Joseph Solomon was a wrestling official for 25 while also serving on the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic committee for 20 years and as a member of the Pennsylvania Olympic Committee.

He wrestled at Canonsburg (now Cannon McMillan) High School from 1949 to 1951 and was a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state champion, a PIAA state runner-up and a three-time Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League champion.

Solomon wrestled at the University of Pittsburgh for Hall of Fame Rex Peery and was an NCAA champion in 1954 and finished fourth in 1955.

He officiated 15 PIAA state tournaments, 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships and five NCAA Division II Championships.

Solomon was a member of the PIAA, WPIAL, EIWA, PSAC, EWL and the NCAA.

He retired Blue Cross/Blue Shield as vice president of sales. Through the company, Joe sponsored Olympic hopefuls in wrestling and other sports.

Solomon lived and worked in the Pittsburgh area all his life.

He and his wife, Bobbie, have three children and four grandchildren.