Darrell Gholar

Class of 2015

Dunbar Vocational

Darrell Gholar was born in Armarillo, Texas and grew up in Chicago, Illinois.

He attended Dunbar Vocational wrestling for Ernie Thompson from 1978 to 80. An IHSA Wrestling State Championship finalist, he was an AAU National Runner Up and captain of both the wrestling and football teams for the Mighty Men.

Gholar attended the University of Minnesota, coached by Wally Johnson, on a wrestling scholarship. There he was named to the 1981 Freshman All-American team. Gholar was captain of his Minnesota team both his Junior and Senior years. He graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in world literature.

Gholar was a three time United States Greco-Roman National Champion, alternate on the 1988 Olympic team and captain of the 1986 U.S. World team. When the modern Olympics celebrated 100 years of competition in 1996, Gholar was ranked number three in career wins for the U.S. at the 180.5 weight class.

From 1984 – 85 Gholar was an Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota and from 1986-87 assistant coach at Drake University.

Gholar went on to become a successful professional fighter. As a pro fighter Gholar was the 2000 World Vale Tudo Championship, middle weight champion vacating the title in 2001 when he retired from professional fighting.

Gholar was a finalist for a Jerome fellowship in play wrighting. He was a Walt Disney Pictures screenwriting fellowship recipient, where after, completion he was offered a position writing for Walt Disney Pictures Touchstone division. While writing for Disney Mr. Gholar wrote and directed The Dancer at the Ivar theatre in Hollywood.

He then co-produced Looking for Bruce, a full length feature film starring Gil Gerard of TV and films Buck Rogers and Dan Clark of American Gladiators.

In 2003 Mr. Gholar was named one of the world’s top 200 living poets and was invited to read in Washington D.C. at the National Society of poets 2003 National Convention.

Over the past twelve years Gholar has been traveling extensively throughout Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. He presently resides in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.