Vern Gagne
Gagne is a member of two halls of fame within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the inaugural class of the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999, and he was given the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award by the Minnesota State Chapter in 2003.
A standout athlete at Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota, Gagne was a state high school wrestling champion in 1942 and 1943. His football and wrestling career was interrupted by a tour of duty with the United States Marine Corps in 1943.
Verne returned to the University of Minnesota where he won four Big 10 titles and Division I NCAA wrestling championships in 1948 and 1949. He also earned All-American Honorable Mention in football at the University of Minnesota.
Gagne became a successful professional wrestler and AWA promoter from 1949 to 1986. Gagne was a key financial contributor to amateur wrestling and a great ambassador for the sport.
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