Roy MinterMinter passed away Sunday, September 1 at a hospital in Willmar, Minnesota. He was 83.
Roy Armond Minter was born March 25, 1936, in Owatonna, Minn. He attended Owatonna High School, winning a Minnesota state wrestling title as a senior in 1954. Minter then headed west to Mankato, where he was a student-athlete at what was once known as Mankato State University (now Minnesota State University-Mankato).
Wrestling for famed coach Rometo "Rummy" Macias, Minter made a name for himself on the mats at Mankato. Among Minter's wrestling accomplishments included being a three-time conference champ, and winning an individual title at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) national wrestling championships in 1958. Minter was also a three-time NCAA All-American wrestler, placing fourth at 167 pounds at the 1957 and 1958 Nationals ... and making it to the 177-pound finals at the 1956 NCAAs, where he was pinned by legendary "fall guy" Dan Hodge of University of Oklahoma. He also won three AAU national wrestling tournaments.
Roy MinterMinter also participated in football at Mankato, earning letters for three seasons as a center.
After graduating from Mankato, Minter taught and coached football and wrestling at Worthington High School in Minnesota for ten years ... then moved to Willmar in 1968 where he taught and coached wrestling, football and baseball at Willmar Community College until retirement in 1992.
Mike Schultz, who competed at Willmar Community College (now Ridgewater College) for Minter, wrote the following on Facebook:
"I am going to miss you Roy Minter.... you were a great Coach/Friend/Role Model! We came in as boys and left as men because of you! Thank you for your guidance and friendship..... you will never be forgotten.... you will be forever loved Roy!! So proud to be known as one of Roy's Boys!! RIP Silver Fox!"
Minter has been welcomed into a number of athletic halls of fame, including the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association's Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame, and as a charter member of the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Mass of Christian Burial for Roy Minter will be Thursday, September 5 at 9:30 a.m. at Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Visitation will take place Wednesday, September 4 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the church and continue one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
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