Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/279748
18 | NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM LATINO WRESTLING EXPERIENCE Joseph Garcia was born in 1922 in Graselli, W.Va., the son of Jose and Flora Garcia. He was the third of seven children born to the couple. The family eventually moved to East St. Louis, Ill., where Joseph became a two-sport athlete, serving as captain of his school's wrestling team and playing soccer as well. With the coming of World War II, Garcia served his country as a sergeant in the Pacific theater and was awarded two Bronze Stars for heroism. Upon the end of the conflict, he returned to Illinois and began taking classes at the University of Illinois; where he would make his mark as one of the greatest grapplers ever to compete on behalf of the Illini. During his four-year career on the mat, he was an All-American twice, losing in the 145-pound quarterfinals in 1947 and the 155-pound semifinals in 1948. In 1947, he was part of a Big Ten championship team, and placed second in the conference tournament. He was also a two-time Big Ten runner-up in his weight classification. Shortly after graduation in 1949, he took a position as assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, and found his calling. He moved to Albany, N.Y., in 1950 and was involved in Albany State athletics for the following four decades; finally retiring in 1985. During his more than 35 years, he served in a variety of capacities: founded and coached the wrestling team between 1950 and 1978; varsity soccer coach between 1950 and 1968; varsity baseball coach between 1950 and 1955; and associate director and director of athletics for the school between 1968 and 1977. He also earned his Master's degree from Albany in 1958, and worked as an associate professor of physical education. He was inducted into the New York State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1977 and also served at the national level with the NCAA Wrestling Executive Committee. Coach Garcia passed away on September 18, 2009 in Foxfire Village, N.C. Wrestled 1945-1949 University of Illinois 145lbs // 155lbs JOSEPH GARCIA DURING HIS 35 + YEARS, GARCIA SERVED IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES: FOUNDED AND COACHED THE WRESTLING TEAM BETWEEN 1950 AND 1978. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NEW YORK STATE WRESTLING COACHES HALL OF FAME IN 1977 AND ALSO SERVED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH THE NCAA WRESTLING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.