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Gable brings message of community importance to Conrad

TR photo by Chuck Friend Legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable (left) signs one of his books for BCLUW High School student and wrestler, Tucker Wall.

CONRAD – “Small town communities really determine the effect and popularity of their own area. They can do a lot and it is in their hands,” said legendary wrestler and coach Dan Gable when he spoke to a gathering in the BCLUW gym on Nov 4., to kick off the appearance of the Smithsonian Institute’s Museum on Main “Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America” which opens on Nov. 17 in Conrad as its last stop in Iowa.

“Some people do not realize why people are so successful, but actually it starts at the home. I look at my parents, my teachers, my coaches as to why I am where I am today. Believe it or not, the local community is the biggest factor in putting good people or good kids out there and why they have successful athletic teams and academic achievers. This community support is what I am pushing.”

Gable, spokesman for the Smithsonian’s traveling “Hometown Teams” exhibit while in Iowa, said they contacted him and asked if he would be spokesman. He agreed, but found out that one sport was missing: wrestling. He said he went right back to them and told them that in Iowa they better promote wrestling as one of their sports and consequently took the position to be able to add wrestling to the exhibit.

“I told them that if they were going to have me as a spokesman, we were going to promote wrestling,” Gable said. “We need help promoting it – our sport is not as authoritative as other sports in Iowa.”

Now some of his personal memorabilia from his illustrious career as a wrestler and coach will be on display as a part of this Smithsonian exhibit.

“Wrestling is a sport that is only six weeks out of a year in high school and college, but in those six weeks a young person can learn valuable life skills – individually,” Gable said. “You learn a lot of self-confidence and self-defense in wrestling, and although we do not have a young ladies state championship in wrestling, I do believe that we need a comparable sport for the girls.” Gable added that high school girls wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and because Iowa has separate boys and girls athletic associations and unions, “we just do not have such a program.”

Gable went on to say that for the past 100 years, Iowa has been known around the world for the sport of wrestling, as well as for its ability as farmers to feed the world.

“The difference in a community is its people – the kids and the parents behind them. I want to see more signs in communities recognizing the champions and their achievements. It inspires people. The more you can do to recognize the champions in life, you are doing people justice at an age that they can take it all in.”

In addition to his two books, Gable promoted a painting called “The Art of the Fight, that has just been released – which he said tells the whole story of life. And a movie is being made, called “The Last Champion” which depicts wrestling in small town Iowa that will be coming out next year.

“When you do things you have to do them right – if not, you are vulnerable,” Gable said when asked about his only loss in high school and college with a record of 181-1 and some of his appearances in Munich.

“Everything in life begins with faith,” Gable said.

The Smithsonian Institutes “Hometown Teams” exhibit opens at the Conrad Public Library Alexander Meeting Room on Nov. 17 and will be there seven days a week until Dec.31. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It is jointly sponsored by Conrad chamber-Main Street, the Smithsonian Institute’s Museums on Main and Main Street Iowa.

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