Hello friends, it was a sad day on Thursday July 27 when the wrestling world lost a very special announcer. The 71 year old Gordon Solie was considered by many fans, myself included, to be the "Dean of all wrestlling announcers." His simple style made it very fun to watch and how could you not miss seeing him jaw with area heels. For those of you long time fans, I know I won't have to tell you how great Solie was in the booth. To those of you new to wrestling, I wanted to give you an overview so everyone would understand who Solie was.

According to interviews, he started work as a DJ and had a love for wrestling. He would include the results from a wrestling card on his sports report. Soon, he was asked to be the ring announcer for events. Announcers changed around the 50's and often, you had a host that would call the match and seemed to be making fun of wrestling. It may have been a local kids show host or the game show host, you get the idea.

When the tide turned, Solie was third in line to get the hosting job. He asked the promoter how would he want to see it treated if he got the job. The promoter told him, respect it like your paycheck. With this, the Dean was born as the play by play man. His career started in the 50's with early icons like Gorgeous George Wagner and Lou Thesez were wrestling.

The 70's brought a huge turn. Keep in mind, wrestling was regional back then and Solie was very much an NWA man. He became the host of Georgia, Florida and Alabama wrestling (later known as Continental) and tape those three shows every week. When you saw him in interviews, you could tell the wrestlers genuinely liked him because he was the first announcer to treat them with respect. Satellite TV or cable, came into focus and Georgia Championship Wrestling on TBS became the first ever cable wrestling show, launching a marriage of wrestling and cable that last today.

He continued these post through the early part of the 80's. Later, the TBS Saturday show became WWF for a brief period. Not my favorite time. Sure, Georgia Wrestling was still on but it came on Saturday Morning. Even though I watched other wrestling programs, I felt funny watching Saturday evening shows without him.

When he was taken off TBS for the Saturday night show, he became part of a syndicated show called Pro Wrestling This Week with Joe Pedicino. This show really gave us a glimpse of what wrestling was like in other promotions other than the NWA or WWF. When Continental footage was shown, you were treated to the play by play that made the man famous.

In the 90's, he made a brief stint back with WCW. When WCW pulled out of the NWA (yes, they are seperate entities), Gordon became Commisioner and play by play man for a revived Florida Wrestling. He later resigned as commisioner to join Harley Race's group for the NWA in Missouri. So for the record, Gordon stayed very close to wrestling till his last days. Sadly, his bout with cancer claimed him.

I find it hard to write tribute columns but it's was my way of saying goodbye to the guy who called the first wrestling match I have ever seen. Only Lance Russell could match him in intensity. If you were to look up wrestling announcer in the dictionary, his picture should be the one displayed. Who knows, I may do a cable access show one day and if I do play by play, I do want to dedicate my first one to his memory.

Gordon, you will be missed. It was a pleasure having you call the matches that I watched in my living room. If I was introduced to wrestling by another announcer who lacked your enthusiasm, it may not have been the same. God bless and may you rest in peace.

Friends, that's all for now. I'll be back with you again next week with more notes and some indy news. Till next time, I'll see you at the matches.