Bill NelsonThe memorial service in the state which Nelson called home will take place Friday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m. at the Christ Church United Methodist on Craycroft in Tucson, Ariz.
A funeral for William J. Nelson will be held Monday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. Central in his hometown of Eagle Grove, Iowa at the United Methodist Church, 421 West Broadway Street.
Cards and letters of condolence may be sent to Bill Nelson's family at 10334 West Willowbrook, Sun City, Ariz. 85373.
Nelson was a highly accomplished amateur wrestler. Wrestling for Eagle Grove High, he won an Iowa state title in 1945 (along with his late brother Dale). He continued his academic and athletic career at was then Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa), where he won three individual NCAA championships: the 165-pound title in 1947 as a freshman, then back-to-back titles at 155 in 1949 and 1950. (As a sophomore, Nelson suffered an injury at the 1948 NCAAs and withdrew from competition, thus missing out on the opportunity to possibly become the first four-time NCAA wrestling champ, a distinction earned by Oklahoma State's Pat Smith four decades later.)
Nelson earned a place on the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team for the 1948 London Games, but sustained an injury and was unable to take to the mats. (In his place, alternate Leland Merrill of Michigan State won the bronze medal for the U.S. at 73 kilograms/160.5 pounds.)
After concluding his on-the-mat career in 1950, Nelson launched a coaching career that spanned more than three decades, first at high schools in the Midwest, then taking the helm of the wrestling program at University of Arizona.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame paid tribute to Bill Nelson who was welcomed into the Stillwater, Okla. Hall as a Distinguished Member in 1980.
"On behalf of our Board of Governors and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, we extend our sincere sympathies to Bill's wife, Violet, and his family, friends, former wrestlers and students," said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. "Bill was a trailblazing hero to those who watched him compete at Iowa Teachers College and in freestyle. He was equally admired for trying to grow the sport throughout the United States as a high school and college coach."
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