Attending the 2016 Wrestling Reunion

Gary and Lony 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 and Cynthia 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.  

Frank and Toni 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.

Harry Oliphant and Brittany

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.