A Memorial Tribute to Ron Garrison & The Brotherhood of Wrestling

(The following story is a tribute to wrestling historian Ron Garrison, who passed away in July. The tribute includes quotes from a story that appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 1995, the year Ron was inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame)

Ronald L. Garrison, 58, of Munhall, died Monday, July 9, 2007. He was born Sept. 1, 1948, and was predeceased by his parents, Lawrence and Josephine Keener Garrison, and half brother, Jerry Roberts.

Garrison was a member of the Dapper Dan Wrestling Committee and the Munhall Planning Commission and former vice chairman of the Munhall Republican Committee. He was a 39-year employee of CVS Pharmacies and a member of the McKeesport Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Versailles.

Garrison never wrestled in high school, but immediately fell in love with the sport.

“I was introduced to the sport by (former Munhall and West Mifflin coach) Steve DeAugustino,” said Garrison, prior to his induction into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. “I didn't have the athletic ability required to compete, but started to follow the sport very closely.”

Garrison eventually started covering matches and taking photographs for the Homestead Messenger. He worked for them on a free-lance basis for 10 years until the paper folded.

In 1970, Garrison and Mark Licht, a former West Mifflin North wrestler, started the Brotherhood of Wrestling Foundation.

“We created the Brotherhood of Wrestling to recognize athletic and academic achievements of senior wrestlers,” said Garrison, who was born, raised, and lived his entire life in Munhall. “We originally started recognizing seniors from Steel Valley, West Mifflin and Bishop Boyle, then expanded to high schools throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Garrison took over sole responsibility of The Brotherhood of Wrestling Foundation in 1988 when Licht passed away. The Brotherhood of Wrestling Foundation awarded “Classic Medallions” to wrestlers at more than 40 regular season tournaments each year for more than 30 years.

The Foundation also awarded “Brotherhood of Wrestling” plaques to 40-45 senior wrestlers each year for special achievements.

“There were two criteria I use in choosing ‘Brotherhood of Wrestling Award’ honorees,” said Garrison. “The wrestler has to be a senior, and he has to be a team leader on and off the mat.”

Garrison was a member of the committee that runs the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic for more than 30 years. He was also its historian.

“I went to the first Classic and filmed it on super 8 movie film,” said Garrison. “I wasn't associated with The Classic at that time, but one member of the committee asked me if I would be a technical advisor.”

Garrison was later asked to join the committee and eventually became its historian.

“Ron lectured every wrestler he came in contact with about the importance of academics,” said former Steel Valley coach Rusty Owston. “He was a father-figure to all of us.”

Garrison was inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1995 at the Wrestling Classic. That ceremony was a bitter-sweet experience for Garrison, because his mother had died three days earlier after losing her battle with cervical cancer.

“Mother never attended The Classic, but she was a big fan,” said Garrison. “She would watch the film with me after every Classic. She was very proud of the work we do to raise money for the Dapper Dan Charities.

“That weekend was a strain on me, but the wrestling committee and the people associated with The Classic banded together to give support to me in my time of grief, and that shall never be forgotten.”

The death of his mother left Garrison as the only living member of his family, something that bothered him to the day he died. But he always talked of the family he had in the wrestling community.

“I knew Ron for 25 years and was fortunate enough to call him a friend,” said wrestling webmaster Bruce Closson. “He fell in love with our sport in high school and it became his family.

“He lived a short painful life but he walked with pride. He did everything he could to help others and never asked when he was in need. The last few years he lost his job and endured hunger, lack of water, heat, electric and illness without asking a soul for help. Even down as a soul can be he had more dignity than us all. The lord has taken away his pain but the rest of us will miss him deeply.”

(By Ken Wunderley, Tri-State Sports and News Service)