Terrence McCann

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Men's Wrestling
Gold 1960 Freestyle bantamweight

Terrence John McCann (March 23, 1932June 7, 2006) was an American wrestler who won the Gold Medal in the bantamweight division of freestyle wrestling at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, and later helped found the United States Wrestling Federation (now called USA Wrestling). He was born in Chicago, Illinois.

McCann was inducted, as a Distinguished Member, into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (USA) in 1977.

He was also the retired Executive Director of Toastmasters International, having served in that position for 26 years.[1]

He died in Dana Point, California at age 74 from a rare asbestos-linked cancer and was survived by his wife of 52 years, Lucille, as well as seven children, eighteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three siblings.

Contents

[edit] Wrestling

McCann began wrestling in a city-sponsored park recreation program when he was 11.[2] He wanted to compete in the Olympics and saw that wrestling could greatly increase his opportunities in life.

[edit] Toastmasters International

McCann was appointed as the Executive Director of Toastmasters International (TI) in March 1975, having accepted the position in February[3]. He was TI's fourth and longest serving Executive Director.

A decade earlier he had already discovered the benefits of the TI program, when he joined the Oil Capital Toastmasters club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, upon the suggestion of Bill Borders, a friend and former national wrestling champion.[4][5]

[edit] Hobbies

McCann enjoyed physical sports such as bicycling, surfing and weightlifting, despite having endured nine knee operations and a shoulder operation.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ See In memory of Toastmasters' former Executive Director [1]
  2. ^ See The Third Wave by Terrence J. McCann, The Toastmaster July 2001 p13
  3. ^ See The Toastmaster July 2001, p10
  4. ^ See The Toastmaster July 2001, p10
  5. ^ See Bill Borders' wrestling results [2]

[edit] External links