Longtime wrestling spectator given moment of recognition
Longtime Libby wrestling supporter Harvey Fredrickson, 82, travelled May 17 to Pocatello, Idaho, as an honored guest of a recent National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee.
Ashton, Idaho’s North Freemont High School wrestling Coach Mike Leck, the state’s winningest wrestling coach with 11 team titles and 55 state champions since 1990, was acknowledged for his lifetime service to wrestling. During his acceptance speech, Leck requested that Fredrickson stand. Like the coach, Fredrickson has dedicated decades to supporting young men’s pursuits on the mat.
The Libby resident and former North Freemont student said his fascination with wrestling began in the early 1970s. The Greenchain had some impressive wrestlers at the time, so Fredrickson, himself a puller of the greenchain for J. Neils Lumber Company, learned the rules and began observing. Very closely.
“He’s like an encyclopedia,” friend and fellow Montana wrestling institution Ray Hammons said. “His wife, Dolores, says he keeps boxes of programs way back to 40, 50 years. You can ask him what kid won a certain weight class in a certain year, and he can tell you.”
With his nephew, Don Madison, and Ray and Darlene Hammons, Fredrickson logged hundreds of thousands of miles following local wrestlers around the state. Darlene Hammons said the crew did not miss a single Libby duel when Jay Graham was Libby’s coach.
The physical competition and individuality of the sport allure Fredrickson. Back in the early 1950’s, when he was in high school, North Freemont did not offer wrestling. Instead, Fredrickson laced up boxing gloves.
“That went on until a kid in Rigby, Idaho, got hurt real bad,” Fredrickson said.
Ray Hammons said his road buddy could pack quite the punch in his day. The two met when Ray married Darlene. At the time, Fredrickson was good friends with Darlene’s uncle, Horace.
“We’ve been everywhere, everywhere,” Ray Hammons said. “Always, always we made it to the tournaments. Traveling all that time, we got to be good friends. At first he is real quiet, but when you are always hauling he got to telling me about being raised. It was hard, old times in Idaho.”
Dolores Fredrickson said her husband has more wrestling event hats than she has space to hang. He is also concerned about the declining participation of the sport he holds dear. According to Ray Hammons, Harvey Fredrickson would go out of his way to help young wrestlers in need. If a kid with a bit of potential needed help scraping together enough money to buy the team jacket, Fredrickson would gather the remaining funds. If a kid could not afford a new pair of wrestling shoes, Fredrickson would provide.
“You know, I didn’t expect to be recognized,” Fredrickson said. “It was a nice surprise.”
A Korean War veteran, Fredrickson still works in the yard. Ray Hammons’ calls to the Fredrickson house often have to be returned because Harvey is out chopping wood.
“He’s a great wrestling fan,” Ray Hammons said. “He stays for the entire meet of every one he attends. He loves the heavyweights. I don’t think he’ll quit attending matches until he is gone.”