CHADRON - Rex Jones of Chadron has been selected as one of three recipients of the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Dan Gable "America Needs Wrestling" Award.
The presentations will be made at the 2009 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis in March.
Jones is being recognized for his vast contribution to wrestling as an administrator. During the 26 years that he was associate director of the Nebraska School Activities Association he was in charge of the state tournament. He also served on the National Federation of High School State Association's Wrestling Rules Committee for 12 years, including a term as chairman.
The other award recipients are Danielle Hobeika, of Naperville, Ill., and Jim Root, of Saratoga, Calif.
The award recognizes individuals who have given significant time and effort to wrestling. The efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport, through contributions that are financial, service or leadership in nature.
"We have three individuals who rightly deserve this award with vastly different backgrounds," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer.
"It goes to show you don't always have to be one type of individual to do wonders for the sport of wrestling."
A graduate of Chadron High School and Chadron State College, Jones helped start the wrestling program at Rushville while he was coaching there in 1962 and began refereeing the sport in its formative years in Nebraska, both on the high school and college levels.
