ocean, and he attained the rank of private first class. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1959, and attained the rank of lance corporal. Businessman In the 1950s and 1960s Solomon was involved with M. Solomon, the women's clothing business owned by his stepfather. In the mid-1960s, he became a partner in the Associates of Glens Falls insurance company, as well as a partner in the Anchor Realty real estate brokerage. In addition he was president of Solomon, Veysey, Dixon, Gohn Associates, an investment brokerage. He also served as president of Queensbury's merchants association, and a member of the board of directors of the Glens Falls chamber of commerce. He was active in the Jaycees and the Boy Scouts, and was also involved in several charitable and civic causes. In addition, his fraternal memberships included the Marine Corps League, Masons, Shriners, and American Legion. His business and civic accomplishments and the name recognition he acquired in the Glens Falls-Queensbury area provided him with an entrée into local politics and government. Early political career Originally a Democrat, from 1968 to 1972 Solomon served as Queensbury's Town Supervisor, which also made him a member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. In February 1968 he switched his party affiliation to Republican, arguing that he had been a Republican prior to the election of John F. Kennedy, that he joined the Democrats because he was inspired by Kennedy's goals and vision, but that he was returning to the Republicans because he perceived that Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency had moved too far from Kennedy's agenda. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1973 to 1978, sitting in the 180th, 181st and 182nd New York State Legislatures. As a fiscal conservative and advocate for limited government, Solomon was often at odds with the Assembly's Democratic majority. U.S. House of Representatives In November 1978, Solomon was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1980, he was an early and avid supporter of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign, and remained a Reagan stalwart, supporting his efforts to reduce taxes, revive the economy, halt Soviet expansionism and rebuild America's defenses. Solomon supported the line-item veto, a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning, a repeal of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and amendments that strengthened the Selective Service System. He was such an opponent of gun control that he once challenged fellow Representative Patrick