[Tom Ryan]

[b]Quote from dinoman on June 3, 2011, 15:40[/b]
Great job guys!!! The truth is I know A LOT MORE than I have let on about this picture. One of the guys in the picture you should recognize as he is a very active person in the USAWA. Al PS Tom – John still thinks he is 25 years old.

Okay, Al, you have turned this into a quiz question that is as difficult as any of my quiz questions! The person seated to Alexeev’s left (whose traps seem to dwarf those of Alexeev!) bears some resemblance to Ed Schock, but Ed would
have been only 17 or so if the picture was indeed taken in 1970, as seems to be the case. So I don’t think it is him and I am still stumped.

Of course 1970 is almost 20 years before the USAWA was formed and I don’t know how to “de-age” people. Presumably all of the people in the photo are now in their 60s (at least). I know that Alexeev is now 69.

[Tom Ryan]

[b]Quote from memck487@aol.com on June 3, 2011, 14:27[/b]
I was at the Columbus meet when Alexeev jerked that 500 (what a thrill!!) but I don’t recognise any of the other guys in the photo (and I’m not in the pic)! One of the guys up front looks a bit like a young Scott Schmidt, but that’s not possible, as Scott is way older than me!

John,

How many Scott Schmidts are there? The one who is a member here is much YOUNGER than you.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

I think you are probably right, Thom. These may have been some Ohio State students who wanted to have their picture taken with him. They may have been more than just students, however, as look at the size of the right forearm of the young man seated to the left of Alexeev.

The photo looks strange to me because Alexeev, who was relatively trim in 1970, weighed 299 at that contest but he doesn’t look much bigger than these guys!

One of the most unusual “lifting” photos of all time was taken in Columbus during that time as the great Mohammad Nassiri of Iran lifted a waitress a short distance off the floor while she was sitting on a tray. That photo appeared in newspapers and I probably still have it somewhere.

I had thought about driving up to Columbus for the contest but didn’t do so. Of course I didn’t know that Alexeev would make that historic C&J (227.5 kilos, 501.55 pounds).

[Tom Ryan]

Okay, “doubting Al”, I “see” that you are going to take some convincing. 🙂

First, I want to address nutritional supplements.

Optometrists recommend bilberry and lutein for their patients. (For example, see the testimonial at
http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/olympian-labs-nutra-vision-lutein-bilberry-60-capsules-reviews . See also http://www.preventive-health-guide.com/lutein.html.)

Eye exercises are important, in my opinion and in the opinion of others. See, for example, http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes and
http://eyeexercisestoimprovevision.com

Jarrod, I assume that you wear glasses or contacts, as you obviously could not otherwise function since a person with 20/200 vision is considered to be legally blind. With 20/400 in your better eye, you should thus be 20/400 with both eyes.

Al recommends Lasik surgery and Chad has obviously benefited from it, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Why? There are, of course, risks associated with any surgery and the long-term effects of Lasik surgery are apparently not well known at this time. See http://www.lasikcomplications.com/long_term_issues.html and http://www.lasikcomplications.com/risks.htm

I believe in attacking any health problem with a natural approach, which is what I have done for almost half a century.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

Okay, Thom, now that we all seem to agree that you are not almost 1,000 years old, there is the question of the real age of your vision, which is a lead-in to a post I had thought about making here in recent weeks.

Perhaps most people accept the effects of the aging process, but 46 ain’t old! Not to me, anyway, since I am 66. I have never worn glasses, even reading glasses. But of course I am not immune to the effects of aging and I do use my eyes a lot in writing books. As I might have mentioned in a previous post (but I don’t recall doing so), Georgia requires a vision test for a driver’s license renewal once a person reaches age 64. The state has a very lenient vision requirement, however, as a person’s vision need only be at least 20/60 in the better eye. (The vast majority of states require at least 20/40.)

I thought that surely I would be better than 20/60, but I didn’t want to cut it too close. So I started training for the vision test 6 months ahead of when I would have to take it, doing daily eye exercises and taking specific nutritional supplements (lutein, bilberry, beta carotene, etc.).

My vision was about 20/50 with both eyes when I started my training (i.e., not great). After 6 months I was down to 20/32, so I should have passed the vision test easily. Oddly, when I renewed my license in April, I wasn’t even asked to take the test! I was very surprised by that but I certainly didn’t complain. 🙂

I wasn’t satisfied with 20/32, so I have continued training and now I am down to 20/28. (I use the Internet test at http://www.smbs.buffalo.edu/oph/ped/IVAC/IVAC.html .) My vision was tested by a doctor at 20/15 with both eyes and with my right eye when I was 48, so now I am wondering if I might be able to continue improving and set a “world record” for my age, which would be kinda neat. Maybe I would be close to a record if I could approach 20/15 as I head toward age 70. My muscles can’t lift much anymore so I need to train for a record of some sort.

