Jim Pihakis, Oct 24, 1924 - October 1, 2000. Jim was born and raised in Canonsburg, PA, where he lettered in wrestling at Canonsburg High School. After graduating as Salutatorian, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in World War II, during which he was shot in the knee and later received a Purple Heart. After much therapy, he applied to colleges and was offered a wrestling scholarship to Michigan State, where he wrestled for one season. When Jim returned home, he met Dorothy "Dot" Velmer, whom he married November 22, 1947. Jim and Dot moved to Florida where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida Southern and lettered in wrestling. Jim and Dot had their first child, Cathy, while in Florida. They returned to Canonsburg, where Jim taught art and coached wrestling. Jim was highly recruited by Uniontown High School as head coach of their wrestling team, and coached there for two years before returning to coach in Canonsburg. During this time, Jim and Dot welcomed three more children, Jimmy, Barbara, and Nick. Under Jim's coaching, Bucky Maughn won 42 consecutive matches, and went on to win district, regionals, and state. Bucky was Jim's shining star, and he continued on to win the NCAA Nationals. Bucky retired in May after 47 seasons and a 467-157-13 record, including four NAIA national championships. In 1959, Jim made a career change into insurance and moved to OK then AL in 1960. He stayed involved in wrestling with his cousins Louie and Jamo Pihakis (also renowned wrestlers from PA along with their brother Manuel who is in the Pennsylvania Wrestlers' Hall of Fame) by holding wrestling clinics at Woodlawn, Fairfield, Philips, and West End, and aided in starting wrestling programs in other schools. In 1962, he moved back to PA where he continued to be involved in wrestling by refereeing. In 1966, he joined his brother in Birmingham, AL with Life of America Insurance Co. and continued to help young wrestlers at their or their coaches' request with his cousin Jamo. After selling off LICA , and his divorce from Dot, Jim moved back to Florida in 1982, where he worked with his cousin Jamo in Jamo's restaurant for a few years. With his family still in Birmingham, Jim returned and started his lifetime dream with his son Nick - Jim 'n Nick's BBQ. His son, Jimmy, joined them a few years later. Jim then married Maurine Snider. Jim remained with Jim 'n Nick's until he passed in 2000. Jim's wrestling legacy has carried on through generations; both of Jim's sons, Jimmy and Nick, wrestled in high school, and three of his grandsons, Alex Nakos, Spiro Nakos, and Philip wrestled in middle school and high school.