SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Gerald "Gerrie" Stone '64

The 1964-65 wrestling team is being honored tonight with the Legacy Award. Without taking a formal poll, odds are many of the members of that team would list Gerrie Stone as one of the major influences in their overall success.

He was a winner everywhere he went ... let us tell the story. Gerrie took to athletics at an early age and with no youth program available for wrestling, caught on by his junior high years. As a sophomore, he won the first of three Susquenango League titles. The next year, he won his first Section IV championship and made it to the state finals before dropping a nail-biting 5-4 decision in the 154 pound match.

His senior season started by being named captain of the 1963 football team. The team went 5-2 that fall. Into the winter for wrestling, Gerrie once again emerged as the top 154 pounder in the League and Section and set his sights on getting that elusive state title. He made it to the semifinals before losing 8-2 to eventual champion Henry Conley of Valley Stream. However, in his final scholastic match, Gerrie garnered third place with a pin in 3:06.

Later that spring, after completing his days in a Sidney uniform as a pole vaulter, Gerrie received a great piece of news. With a career record of 70 wins 4 losses (two in state tournament action) and one tie, Gerrie Stone was awarded 4th in a nationwide honor roll of high school wrestlers, presented by Amateur Wrestling News magazine. He was also the recipient of the Ralph Pyle Award as the Outstanding Male Athlete at Sidney HS.

In the fall of 1964, Gerrie attended Augusta Military Academy in Ft. Defiance, Virginia. He played football and track but his niche of course was on the mats. Sure enough, he won every match that year, highlighted by his capturing the Virginia State Championship! This propelled Gerrie to Oklahoma State, where he earned a wrestling scholarship.

The Cowboys were already a national collegiate power when Gerrie arrived in 1966. His winning attitude and work ethic made them even better. A first Big 8 title came in his sophomore season - he also advanced to the National Semifinals, which earned him All-American honors. In 1967-68, Stone and the OSU Cowboys were National Champions. It is believed to be the first time a Sidney alumnus had been part of an NCAA championship team.

As far as wrestling beyond college, Gerrie did a lot of it. From 1969-77 he joined the New York Athletic Club. For a 5-6 year span while living and working as police officer in Charlotte County Florida, he participated in the Police Olympics, where he won a Gold Medal in his last attempt at competitive wrestling.

Gerrie's impact on the sport continued long after his days on the mat were over. He became actively involved in area high school programs as well as the younger kids. There were many Florida individual and team champions who came from these programs. For 15 years, Gerrie sponsored and donated, on behalf of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, an Outstanding Wrestler Trophy which was presented to a wrestler from among three local schools. Truly an honor worth attaining!

Gerrie and Sue Stone have been married for 39 years. His career in law enforcement started in 1978 and by 1994, it was Major Gerald Stone who retired from active duty. He was also nominated and selected to attend the 203rd session of the FBI National Academy. Wrestling was certainly the catalyst for many of the successes earned and enjoyed by Gerrie Stone, but it is clear he has also led an exemplary life. One more honor - one by which he has admitted being truly humbled - is Gerrie's induction into the Class of 2009 of the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.