MARTINS FERRY — Passionate, dedicated and insightful work all too often goes unnoticed.

Fortunately, that is not the case for Kim North.

The veteran and talented Times Leader sportswriter has earned his just reward for his 30-plus years of work in the newspaper business, much of which focused on prep and collegiate wrestling coverage.

North will be one of nine individuals inducted during the 16th annual National Wrestling Hall of Fame West Virginia Chapter’s “Hall of Fame Day” during a gala banquet Oct. 28, at Embassy Suites in Charleston.

He is being honored with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. with a social and memorabilia display. Dinner will be served at 1:45 p.m. with the award presentation to follow. The purpose of this banquet is to honor and recognize people for their years of commitment as positive role models to the student-athletes. Also being enshrined are John Geary, Jim Issac, Mike Litton, Ray Marling, Ray Pernell, Gary Porter, Chuck Satterfield and John Staggers II.

“This honor means everything to me. It’s not something that I strived for when I started. In fact, I had no idea the National Wrestling Hall of Fame even had a West Virginia chapter,” North said. “To be going in with fellow Northern Panhandlers Ray Marling and Ray Pernell make this award even better. I’ve known both of them for many, many years. I even played softball with Ray Pernell back in the day. I will treasure this honor, including the whole atmosphere of the induction ceremony, forever.”

The new class of enshrinees will be permanently recognized with a plaque at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The hall of fame induction is not the first of North’s wrestling honors. For his outstanding efforts to highlight wrestling in West Virginia, he was twice named the “Snyder-Miller West Virginia Media Person of the Year” in 1990 and 2017.

“This honor means a lot to me because it is the state wrestling coaches who make the selection. My passion and love for the sport of wrestling has been unwavering ever since the first day I stepped on the mats as a middle school grappler,” North said. “What I enjoy the most about wrestling, no matter how heated a match may be, the competitors end the match with a handshake.”

North began his wrestling coverage in 1983 and has chronicled the sport superbly at four newspapers: Weirton Daily News, Steubenville Herald-Star, Wheeling News-Register and currently The Times Leader. He has covered the prestigious OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament for more than two decades. It is the largest conference mat tournament in the nation.

In 1985, North pulled off a Wheeling WesBanco Arena wrestling hat trick. He covered the OVAC, West Virginia state and NAIA National tournaments all at the Wheeling venue.

“Kim North’s passion for wrestling in the Ohio Valley is vividly demonstrated in his descriptive articles and in-depth interviews of local wrestlers and coaches. Kim is highly respected by wrestling coaches throughout West Virginia for his unbiased coverage of the annual state tournament,” said Dr. Bill Welker, who has the distinction to be in two state halls of fame — the Pennsylvania Wrestling HOF and the WV Chapter of the National Wrestling HOF. “Kim’s enthusiasm for covering dual meets and tournaments is reminiscent of Ohio Valley sports-editor legends Bill Van Horne and Cal Pokas.

“Kim’s wrestling background gives him a deep understanding of the subtleties of the sport,” he added. “When area wrestling coaches on both sides of the Ohio River want to promote their programs, Kim North is the sports reporter they immediately contact.”

North has covered countless state tournaments in both Ohio and West Virginia. Last year, he covered the Ohio Team Duals in Columbus.

The Bridgeport resident is a tireless ambassador for the mat sport. He promotes wrestling on a weekly local radio show while also producing the Times Leader’s annual OVAC Tournament tab, featuring more than 30 teams. Moreover, his superb wrestling writing is accentuated by his highly acclaimed photography work.

Ironically, North’s devotion to wrestling got off to a rocky start. In his first high school match, he suffered a broken arm.

The 1977 Troy High School graduate earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Salem College. He is a widowed father of three: daughter, Meika, and sons, Skyler and Tyler. He also has five granddaughters.

North is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Janet) Jones of Troy.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com.