Everett “Ev” Conley
Inducted as: Athlete
High school: Everett class of 1947
Sport: Boxing
Conley had a storied amateur boxing career that included two college national championships and multiple Pacific Coast titles. He compiled a lifetime amateur record of 256-6, and his exploits even found their way into book form.
Conley, a left-hander known for his speed and footwork, was already a two-time Washington State Golden Gloves champion by the time he made his way to Washington State College in 1949. While with the Cougars he won back-to-back NCAA national championships, claiming the 135-pound title as a sophomore in 1950 and junior in 1951. His junior year he was awarded the John S. LaRowe Trophy as the best collegiate boxer in the nation. He finished with a 63-3 record in his college career, going undefeated during his first three years at Washington State.
Conley’s career is chronicled in part in the book “The Six-Minute Fraternity: The Rise and Fall of NCAA Tournament Boxing, 1932-60.” In the book Conley is recognized as an “important historical figure” of NCAA boxing as a tournament sport.
Conley was named The Herald’s Man of the Year in Sports for 1951, and when The Herald compiled its list of the top 50 athletes in Snohomish County history in 2005 Conley came in at No. 26.
After his career Conley was heavily involved in the community, serving as physical director of Everett YMCA for more than three decades and playing an instrumental role in the YMCA’s expansion through Snohomish County before passing in 1985 at the age of 56.
This is the third of nine profiles on the 2020 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame induction class. This year’s banquet was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the inductees will be officially honored at the 2021 banquet.
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