Hall of Fame referee Mike Allen, 74, has passed away

STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame was saddened to learn that Mike Allen, who was honored as Meritorious Official by the Hall of Fame in 2007 and inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa in 2010, passed away on Friday, at the age of 74.

"On behalf of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Board of Governors and our staff, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Mike Allen’s family and friends," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. "Mike was a true pioneer in the wrestling community - a national trailblazer as a referee, a tireless advocate for young athletes, and a dedicated educator. His impact on the sport extended far beyond the mat, as he generously gave his time and expertise to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, serving on numerous committees over the years. His passion, leadership, and commitment to wrestling’s future will be deeply missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come"

One of the top college and high school wrestling referees in history, Allen officiated for 35 years at numerous major competitions. Distinguished for his efficiency and skill as an official, he was selected to referee many of the most important college wrestling dual meets each season because of his ability, integrity and professionalism on the mat.

He credits his parents, Betty and Willie Allen, and the coaching staff at UNI for helping him become a respected referee. Allen began officiating when he as assistant wrestling coach for Gene Luttrell at Waterloo Central High School. Allen recalled that while questioning some calls being made on the mat, Luttrell said "if you think you can do better, then you should take the officiating test." Allen said that it was an open book test that he took and passed, beginning his long journey as a wrestling official.

He worked 23 NCAA Championships and presided over numerous NCAA Division I conference championship tournaments, including the Big Ten Conference, the Big 12 Conference and the Pac-12. Allen holds the distinction of being the first official to work all three NCAA national championships and the national tournaments for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Junior College Athletic Association in the same year.

The first African American to officiate in the Iowa state tournament, he has officiated at 20 Iowa High School Championships and a number of other national high school tournaments. He was voted Iowa Wrestling Official of the Year in 1980, 1987 and 1992 and was inducted into the Iowa High School Officials Hall of Fame in 2003.

Allen played football and wrestled at Waterloo East High School in Waterloo, Iowa, and was a member of the school's football team that began a streak of 57 consecutive wins and six Iowa state championships in a row. He then played at Ellsworth Junior College before eventually playing football and wrestling for the University of Northern Iowa in both wrestling and football, winning a North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship at 190 pounds.

He also distinguished himself as a coach, guiding five Central High School student athletes to state titles in eight years. Allen served as athletic director of his alma mater, Waterloo East High School.

Allen was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024 and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Iowa Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014. He is a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Waterloo East High School of Fame, the Ring of Honor Football Hall of Fame, the Ellsworth Football Hall of Fame, the Midlands Hall of Fame, the Iowa Wrestling Official Hall of Fame, the Iowa African-American Hall of Fame.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum

America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation and now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. It also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.