The living room of his family’s Oklahoma home was perhaps the first indication that Hugh Peery had a potentially promising future in wrestling.

More often than not, the carpet was threadbare, weathered to its barest state after being used as a mat on which Hugh and his brother, Ed, wrestled for hours on end as boys.

Eventually, Hugh’s career took him well beyond that living room to places like Pittsburgh; Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Helsinki, Finland, where he won medals and competed with the best in the world. He also became a dentist and practiced in the North Hills for 50 years.

Robert Hugh Peery died Jan. 10 at age 83.

Described by his sister, Ann Ritter of Hampton, as thoughtful and quiet — but also as someone who enjoyed a good joke — Mr. Peery was destined to become a wrestler. His father, Rex, was an accomplished local high school coach who went on to become the head coach at Pitt, where he is second in wins with 116.

“I’m sure as soon as he was able to walk, he was going to wrestling practice with my dad,” Ms. Ritter said.

Mr. Peery went on to join his father at the University of Pittsburgh, where he became a centerpiece of what was then a fledgling program. He was a three-time NCAA champion, winning in 1952, 1953 and 1954. His final championship coincided with a second-place finish for the Panthers in the NCAA tournament.

During Mr. Peery’s time at Pitt, he also won a gold medal at the 1951 Pan-American Games and was a member of the U.S. team at the 1952 Olympic Games. In 1954, following his third NCAA championship, he was named the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year. Later in life, he was named a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Mr. Peery was an Eagle Scout, an honor that earned him a motorcycle from his father. He would give Ms. Ritter, his younger sister by 14 years who described him as “my protector,” short rides around their neighborhood on it.

After graduating from Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine in 1956, Mr. Peery served in the U.S. Navy before ultimately returning to Pittsburgh, where he practiced dentistry in the North Hills for more than 50 years.

“When he was 9 years old, he told my mom and dad he wanted to be a dentist,” Ms. Ritter said. “He never changed his mind about that. He felt he’d be able to help people.”

He always wanted to help people and that was his way of doing it.”

In addition to his sister, he also is survived by a son, Jeff Peery of McCandless; a daughter, Cynde Wirth of McCandless; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Elfinwild Presbyterian Church, 3200 Mount Royal Blvd., Shaler. The family suggests donations to Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center.

First Published: February 10, 2015, 5:00 a.m.