Alex Skirpan began wrestling in 1949 in his freshman year of high school in Pennsylvania. He perfected the elevators moves when learning to wrestle with his older brother (Skip). His junior year, he was the first wrestler in his school to win the WPAL. The next year he repeated winning the WPAL and became Carnegie High School's first State Champion. He attended Kiski Prep the next fall and started West Virginia University in January. During this school year, he was drafted into the Army. Alex wrestled while in the Army for Ft. Mead. While wrestling in the Army with a win over an NCAA runner-up for Maryland, he was offered a scholarship to Maryland by Coach Solly Krous. After leaving the Army, Alex decided to wrestle at Pitt where he and his wife would be close to their families. In 1960, he was unable to attend the Rome Olympics after attaining runner-up in trials at 170 pounds. In 1963, the Skirpan family moved to West Virginia. He coached Little League Baseball and Football for 9 years. Alex started wrestling at the YMCA in 1973 with his team he traveled to larger cities to compete on weekends. He umpired baseball for numerous years and refereed wrestling for 24 years or until he had a health problem. Alex was asked to oversee the officials at the State Wrestling Tournament when the rules interpreter became ill. Now retired, Alex is very thankful for many things. He has donated gallons of blood to American Red Cross. He is a "special friend" to the Monks of the Holy Cross Monastery. Also Alex is a very active member of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. As always together he and his wife were elected the first husband and wife District governors of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia of the Order of American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association. Alex and his wonderful wife, Nancy married for 56 years are the proud parents of two sons, Alex, Jr. and Andy and a lovely daughter, Ann. They have seven precious grandchildren.