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Frank Rader Dead at 66

By Admin, 05/18/15, 11:00AM EDT

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"Founding Father" of NCUSA Wrestling Was One of Sports Greatest Champions

The founder and long time leader of North Carolina USA Wrestling died unexpectedly early Monday morning. He was 66.

Rader was known throughout USA Wrestling as an active leader and great behind the scenes advocate for many different projects.

Most recently Rader had founded Race City Grapplers and was active in bringing more wrestling to the Mooresville area.

Frank is survived by his wife Liz and his daughter Ellie. Visitation will be Thursday, May 21 from 5-7pm at the Calvin-Cooke Funeral Home in Mooresville (494 E. Plaza Dr.). Funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Mooresville Friday at 1pm. A graveside service at Glenwood Memorial Park will follow.

Below is an article from USA Wrestling detailing some of Franks activities and career accomplishments within the world of wrestling.

"Frank Rader of Mooresville, N.C. is the recipient of the1999 Kids/Cadet Person of the Year award by USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body for amateur wrestling in the United States.

Rader has been involved with USA Wrestling for three decades and has spent at least 35 years involved with wrestling on many different levels. He was named the 1982 USA Wrestling Man of the Year.

He was a member of the USA Wrestling Board of Directors from 1991-1999 and he served as the organization's Treasurer for a number of years as well. Rader has served on the executive committee and the legislative committee of USA Wrestling. He was an interim Executive Director for USA Wrestling in 1985.

He has been the Vice Chairperson of Kids/Cadet Council and has been the North Carolina State Chairperson twice and a prior Southeast Kids/Cadet Region Director.

He worked with the southeast Region Kids/Cadet tournament from 1989-95 and 1997-99, in numerous roles, including the Director of the Event. He has been the North Carolina Treasurer since 1989.

Rader served in a leadership role on the staff for wrestling at both the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif. and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga.

He was a high school wrestling coach in North Carolina from 1972-76. As an athlete, he wrestled in North Carolina in high school from 1964-67, where he was the state champion in1967. He was a college wrestler from 1967-71 at Davidson College.

"The opportunity to be the Kids/Cadet person of the Year for the nation is the highest honor USA Wrestling can bestow and I am flattered to be within the group of nominees," said Rader.

CLICK HERE to see an article from the Mooresville Tribune.