This past week brought the disheartening news of a local legend who has passed away. On Wednesday, Feb. 28, we lost the life of professional wrestler and Ohio Valley resident Michael Jones, better known as Virgil, Soul Train Jones, or Vincent. The cause of his death is complications with dementia and previous strokes. He was born on April 7, 1951 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, but moved to the Ohio Valley shortly after and spent his younger years here. 

Virgil is known for giving back to his community, particularly to the Ohio Valley Mall, where he would often visit to sign autographs, meet fans and give away nostalgic merchandise. Virgil was proud of where he came from and expressed this numerous times throughout his prominent wrestling career. While in the WWE, Virgil was best known as being one of the bodyguards for the “Million Dollar Man,” Ted DiBiase. He was also a member of the wrestling entertainment group known as the New World Order (nWo.) Virgil was a well-liked figure during his time in the WWE, and he wrestled with the company from 1986 to 2000. 

Aside from participating in both of these groups, in his later career, Virgil sought after a solo wrestling career. He adopted his now well-known name and truly learned to thrive as an individual wrestler. He participated in multiple championships, such as the Royal Rumble. By 2000, he was ready to retire and left the wrestling scene. That was until 2010, when he returned to the ring as the bodyguard of Ted DiBiase Jr. After this short-lived role, Virgil made his debut at All Elite Wrestling, where he simply played a character, but did not partake in wrestling. Virgil also had multiple acting roles, including portraying the character Kony in the film Romance (In a Digital Age). 

When he was alive, Virgil made a wonderful career for himself and spread his message of positivity through something he loved: wrestling.