tours of active duty included: 

     -Squadrons flying jet aircraft including training as "TOP GUN" adversary instructor pilot.
     -A-4 Project Officer at McDonnell Douglass in Long Beach, California where I had oversight of production and flew acceptance test flights of A-4 aircraft.
     -3 years as an analyst for the Navy in the Pentagon and 5 years as the Planning Programming and Budgeting Officer for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (Handling Naval matters in the Persian Gulf area just prior to retirement).

After I retired, I flew for commercial airlines for three years. Later I started my second career as a teacher for 17 years, teaching NJROTC in a high school in Ewa Beach Hawaii. After approximately 30 years in Hawaii, we moved to Overland Park KS. The most important event along the way was my accepting Jesus Christ. I look forward to seeing all of you again in September.

John is married to Sherry and their blended family consists of 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Read more ...

Frank Kolendich

After leaving ISU I returned home and completed my BA and masters degrees  at the University of Montana.  While completing my degrees at the University of Montana I refereed numerous college and high school matches.  My first teaching and coaching job was at  class A Columbia Falls high school. After two successful years at Columbia Falls high school I was hired to teach and coach at class AA Billings Senior high school. During our summer breaks I worked for the Montana migrant education program and in 1974, I became the Montana State director of migrant education - having 11 summer schools ,1200 students and 300 staff members. In 1979 I entered the real estate field and eventually became broker/owner of the Coldwell Banker franchise in Billings Montana. In 1987 I started a construction company that eventually became Environmental Contractors LLC. Our company is now the largest scaffolding, remediation and demolition company in our five state area. We provide our services to oil refineries, power plants, paper mills, government agencies, and numerous private and commercial clients.

During the above period of time I served on the board of the Boys and Girls club, chairman of the Billings United Way, chairman of the Billings school board, and just resigned from the National advisory board for Grizzly athletics.

Toni and I have three great children, Casey, Kevin, and Kelsey. The two boys are board certified in internal and gastrointestinal medicine. Kelsey has a degree in elementary education and is a stay-at-home mom with a business that she runs from her house.  Toni and I have been married for 45 years and, have 6 grand children and life is good. For those of you scratching your head - yes I married way over my head........... Looking forward to reuniting after all these years. Read more ...

Mike Nesbitt (Team Trainer)

Mike Nesbitt, President and Owner of Jonesco Trucking, has been a Head Athletic Trainer, an Instructor, an Assistant Professor, an Associate Professor and a Tenured Associate Professor; but trucking has always been his first love.

According to Nesbitt “trucking was my golf game, my recreation, my hobby, my everything!” He would drive fuel trucks on the weekends while he was teaching and coaching and use the drive time to unwind, reflect and plan for his students and players. Eventually he bought his own truck and Jonesco Trucking was founded on April 4, 1979.

Nesbitt and his partner Jones combined the spelling of their last names to create the company’s name Jonesco. Nesbitt would go to work at his trucking company from 5 AM to 9 AM, then go to work at the university, then back to the Trucking Company in the evening. Jones would service the truck and haul the fuel. After about one year Nesbitt bought his partner out and as sole owner Nesbitt has made Jonesco a premier provider of fuel transportation; celebrating thirty-three years in business on April 4, 2012!

Harry Oliphant

After graduating from ISU in January of 1969 I moved back to Oklahoma. I taught and coached wrestling in high school for 3 years. Also during that time I refereed wrestling matches for Oklahoma State University (during their National Championship years) and a few other colleges and high schools.  Sometime in the middle 80's I had the opportunity to return to ISU and wrestle in a (Varsity / Alumni) match.  This event turned out to be a great experience and brought back lots of great memories, especially since Tom was still the coach. In the late 70's I discovered a hidden desire to be an Airline Pilot, hence began flight training to qualify as a commercial pilot. In the 80's I was hired as a co-pilot for my first Airline job. For the next 24 years, I continued as a pilot for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, America West Airlines, US Air, and eventually ended my flying career flying for Flight Options. In 2007, I retired and moved to Texas, to be closer to family. I now live on a golf resort (Tapatio Springs) 30 miles NW of San Antonio. I spend my days, either riding my horse and doing trail rides for the resort, or out on the golf course.

