The challenge and discipline of wrestling often exert a powerful hold on our military. United States Marines Corps Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tim Pierson exemplifies this relation with a life on parallel tracks of service overseas and at home, in peace and war, followed by a lifetime of service to wrestling as a local and international official. 

After graduation from Buena Vista College in Iowa in 1984, Pierson's young manhood and middle age were dedicated to 40 years as an enlisted Marine, a commissioned officer, and upon retirement in 2009, a professional civilian for the Department of Defense. It has been a much-decorated career with several citations for meritorious service and most significantly, an above-and-beyond Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. 

Turning to his wrestling avocation, Pierson has tried his hand at every available endeavor. Working in folkstyle from 2007 to 2012, he was assigned to many Virginia High School League championship tournaments at all levels while also working prestigious events such as the Virginia Duals and the Beast of the East. In the first of nine awards as an official and an instructor from 2009 to 2024, he was named the VHSL Referee of the Year. 

It was in freestyle and Greco-Roman, however, that he hit his stride as a world-class official. Marching through the onerous credentialing process, he earned an international M1 referee license for Federation Internationale de Lutte Amateur (FILA) in 2012 and finished with the United World Wrestling category of 1S, which is Olympic level, in 2019. With these qualifications, he was selected to be a referee or mat official at big-name events near and far. In addition to seven World Championships, he worked 11 international tournaments, including the Freestyle Grand Prix in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. In a list that could go on and on, PIerson also officiated three Olympic Trials, four World Team Trials, and 10 Armed Forces Championships.

It was not enough and he needed another avenue for his dedication, which he found in education. In addition to instructing officials, Pierson also developed an array of print and video instruction materials with titles that included "The Art of Refereeing Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling" and "You Make The Call" which featured 1,002 videos and 829 rules questions.

One more glittering credential is that Pierson is a family man who is married to Gretchen and who has three grown children, John, Ben and Erica. 

Harkening back to his service as a Marine, we say “Oorah” in honor of Pierson’s selection for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Service to Wrestling award.