Hugh Peery
American wrestler (1931–2015)

Hugh Peery
Personal information
Full nameRobert Hugh Peery
Born(1931-11-07)November 7, 1931
Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 2015(2015-01-10) (aged 83)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamPittsburgh
TeamUSA
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Pittsburgh Panthers
NCAA Championships
Gold medal – first place1952 Fort Collins115 lb
Gold medal – first place1953 State College115 lb
Gold medal – first place1954 Norman115 lb

Robert Hugh Peery (November 7, 1931 – January 10, 2015) was an American wrestler.[1] He won a gold medal at the 1951 Pan American Games,[2] and he competed in the men's freestyle flyweight at the 1952 Summer Olympics.[3] He also worked as a dentist for more than 50 years.[4]

Biography

Peery was born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1931.[5] He attended the Tulsa Central High School, where he became an Eagle Scout and a two-time state champion.[2][5] At the University of Pittsburgh he was a three-time NCAA champion in the early 1950s.[6] At the 1951 Pan American Games, Peery won the gold medal in the freestyle flyweight division.[2]

Peery was selected to represent the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.[7] At the Olympics, Peery competed in the men's freestyle flyweight event, and was eliminated by Georgy Sayadov of the Soviet Union.[5][8]

Following his wrestling career, Peery graduated from a dental school in 1956,[9] going on to serve in the United States Navy Dental Corps.[2] Following his military career, he returned to Pittsburgh, where he worked as a dentist for more than 50 years.[2]

In 1980, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member,[10] and he was also posthumously inducted into the University of Pittsburgh hall of fame.[11] His brother, Ed, and his father, Rex, were also inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Hugh Peery". EIWA Wrestling. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Hugh Peery". Olympedia. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Hugh Peery Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Robert Hugh Peery / Wrestler who became a North Hills dentist 'to help people'". Post Gazette. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "InterMat Rewind: Hugh Peery". InterMat. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Legendary Collegiate Wrestler Hugh Peery Passes Away at Age 84". NWHOF. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Hugh Peery makes first Olympic wrestling team". Newspapers.com. July 14, 1952. p. 19. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Flyweight, Freestyle (≤52 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "DR. ROBERT "HUGH" PEERY". Legacy. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Hugh Peery". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Hall of Fame: Peery Family". University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "Olympian Peery kept wrestling record under wraps". Tribe Live. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  • Hugh Peery at the International Wrestling Database
  • Hugh Peery at Olympedia
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