Peery, who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980, compiled a career record of 311-90-14 in his 27 years at the Naval Academy and won eight EIWA Championships. He was named the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1968 and the Eastern Coach of the Year in 1986. He had a career record of 22-2-3 against rival Army.
Ed Peery (right) became a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980 (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)Peery's best squad at Navy might have been his 1968 team, which finished fifth at the NCAA Championship. John Kent finished second that year at 152 pounds, while Pete Vanderlofske finished third at 137 pounds.
After retiring as a coach at the end of the 1987 season, Peery remained at the Naval Academy serving as a long-time professor in the Physical Education Department. He retired in 1999 after 40 years of service.
A native of Stillwater, Okla., Peery attended Shaler High School in Pittsburgh, where his father, Rex, was the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He lettered in both football and wrestling, winning two Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association titles in wrestling.
The Peery brothers with wrestling photographer Johnnie Johnson at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in 2009 Following his graduation from Pitt in 1958 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Peery served for two seasons as freshman coach at his alma mater. He came to the Navy staff as an assistant to Ray Swartz in 1959 and, one year later, took over the head coaching duties when Swartz retired.
Peery is survived by his wife, Gretchen, daughter Martie and son Greg.
Want to learn more about Ed Peery? Read Mark Palmer's InterMat Rewind profile on Ed Peery.
UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION
There will be a service at Grace Presbyterian Church in West River, Maryland on Sunday evening June 20 at 7:00 p.m. This is the church that Ed and Gretchen belong to.
The service at the United States Naval Academy Chapel will be on Monday, June 21st, at 2:00 p.m.
Additional specific information will be posted when received.
Addresses to send cards to family members:
Wife:
Mrs. Edwin Peery
780 Crandell Rd.
West River, MD 20778
Brother:
Mr. Hugh Peery
4529 Hermitage Ct.
Allison Park, PA 15101
Sister:
Mrs. Ann Peery Ritter
2204 Battenkill Ln
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Ed Peery Hall of Fame Biography
Ed Peery, Distinguished Member, Class Of 1980
His goals as a collegiate wrestler were clear-cut and offered no alternatives. All Ed Peery had to do to keep pace with his father and brother was to win three national championships. Although he won 51 of 52 matches at the University of Pittsburgh, under the coaching of his father, Rex, the championships did not come easily. In all three of his NCAA finals, Ed came from behind to win. The most difficult was his third-and the family's ninth-in his senior year of 1957. He trailed Harmon Leslie of Oklahoma State, 7-4, in the last minute of the finals, only to rally with a takedown and time advantage to send the match into overtime. When the extensions ended in a 2-2 draw, Ed Peery was voted national champion by the judges and wrestling owned a family legend without precedent in the world of sport. Ed Peery was born a few hours before Rex won his third NCAA title for Oklahoma State. He was named for his father's great coach, Ed Gallagher. After a 48-1 career and two state championships at Shaler High School in Glenshaw, Pa., he followed brother Hugh into the Pittsburgh lineup. For six straight years, coach Rex could find an NCAA champion at his own dinner table, Hugh in 1952-53-54, Ed in 1955-56-57. Adding a few open tournaments, Ed's over-all career numbered more than 100 victories. For two decades, Ed was coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, guiding five Eastern team champions, a host of individual winners and nearly 200 dual meet victories. He was national coach of the year in 1969. He was a member of USA Wrestling's national teaching staff. In recognition of his outstanding achievements as an athlete and coach, Edwin Clark Peery is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
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