Ilio DiPaolo was born in lntrodaqua, Italy in 1926. He came to the U.S.A. in 1951. He became a successful championship professional wrestler and restaurateur. "Ilio DiPaolo was a hulk of a man, built on scale with a grizzly bear. His chest was the trunk of a 100-year-old oak. His neck was as mighty as a bullwhip. To put your hand in his was a mismatch, your fingers against his five sticks of dynamite." As a wrestler he brought respect for the mat game from the fans and general public. As a restaurateur he gave much to his community. Upon retiring from professional wrestling in 1965, Ilio DiPaolo started a small restaurant/pizzeria that is now one of the premier family restaurants in Western New York. The DiPaolo family learned many lessons from their father, and, in particular, they were taught to treat people the way they would like to be treated. In 1995 a tragic accident cut short the life of this great man. Bud Carpenter of the Buffalo Bills suggested to the family that they set up a fund to assist the youth of Western New York in Ilio's honor. They felt that Ilio's strong belief in education (he had only up to grade 5 in Italy), athletics, and family were essential for success. These scholarships are awarded to individuals who excel in academics as well as athletics, while contributing to their family and community. Since the inception of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund, they have risen over $500,000, half of which has been donated to Children's Hospital of Buffalo, with the remainder being distributed for scholarships and several worthy youth organizations. Ilio's legacy lives on with his family, the restaurant, and the countless children, families, and organizations the fund has assisted. The entire DiPaolo family, in honor of their father Ilio DiPaolo, has for nearly three decades supported, through funding and volunteerism, high school wrestling in Western New York. In particular, their scholarship program for promising senior wrestlers throughout Section 6 is outstanding as is their willingness to sponsor sectional tournaments and celebratory dinners. Since 1996, over $40,000 has been awarded to individuals and organizations that carry on the name and ways of Ilio DiPaolo. With the DiPaolo Family Scholarship Fund, the entire DiPaolo family, Ilio's wife Ethel, sons Dennis and Michael and daughter Barbara, along with Bud Carpenter have done a great deal of civic and humanitarian work for the community and, in particular, the sport of amateur wrestling. The New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the DiPaolo Family for their support of wrestling and their Scholarship Fund by inducting them into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.