[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2413-S2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  REMEMBERING ROBERT ``BOBBY'' DOUGLAS

 Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Robert ``Bobby'' Edward Douglas, an Olympian, coach, mentor, 
and one of the most respected figures in American wrestling.
  Born in Bellaire, OH, on March 27, 1942, Bobby Douglas overcame 
significant adversity early in life and developed the resilience and 
determination that would define both his athletic and coaching career. 
Throughout his career, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, 
discipline, and dedication to the athletes and communities he served.
  Coach Douglas was one of the first Black wrestlers to represent the 
United States at the Olympic Games, competing in the 1964 Tokyo 
Olympics at a time when opportunities for Black athletes in many sports 
remained limited. He later served as captain of the 1968 U.S. Olympic 
wrestling team and earned silver and bronze medals at the World 
Championships, establishing himself as one of the top wrestlers of his 
era.
  In 1973, Coach Douglas became the first Black head coach of a major 
college wrestling program when he was hired at the University of 
California, Santa Barbara. In 1975, he came to Arizona where he helped 
build Arizona State University into a national wrestling powerhouse and 
led the Sun Devils to the program's first and only NCAA wrestling 
national championship in 1988. During his 17 seasons leading the 
program, ASU produced 59 All-Americans, three NCAA individual 
champions, Olympians, and generations of student-athletes who carried 
forward the lessons he taught both on and off the mat. During his time 
at ASU, Coach Douglas was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year eight times.
  Coach Douglas later spent 14 seasons as head coach at Iowa State 
University, where he accumulated 198 victories and coached 3 teams to 
runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships. In 2000, he was named the 
National Wrestling Coaches Association National Coach of the Year.
  His contributions extended far beyond collegiate wrestling. Coach 
Douglas served for many years as a dedicated coach for USA Wrestling 
and later served as head coach of the 1992 U.S. Olympic wrestling team, 
which earned six medals at the Barcelona Olympic Games. He also served 
as head coach for the U.S. World Championship teams in 1989 and 1991.
  Over the course of his career, Coach Douglas became one of only 4 
collegiate wrestling coaches to win more than 400 dual matches, 
finishing with 427 career victories. In 1987, he was inducted into the 
National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member and later 
earned induction into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame, the 
Iowa State Hall of Fame, the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame, the 
NAIA Hall of Fame, and the West Liberty Hall of Fame.
  Coach Douglas passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 83. His 
passing is a tremendous loss for Arizona, Arizona State University, and 
the generations of athletes and families whose lives he impacted 
throughout his career.
  Former wrestlers and colleagues consistently described Coach Douglas 
as disciplined and deeply committed to the success of his athletes. He 
emphasized accountability, hard work, and

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integrity, and he remained dedicated to mentoring young wrestlers long 
after his collegiate coaching career ended through camps, clinics, and 
community programs in Arizona and across the country.
  Arizona is stronger because of Coach Douglas' leadership, mentorship, 
and commitment to young people. His legacy will continue to be felt 
through the athletes, coaches, and families he inspired throughout his 
remarkable life.
  My thoughts are with his wife Jackie Davis Douglas; his son Bobby 
Douglas, Jr.; his former athletes and colleagues; and all those 
mourning his loss. We honor Coach Bobby Douglas' lifetime of 
achievement and celebrate the lasting impact he had on Arizona and our 
Nation.

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