I have 2 daughters who are both successful RN's in the Dallas area. 

Leon Rider

Following graduation from ISU, we moved to Elko, Nevada, where my wife Cindy and I remain today, having grown to love the high mountain desert.  Working as a teacher at the Nevada Youth Training Center, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to begin the athletic sports program, ultimately coaching football, wrestling and track and enjoying successful programs in all three sports.  During those years, I refereed more wrestling matches in Northern Nevada than I can remember!  On leaving NYTC, I worked for Newmont Mining Corporation, in both the housing and training departments.  Upon retirement, we have enjoyed golfing, grandchildren, houseboating at Lake Powell and occasionally getting to various sporting events including the National Wrestling Championships held in Oklahoma City.   We have two children - Monte, who lives in Spring Creek, NV and Kelly, who lives in Reno, NV (and who is also an alumni of ISU).    Grandchildren number three and are scattered from Los Angeles to Reno to Boise.  We are celebrating our 52nd wedding anniversary in August and looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion in Pocatello.

Dean Thomas

By Joe Richmond, Sports Publicity Director (a re-print from the Bengal, 1964)

“Perhaps the one thing persons will remember about the late Dean Thomas, ISU wrestling and assistant football coach, will be his youthful anticipation and eagerness toward the task at hand, whether it be in athletics or any other endeavor.”

“Mr. Thomas, whose untimely death came Christmas morning following injuries suffered in an automobile accident the night of December 23, was a credit to his profession and to the intricate world of football and wrestling.”

“In his eight years as a member of the Bengals’ athletic staff he proved his versatility, personality and leadership qualifications by serving in no less than five different capacities, all of them vastly important in operating a major intercollegiate program.”

“Mr. Thomas was a football star at Malad High School and at Idaho State.  He coached at Shelley High for five years before he joined the ISU staff in 1958.” “ …..Survivors included his widow, four children,….”
Read more…. and read Pocatello (UPI)....

(Coach Thomas' family, includes Vivian (Mike) Dunlap, Pocatello, Idaho; Dan (Katherine) Thomas, Brunswick, Georgia; Debera (Lane) Fullmer, Nampa, Idaho; and Troy Dean (Mary Ann) Thomas, Sacramento, California. Family information pending ...)

Tom Jewell

I grew up in Detroit and attended four colleges in four states.  I earned a bachelor's degree from Idaho State University in 1962. As a senior, I earned All Conference Honors as well as Honorable Mention State All American. I was then drafted by the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos (there were two leagues at the time). I signed with the 49ers, but got cut and returned to Pocatello to graduate.

In 1960 I married Carole Marks. Carole and I had two children, Teri and Tom. Both families had two boys. Carole lost her life to an illness in 1998. Teri was fatally injured in an auto accident in 1996.  

I taught and coached at Pocatello High School for one year, and Highland High School (Pocatello) for four years.  I was then hired at Idaho State University in 1967 to coach wrestling and football. I coached football for thirteen years and wrestling for twenty years, before becoming the Director of Athletics for five years. As wrestling coach we won the Big Sky Conference in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1984. I retired in 1996.  Honors I have won during my athletic and coaching career include:  Member of the Idaho State Athletic Hall of Fame, Ring of Honor in Holt Arena,  Football Jersey retired, Distinguished Alumni Award, Life Time of Service Award and inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Seven time Big Sky Wrestling Coach of the Year Award.

After retiring I moved from Pocatello to Island Park, Idaho which is twenty-two miles from Yellowstone National Park. I ran for Mayor of the City of Island Park in 2004 and I am currently finishing a third four-year term.  I look forward to seeing how young everyone looks!  Thanks Fred Rodriguez and everyone involved in this reunion effort!