Dave Hickson
Congratulations- Dave
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Dave receiving NFWOA Contributor Award |
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Kevin Gallagher(President) saying goodby to Hickson |
Dave, a devoted and respected officer(President) and member of the NFWOA for many years, left us and moved south a few years ago. He continued his wrestling officiating, concentrating on collegiate wrestling, and has developed a reputation as one of the elite Division I referees, having officiated the Division I National Finals for nine years. In January he was inducted into the NY State Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Fame. Below is the article appearing in the Buffalo Evening News that pays tribute to Dave.
Hall to pin top honor on Hickson
Bob DiCesare
Updated: 01/18/08 6:42 AM
Cheektowaga native Dave Hickson officiated the heavyweight final at the 2002 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and what an ideally situated assignment it was. Once the event’s final match had ended, the wrestlers removed the colored ankle bands shared by competitors throughout the event and dropped them to the mat. Hickson, recognizing their historical significance, bent down and stuffed them in his pocket.
The previous match had been the collegiate finale for Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson, who’d won again to finish his career an unfathomable 159-0. Hickson had officiated a number of Sanderson’s matches over the years, developing a business friendly relationship with the only Division I wrestler to go unbeaten over more than 100 matches. Hickson figured Sanderson might want the ankle bands as a keepsake. “I went up to him and said, ‘I have the ankle bands and I’d like to give them to you,’ ” Hickson recalled by phone Wednesday from Charlotte, N.C. “Cael said, ‘No, Mr. Hickson, you keep them.’ I said, ‘Well, in that case would you sign them?’ He signed one for each of my sons.’ ”
Hickson will be back in Western New York this weekend for his induction to the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Fame, an event that coincides with the state collegiate championships being held today and Saturday at Alumni Arena. He has made his mark in the sport. Hickson twice earned All-America honors while wrestling at the University at Buffalo, placing sixth in the Division III nationals in 1985 and fourth in ’87. He began officiating middle and high school matches while in college and rapidly earned the respect and admiration of the local wrestling community.
Hickson moved on to referee at the collegiate level and again found himself in demand. Coaches called in large numbers, asking if he would work at their meets. He officiated at the NCAA Division I finals for the first time nine years ago and has been assigned a championship match each of the last eight years. On multiple occasions Hickson finished atop the event’s referee rankings.
“You want to contribute back to the sport that’s contributed so much to your life,” Hickson said. “If you don’t have the time to coach a high school team five days a week this is another way to give back.”
Hickson’s free time is in short supply. He’s trimmed his referee’s schedule down to two or three events a month, just enough to stay sharp for the NCAAs. Otherwise, he’s immersed in the workings of Stoneacre Inc., a marketing company he formed with a partner eight years ago. In 2004 they landed a contract with NASCAR — he’d never seen a race — to build and manage fan loyalty and membership programs for the racing behemoth. Hickson relocated to Charlotte.
He built the first database of NASCAR fans so NASCAR can communicate with its fans without going through the media.
Hickson’s thankful that the Hall of Fame inductions, which always take place at the states, comes with the event being held at his alma mater. The UB program started by Bob Rich Sr. is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The New York State Collegiate Championships embrace wrestlers from all levels, from junior college on up.
Besides, Alumni Arena is where Hickson’s business career was launched. He formed a company, Buffalo Sports Promotions, and put together a boxing card that featured Livingstone Bramble and Riddick Bowe in 1989. Then he got into an import-export business with the hub in Nigeria. He calls himself a “serial entrepreneur” who’s constantly looking for start-up ventures. To this day he’ll go to the mat when opportunity’s at hand.