Gordon Solie

[4] He learned about stock car racing by competing as an amateur chauffeur on Florida's Suncoast and announcing outdoors at tracks around the United States.

[1] He conducted radio interviews with other stock car drivers and boxers, and in his spare time, visited libraries to learn about the human anatomy.

[4] Solie began his pro wrestling career as a ring announcer, making $5 a night[5] emceeing weekly shows in the Tampa Bay area, learning about the sport from John Heath, Eddie Graham, and Don Curtis.

[4][6][3] He soon began working for Championship Wrestling from Florida, and in 1960, he moved into the broadcast booth to become the lead announcer for CWF's Saturday morning television shows, a spot he would occupy for the next quarter-century.

[4] During that time, he commentated on matches featuring some of pro wrestling's biggest legends, including WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, The Brisco Brothers and Dory Funk Jr., among numerous others.

[6] Following the folding of CWF in 1987, Solie returned to Georgia and became one of the lead announcers for the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) later WCW television programs.

[3] Following his retirement from the sport, he started to dislike the product, saying it was a “damn shame” that wrestlers had turned into ‘roid freaks and lamented the lack of respect for the history of the business.

In 2013, Ryan Dilbert from the Bleacher Report stated, "Debating the greatest pro wrestling commentator comes down to two men, Jim Ross and Gordon Solie.

Solie interviewing a fan in 1979
Solie at an NWA event in 1979
The crypt of Gordon and Eileen Solie in Tampa, Florida