Clifton Gustafson was one of 14 to be inducted into the U of M Hall of Fame

The University of Minnesota “M” Club inducted 14 new members into its Hall of Fame on October 15. A former Gonvick resident was among the 14 - Clifton Gustafson, Big Ten champion and first two-time All-American in program history in wrestling. 

Family members were invited for the special events that were taking place including the presentation, a Gopher  hockey game and a Gopher football game.

The “M” Club, one of the oldest and largest letter winners clubs in the nation, welcomed the 14 newest members to its Hall of Fame in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus in  Minneapolis. The event celebrated the accomplishments of an eclectic group of Gopher greats whose playing careers spanned eight different decades and nine different Gopher programs. 

“The ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame Ceremony is the annual marquee event, providing the university a chance to celebrate Golden Gopher student-athletes who set the highest standards for athletic achievement, both at the University of Minnesota and nationally,” said George Adzick, “M” Club director. “These athletes are the best of our best and it is a privilege to honor those who have created so many special moments and memories in the history of Gopher athletics by forever enshrining them in The “M” Club Hall of Fame.”

This year’s class 

of inductees included: 

•Luke Becker (Wrestling) National Champion, four-time All-American and a key contributor to the program’s first two NCAA titles. 

•Ronda Curtin (Women’s Hockey) Program’s first two-time All-American, 2002 WCHA Player of the Year. 

•Chris Darkins (Football and Track) Minnesota’s single-game rushing record holder, top-five in career rushing yards and 1996 Big Ten champion in 55-meter dash. 

•Roland DePaul (Men’s Hockey) All-American and three-time team scoring leader. 

•Olga (Splichalova) Espinosa (Women’s Swimming) Seven-time All-American, three-time Big Ten champion and two-time Czech Olympian. 

•Brent Gates (Baseball) All-American and 1991 Big Ten Player of the Year, currently second on Minnesota’s career batting average list. 

•Clifton Gustafson (Wrestling) Big Ten champion and first two-time All-American in program history. 

•Jack Manders (Football) Two-time All-American and three-time All-Pro during NFL career. 

•Dick Meredith (Men’s Hockey) NCAA All-Tournament team honoree and two-time U.S. Olympian. 

•Jennie (Moe) Coughlin (Women’s Tennis) First three-time, First Team All-Big Ten performer in program history and leader in career double wins and career overall wins. 

•Dave Odegard (Track and Field) First All-American hurdler at Minnesota and two-time Big Ten champion. 

•Joey Ray (Men’s Gymnastics) Six-time Big Ten champion, including four-time parallel bar champion, and 1984 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient. 

•Bill “Buzz” Schneider (Men’s Hockey) Leader on Minnesota’s first NCAA championship team and two-time U.S. Olympian. 

•Byrl Thompson (Track and Field) Two-time Big Ten champion in discus and alternate for 1948 U.S. Olympic team.

In addition to highlighting the exceptional careers of those heading into the Hall of Fame, the event also recognized all members of the Hall of Fame in attendance and showcased student-athletes who earned a varsity letter in 1965, honoring them with a 50th year letter winner pin during an on-stage presentation. 

The induction of the 2015 class brings the total number of Gophers enshrined in the “M” Club Hall of Fame to 334 individuals across 27 different varsity programs. 

Clifton Gustafson 

(Wrestling, 1936-38) -- One of the earliest stars in Gopher wrestling history, Gustafson was the program’s first multiple-time All-American, finishing third at heavyweight at the 1937 NCAA tournament and then finishing as runner-up the following season. Gustafson was also a two-time finalist at the Big Ten tournament, winning the conference title in 1937 and finishing as the runner-up in 1938. Beyond his accomplishments in conference and NCAA events, Gustafson won the 1938 AAU national championship. 

Clifton Gustafson was born and raised on a farm southwest of Gonvick, the son of C.H. and Gurina Gustafson. He attended school at Gonvick.

What started him on his career was when he won a $500 scholarship to the University of Minnesota at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1934. He received “high man” in sheep judging for the 4-H General Livestock Judging with a perfect score. 

He went on to attend the University of Minnesota and during his sophomore year Cliff was talked into representing his fraternity at an intramural wrestling meet. He did not have any wrestling experience but he won the match. His friends also entered him in the “All-University Meet”, which he also won. Coaches saw him at the meet and invited him to join the wrestling team.

When he was in high school he suffered from rheumatic fever which damaged his heart and almost took his life. Due to his condition, Cliff decided early on that he needed to conserve energy and depend on his speed. He developed a technique that he called “the Drop”, which he continued to use during his career.

During his junior and senior years at the U of M he was undefeated. As a senior, he was made captain of his wrestling team and also held the record for the fastest fall at the U of M, which was 12 seconds.

He went to the 1938 National Finals in Pennsylvania where  he took the National Amateur Athletic Union Championship (AAUC). That determined who would go to the Olympics.

As an A.A.U, wrestler he was on a squad of seven on a tour of Europe. They spent a 3-day round robin tournament in Stockholm. He was well received in Sweden since he could also speak Swedish. 

Gustafson won tournaments in Norrköping, Karlstad, Sandviken and Uppsala, Sweden and in Stuttgart and Munich, Germany. 

His biggest thrill of the tour came from beating Bohmer, the German champion at Stuttgart. Bohmer had previously beaten Hornfischer, the 1936 German Olympic champion. Adolph Hitler, who had been watching the match, walked out after Bohmer was defeated.

Two professional wrestlers Joe Stecher and Bronko Nagurski with their manager Tony Stecher wanted Cliff to sign on as a professional wrestler. 

He returned home to think about it as he was assured of a berth on the 1940 Olympic squad. But World War II broke out and the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled. At that time he decided to turn pro. He wrestled for ten years as a professional, always in the main event. 

He developed a tremendous following all over the United States as he wrestled in cities including Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Los Angeles, and  Minneapolis.

In 1948, Cliff retired from wrestling. At that time he held the Heavyweight National Wrestling Association Championship title. He wasn’t impressed with pro wrestling but he liked the amateur style.

He held teaching and coaching positions in area school at Gonvick, Janesville and Sebeka before they retired to his farm near Gonvick. They were engaged in beef farming.

During his retirement years he took long walks along the country road where he lived.