“It was unbelievable!” said Lynbrook High’s head wrestling coach, Richie Renz, who has been a friend of and coached with Becker for 30 years. “He’s worked so hard, volunteered his time, never asking for anything in return. He amazes me — he’s so motivated, and gives back to the community. He deserves this. He’s the man!”

Each year Becker honors athletes who began in the Titans program and stuck with the sport to compete on the Lynbrook varsity squad with the Perseverance Award. He also continues a tradition begun by his father, Francis Becker, and his uncle Bob, by presenting the top two varsity wrestlers with “Becker Brothers” awards, as they’re known, that are accompanied by scholarships.

Becker has promoted the sport not only in Lynbrook. Through such efforts as donating wrestling mats to the Beat the Streets wrestling program in New York City, he has gone far beyond his own community.

He is the founder and president of Becker Reality Services Inc., and is currently a Lynbrook village trustee. For his involvement in many organizations and charitable endeavors, he has won the Humanitarian of the Year award from the Institute of Real Estate Management and the Father of the Year award from Momma’s House. Momma’s House is a program that provides housing for homeless moms and expectant mothers.

“To be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is a huge honor and a wonderful blessing,” Becker said. “I’m so grateful to all those who’ve helped me along the way, including my parents, Francis and Betsy Becker, my Uncle Bob and my coaches, but most of all to my wife, Geralyn, who for the past 30 years has been my best friend and biggest supporter.”

He added that he is also grateful to his fellow coaches and all of the young men and women he has coached over the past 32 years — along with their parents, who entrusted him with their children — and the Lynbrook School District.

“I consider them all to be part of our Lynbrook wrestling family,” he said. “It’s truly an unbelievable feeling when I look back on all of the relationships that I’ve been blessed with and hold near and dear to my heart.”

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