Terrence McCann
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's freestyle wrestling | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1960 Rome | Bantam | |
Terrence John McCann (March 23, 1932 – June 7, 2006) was an American wrestler who won the Gold Medal in the bantamweight division of freestyle wrestling at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and later helped found the United States Wrestling Federation (now called USA Wrestling). He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
He was also the retired Executive Director of Toastmasters International, having served in that position for 26 years.[1]
He died in Dana Point, California at age 74 from a rare asbestos-linked cancer and was survived by his wife of 52 years, Lucille, as well as seven children, eighteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three siblings.
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[edit] Wrestling
McCann began wrestling in a city-sponsored park recreation program when he was 11.[2] McCann wrestled collegiately for the Iowa Hawkeyes where he only lost three matches in three years while winning three Big Ten and two NCAA titles. He then went on to represent the United States in the 1960 Summer Olympics where he won a gold medal. McCann was inducted, as a Distinguished Member, into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (USA) in 1977.
Shortly before his death, he appeared in a nationally televised interview at the 2006 NCAA wrestling championships. He crushed an apple with his bare hand, showing the incredible strength he still had at age 74.
[edit] Toastmasters International
McCann was appointed as the Executive Director of Toastmasters International (TI) in March 1975, having accepted the position in February[3]. He was TI's fourth and longest serving Executive Director.
A decade earlier he had already discovered the benefits of the TI program, when he joined the Oil Capital Toastmasters club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, upon the suggestion of Bill Borders, a friend and former national wrestling champion.[4][5]
[edit] Hobbies
McCann enjoyed physical sports such as bicycling, surfing and weightlifting, despite having endured nine knee operations and a shoulder operation.
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
- Obituary (not available as of 17 July 2006)
- USA The Olympian Obituary - starts p21
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