Princeton NCAA champ Bradley Glass dead at 84

Bradley Glass, 1951 NCAA heavyweight champ for Princeton University, passed away Thursday, Aug. 6 at the Crestridge Memory Care Unit in Dodgeville, Wis. He was 84.

Born in Evanston, Ill. in Jan. 1931, Bradley McConnell Glass made a name for himself on the wrestling mat in high school and college. Glass wrestled at New Trier High School in suburban Chicago, where he was a teammate of Donald Rumsfeld, future Secretary of Defense for both President Gerald Ford and President George W. Bush. While at New Trier, Glass won the heavyweight title at the 1947 Illinois high school state wrestling championships.

Bradley Glass

Glass continued his academic and athletic career at Princeton. While at the New Jersey-based Ivy League school, Glass won the 1951 EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) heavyweight title (called unlimited at that time), defeating Homer Barr of Penn State in Barr's home gym, 2-1â€¦ then, a couple weeks later, Glass claimed the crown in the same weight class at the 1951 NCAA Wrestling Championships at Lehigh University, again defeating Barr in the finals to become the Tigers' first -- and only -- NCAA mat champ. The following year, Glass won his second EIWA heavyweight title, then at the 1952 NCAAs, dropped down to 191 pounds, where he earned All-American honors by placing third in that weight class. According to his bio as a member of the EIWA Hall of Fame, Glass never lost a dual meet as a Princeton Tiger.

While at Princeton, Glass also earned three letters in football, and was chosen a Grantland Rice All-American at guard in 1950. In addition, Glass participated in the 1952 and 1956 U.S. Olympic Trials. Later, while in the Navy in 1956, he tried out for the Olympic wrestling team. He missed the opportunity to represent the United States at the 1956 Melbourne Games by a single match and was the Olympic Alternate for that spot, according to his obituary. After graduating from Princeton in 1953, Glass joined the Navy and was a member of the Underwater Demolition Team (U.D.T.) now called the Navy Seals.

Glass continued his education and involvement in wrestling at the University of Michigan, where he enrolled in their School of Law. While at Ann Arbor, Glass found time to serve as an assistant wrestling coach, working with legendary Wolverine head coach Cliff Keen, during the 1956-57 season.

Glass married Barbara Becker in 1953, and the two raised three sons in Northfield, Ill. as Glass practiced law in Chicago, Northfield and Palatine, Ill. In addition, Glass served as a Representative and then a Senator in the Illinois Legislature for a total of eight years in the 1970s.

Brad and Barbara Glass moved to southwest Wisconsin in 1987, where he practiced law with Bob Jackson, in Dodgeville, and, according to his obituary, served as attorney for the City of Dodgeville. The Glasses were active environmentalists, restoring and developing prairies on their land between Dodgeville and Spring Green, and participating in the Prairie Enthusiasts. Brad Glass also enjoyed canoeing and canoe racing, camping, cross country skiing and reading. Brad finished ten American Birkenbeiner cross country ski races. In addition, he served terms as president of the local Habitat for Humanity and Kiwanis, and on the boards of the Wisconsin Riverway and Driftless Area Land Conservancy.

Brad Glass is survived by his wife Barbara, sons Charles, David, and George, along with six grandchildren, and two brothers.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Central on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at the Glass home in Spring Green, Wis. A reception will be held after services.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, 118 S. Iowa Street, Dodgeville, WI 53588.

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Princeton NCAA champ Bradley Glass dead at 84

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