Gerald Leeman
Encyclopedia
Gerald "Germ" Leeman (June 22, 1922 - October 10, 2008) was an American wrestler and Olympic silver medalist.
in 1939, 1940 and 1941.
Gerald went on to wrestle in college for Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa
. He won the 1946 NCAA national championship at 128 pounds for Iowa State Teachers College and was named outstanding wrestler of the tournament. While at ISTC he also won 2 AAU wrestling championships.
2 years later, in 1948, Gerald wrestled at the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London, England and won the silver medal for freestyle wrestling at 125.5 pounds.
After returning to the United States he briefly coached Fort Dodge High School's wrestling team in Fort Dodge, Iowa
but would quickly move on to a college coaching position at Lehigh University
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
.
It was while training for the Olympics, Leeman met Lehigh University wrestling coach Billy Sheridan. In 1953, Leeman replaced Sheridan as head coach and compiled a 161-38-4 record and unsurpassed 80.3 winning percentage before resigning in 1970. In his 18 years as coach he never had a losing season at Lehigh.
He is a member of several halls of fame, including the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, the NCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Glen Brand Iowa Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable Wrestling Institute and Museum.
He was named one of the top fifty Iowa athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated
.
Lehigh's wrestling arena is now known as Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall in his and Thad Turner's honor.
"One of the kids said, 'He goes through those holes like a little germ.' Then the coach started calling me that," Leeman said in a December 2007 interview with The Des Moines Register.
From 1943-1945 Leeman served his country as a pilot in the United States Navy
during World War II
. He later returned to Iowa State Teachers College to finish his bachelor's degree in 1948.
Leeman retired to Cedar Falls, Iowa
, where he died of cancer on October 10, 2008 at age 86.
Wrestling career
Leeman was the first three-time high school wrestling champion from Osage, IowaOsage, Iowa
Osage is a city in Mitchell County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,451 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mitchell County.-Geography:Osage is located at ....
in 1939, 1940 and 1941.
Gerald went on to wrestle in college for Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
. He won the 1946 NCAA national championship at 128 pounds for Iowa State Teachers College and was named outstanding wrestler of the tournament. While at ISTC he also won 2 AAU wrestling championships.
2 years later, in 1948, Gerald wrestled at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London, England and won the silver medal for freestyle wrestling at 125.5 pounds.
After returning to the United States he briefly coached Fort Dodge High School's wrestling team in Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Fort Dodge is a city and county seat of Webster County, Iowa, United States, along the Des Moines River. The population was 25,206 in the 2010 census, an increase from 25,136 in the 2000 census. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa. It is located on U.S...
but would quickly move on to a college coaching position at Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
.
It was while training for the Olympics, Leeman met Lehigh University wrestling coach Billy Sheridan. In 1953, Leeman replaced Sheridan as head coach and compiled a 161-38-4 record and unsurpassed 80.3 winning percentage before resigning in 1970. In his 18 years as coach he never had a losing season at Lehigh.
He is a member of several halls of fame, including the University of Northern Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, the NCAA Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Glen Brand Iowa Hall of Fame at the Dan Gable Wrestling Institute and Museum.
He was named one of the top fifty Iowa athletes of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
.
Lehigh's wrestling arena is now known as Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall in his and Thad Turner's honor.
The Origin of His Nickname
Leeman's nickname came from the football field."One of the kids said, 'He goes through those holes like a little germ.' Then the coach started calling me that," Leeman said in a December 2007 interview with The Des Moines Register.
Personal life
Leeman was the second of ten children.From 1943-1945 Leeman served his country as a pilot in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He later returned to Iowa State Teachers College to finish his bachelor's degree in 1948.
Leeman retired to Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls is a city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States, and it is home to one of Iowa's three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa. The population was 39,260 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 36,145 population in the 2000 census...
, where he died of cancer on October 10, 2008 at age 86.