Don Epperly was born in Raleigh County, West Virginia, in 1949, the third of five children born to Ralph and Lola Epperly. Don began his wrestling career in 1963 as a freshman at Shady Springs High School in Shady Springs, West Virginia, under the coaching of 1985 West Virginia Hall of Fame inductee Dix Manning. Don wrestled all four years of high school and was a two-time regional champion.

Having no desire to follow his father’s footsteps into the West Virginia coal mines, Don moved to Roanoke, Virginia, after graduation to enter a pipe-fitter apprentice school. It was in Roanoke that he met Nancy Brugh, who would become his wife in 1969; they have been married ever since. They have one son, Chad, who also wrestled throughout high school. During his career, Don has worked for various organizations as a plumber, a pipe-fitter, and a welder, most recently in the maintenance department of the Botetourt County School System, from which he retired after fourteen years of service.

In the mid-1980’s, Don was asked to help officiate the Virginia State Games at the Lancer Lot Sports Center in Vinton, Virginia. This renewed his love for the sport, and he has been officiating ever since. During his illustrious career, Don has officiated forty-five district tournaments, twenty-five regional tournaments and seventeen state championships. He has also served as the Assistant Head Official for A, AA, and AAA state tournaments for the past ten years and counting. Even when Don is not an official on the mat, he evaluates, works the tables, and does whatever is necessary to help keep the State Tournament at the Salem Civic Center running smoothly. He was voted Outstanding Official for western Virginia in 2009, and inducted into the Roanoke Valley Wrestling Association Hall of Fame in 2011.