Jan. 28, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa wrestling national champion and retired Major General Kenneth Leuer will serve as honorary captain Friday when the Hawkeyes host Penn State on Mediacom Mat inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Leuer, a native of Wayzata, Minn., finished a perfect senior season in 1956 by winning the 191-pound NCAA championship. He won a Big Ten title that same year and finished his Hawkeye career with a record of 86-5-2 and a pair of All-America honors.
Leuer graduated from the University of Iowa in 1956 with a degree in business administration and a Commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served 32 years in the United States Army Infantry, rising to the rank of Major General.
In 1974, Leuer was hand-picked by the Army Chief of Staff, General Creighton Abrams, and given the Abrams Charter for the formation of the modern Ranger Battalions. He co-authored the “Ranger Creed” and established the Ranger standards that are still practiced today and were demonstrated in combat in Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada, Just Cause in Panama, and Desert Storm in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operations.
In 2002, Leuer was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Hall of Outstanding Americans for his accomplishments on the wrestling mat and for his stellar 32-year military career.
Leuer will be recognized prior to the start of the dual meet. Start time is 8:04 p.m. (CT). The dual will be televised on BTN.