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BACKGROUND
| For immediate use |
Oct. 25, 2002 -- No. 584 |
Wellstone was Carolina alumnus, wrestler
The late Sen. Paul Wellstone earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1965 and his
doctorate in 1969, both in political science, from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. He completed the undergraduate degree in three years
and the doctorate in four. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's
highest honor society for college students.
- A champion Atlantic Coast Conference wrestler while he was at UNC, Wellstone
was named to the all-ACC wrestling team. He was undefeated in the 126-pound
weight class during his two years as a varsity wrestler and he won an individual
championship at the 1964 ACC championships.
- In June 2000, Wellstone was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of
Fame's Hall of Outstanding Americans in Stillwater, Okla. That wing of the
hall recognizes wrestlers who have achieved prominence in other fields such
as business and industry, science and technology, government, the military
and the arts and humanities.
- As a graduate student, Wellstone taught political science from 1968-69.
He also was an intramural sports official at UNC.
- Wellstone continued to follow the UNC wrestling program and attended the
NCAA Championships when they were held at UNC's Dean E. Smith Center in 1994.
The senator told UNC's Sports Information Office that wrestling gave him a
foundation of discipline and self-confidence that has helped in politics.
- In April 2001, Wellstone visited UNC to attend a reception in honor of Dr.
Joel Schwartz, who was retiring from full-time teaching. Schwartz remains
an adjunct professor in the of public policy analysis curriculum. Wellstone
studied under Schwartz as a political science doctoral student.
- Last February, Wellstone gave UNC's first William P. Murphy Lecture in the
UNC School of Law Rotunda. The speech, "The Call to Justice," focused
on constitutional law issues.
- In an interview with the UNC Sports Information Office, Wellstone said he
carried positive memories of his time at Carolina. "I left Chapel Hill
after seven years with a strong belief in justice because of my involvement
with the civil rights movement. I left fired up about college teaching because
of the influence of a friend like Joel Schwartz. I left in love with the sport
of wrestling and with a wonderful feeling about the university and the town.
It's where two of my children were born, and where Sheila (his wife) and I
came of age. We always enjoy our trips back to Chapel Hill. It's where we
grew up together."
Additional information for reporters:
- Thomas C. Pearsall Professor of Political Science Thad Beyle is the only
UNC source available for comment at this time. He is out of town but willing
to speak with reporters by phone about Wellstone and his UNC connections.
He can be reached at (910) 256-6489.
To download photos of Wellstone at UNC visit the following Web links:
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Contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589, work; (919) 403-8141, home; (919)
216-2584, pager
