Did you guys see where former USAWA member Steve Justa, the heavy metal iron master, has passed away after battling with cancer? Never met him, but did hear he was in attendance at the Heartland Challenge Strongman meet that I won in Council Bluffs in 2002.
I just heard that news. I hadn’t heard anything from him in the past several years, but I do remember his entertaining training articles in MILO. His articles were always a source of discussion on training nights. I never got to meet him either but he is a part of USAWA history as he competed once several years ago in one of Kevin Fultons meets.
Yeah, he had some rather unique methods, to say the least. I am going off the fuzzy memory here, but I think the meet was called “old settlers day” (maybe as part of festival in town or something?) and Justa was injured after a lift or two and withdrew. Was that the extent of his participation?
Yes I do believe you are correct on that. Mary Mac knew him well and always encouraged him to lift again in the USAWA but he never did. I don’t know of any other strength comps he ever did. I do wish I would have got to meet him – mainly to see if he actually trained like he wrote about in MILO or if those stories were just to inspire others!