Jim Leach and wrestling

[grapplefann]

Former congressman Jim Leach passed away, and here is what the obit in the CR Gazette had to say about his wrestling career:

"But Leach’s humility receded when it came to his accomplishments as a wrestler. He won a state title in 1960 for Davenport High School.
“He liked to say that he'd been inducted in the Wrestling Hall of Fame,” Wierzynski said.
"I’ve always thought that the most equalitarian place in the world is the wrestling mat," Leach said in a 2009 interview. "You have two people operating with the same goal in mind and abiding by the same rules. Wrestlers may differ in height and body type, but it’s hard to say who has the natural advantage." "

Always a maverick, and always an Iowan. We will miss him.

 

[WildTurk]

Jim never talked poorly of his opponents either. Much respect. Rest in Peace Jim.

 

[Chickenman Testa]

Good man. My old boss teamed up with him to enact one of the most important pieces of banking legislation in the last 100 years - for good or for ill.

And Congressman Leach remembered that Iowa fought for the Union and didn’t keep a Confederate Flag on his office desk

 

[GG121AND2]

Amateur wrestling historian, Rich Foens (Smitty"s Shoe Repair), was a high school teammate and always said that the congressman's brother, Bob, was the better wrestler.

I voted for Congressman Leach about a dozen times and met him once.

 

[12tdsaw]

did you vote a dozen times in the same year