Donald Rae BEHM

In 1971, Michigan State’s Don Behm won the bantamweight gold medal at the Pan-American Games. He had come close to gold at Mexico City in 1968, but was outclassed by the great American-trained Japanese, Yojiro Uetake. Behm was a silver medalist at the 1969 and 1971 World Championships, and in 1970 won the major international at Tbilisi, Georgia. He wrestled in college at Michigan State, winning two Big 10 titles, twice making All-American, and winning three Midlands titles (1965, 1967, 1974). Behm later won two AAU titles, in 1973 at 125 lbs. and in 1974 at 135 lbs. After retiring from competition, he became a wrestling coach. He is a member of multiple Halls of Fame, including the Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame, the Midlands Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame.