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Don Jung Hall of Merit "Living is more like wrestling than dancing. The main thing is to stand firm and be ready for an unforseen attack." — Marcus Aurelius

Don Jung receives his gold at Gay Games I from Tom Waddell as Scott Veliquette (bronze) and John Thayer (silver) cheer. WWB created a Hall of Merit rather than a Hall of Fame because we are not recognizing people who sought fame, but rather honoring people who have displayed sacrifice and selflessness to encourage other to achieve as much as they could and to create safe and supportive wrestling opportunities for athletes regardless of skill level, gender, orientation or age. The wrestling community is composed of competitors, officials, coaches and supporters and the Hall seeks to honor their legacies. The 2011-12 Leadership & Legacy Class fwill be inducted during the Sin City Shootout in Las Vegas in January 2012. The new inductees are: Michael Ognibene, Mike Rio, Rochelle Robinson and Albert "Ace" Rocek. The Foundation Class, focused on the first Gay Games, was created in 2007 and announced at Golden Gate's renamed Don Jung Wrestling Tournament. Gene Dermody received an Atlas Award for lifetime contributions starting with Gay Games I; other honorees received framed certificates for their involvement with the organzation of Gay Games I wrestling. A larger Inaugural Class, representing a quarter of century of catching up to do, was selected to recognize pioneers and founders from all of the WWB clubs, was named at the inaugural WWB Cup Tournament in Chicago, May of 2008. Each honoree received a trophy and a ceritificate. This ceremony was repeated in 2009 for the six Excellence and Endurance Class inductees. Future classes will be named at WWB tournaments.

2007 — THE FOUNDATION: The Start of a Movement

•   Don Jung   •   Steve Swanson   •   Peter Runyon   •   Allen Abraham   •   Gene Dermody     2008 — PIONEERS AND LEADERS: The Inaugural Class   •  Abram "Alex" Ostrovskiy   •   Barry Webb   •   Bob Sayers   •   Ed Lindsay   •   Jek Fong     •  Johnny Almony   •   Kathy McAdams   •   Kevin Martin   •   Les Morgan       •  Rick Van Tassell   •   Roger Brigham   •   Ron Ward   •   Russ Connelly       2009 — EXCELLENCE & ENDURANCE   •   Philippe Bruno   •   John English   •   Erika Hom           •   Michael LoFurno   •   Erich Richter   •   Dennis Spillman           2011-12 — LEADERSHIP & LEGACY   •   Michael Ognibene   •   Mike Rio   •   Rochelle Robinson   •   Albert "Ace" Rocek

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