There are various ways to try to improve vision. Check out the Amazon rank of this book http://www.amazon.com/Relearning-See-Improve-Eyesight-Naturally/dp/1556433417/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306979662&sr=1-1
and the reviews of it. I have corresponded with the author but I haven’t used much from the book, although I do use palming.

Some of you who have been wearing glasses for decades (such as Joe) may be content doing so, but I am not interested in wearing glasses and don’t intend to do so … even when I am 100. LOL

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

Yeah, I caught the 1064 also, Joe. I believe that Bill started staging contests in 1959, not just in weightlifting but in sports he had never even seen contested before and knew nothing about them!

If any of you have issues of S&H from 1968, Bill was featured in the “Hats Off” section one month and his involvement in a wide variety of sports was described there. That blew my mind when I read it in real time.

[Tom Ryan]

Al,

Yes, I know about Bill, Jan, and Smitty. I bought an item or two from Bill some years ago and I had an enjoyable phone conversation with Smitty a few years ago when I was trying to locate George Pickett for Joe Dube. Smitty didn’t know me but he was quite talkative and told me an interesting story about when he was coaching Lee James in training before the ’76 Olympics. Smitty is in his 80s and began assisting Bill March in his training about 50 years ago. As Smitty put it, he was “just” a used car salesman when he started working with York lifters.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

Al,

Speaking of “lifters who were there”, I wonder if Bill March was among them. I think of him from time to time and wonder how he is doing after his heart surgery of several years ago. He turns 74 sometime this year and is supposed to have a farm near York. Unfortunately, he got all “out of shape” some years ago as his weight ballooned to 300 pounds (he is 5-9) and became practically unrecognizable. (Bill Starr and I discussed this several years ago.) Dick Smith (“Smitty”) was an AOBS honoree several years ago and March introduced him. I think he weighed about 300 then and I never would have recognized him.

Unlike most of the York lifters, March was from that area and if my aging memory is working, I believe he is from Dallastown, which is close to York. (I am not sure, but I think his farm may be in Dover.)

March was quite an athlete and physical specimen (former world record holder in the press at 160.5 kilos in the 90 kilo class) who once had a tryout with the Baltimore Colts although he didn’t play football beyond high school.

I never met March but I was “around him” on 3 occasions, the first being in 1962 when he came in the York Barbell building to say there was a problem with the water in Hoffman’s pool. (I happened to be there because my uncle, who lived in Upper Darby, was a manufacturer’s rep who had business in York and he dropped me off at York Barbell while he saw his clients.)

Just out of curiosity, who were the lifters whom you later learned were in York last weekend for the festivities? I would probably recognize their names.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

Glad they finally found your bag, Al. It took them long enough!

[Tom Ryan]

[b]Quote from 61pwcc on April 25, 2011, 08:40[/b]
Tom, did you read ‘Muscletown, USA’ written by John D. Fair? What a good read!! Helped a youngster like myself(40 in November) get caught up on some history of York Barbell and Hoffman.
I’ve loaned it to folks who don’t workout and it’s been thoroughly enjoyed.

Yes, I have a copy and read it shortly after it was published. I know John Fair but it has been 8 years since I have had any contact with him.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

A few more thoughts about the 5-lift and 3-lift contests.

I looked back at some of my issues of S&H from 1934 and 1935 and I noticed that 3-lift and 5-lift contests were conducted in this country in the same year.

I saw a familiar name in the contest report of the 1935 Senior Nationals as Ed Zercher was a distant 5th (last) in the 165 class. He was another one of those 90% lifters as he did a one-arm snatch with 131 and a two-arm snatch with 143. That comes out to 91.6%. There were some other unusual results as John Terpak finished only 4th in the 148 class, but this was early in his career. John Terlazzo and Tony Terlazzo competed against each other (which probably didn’t happen very often) in that class, with John finishing behind Terpak.

I noticed an interesting comment from Hoffman at the start of his report when he stated “We are always in a hurry and made the 500 miles to Cincinnati going out in ten hours. More than eighty part of the way.” Bear in mind that roads were not in great shape in 1935. Going faster than 80 on them and with cars of that time would be a good way to get killed!

[Tom Ryan]

[b]Quote from 61pwcc on April 23, 2011, 23:37[/b]
Which is interesting seeing by the 1928 Olympics, they had it down to 3 lifts. Contesting the other 2 for 7 more years is NOT something they’d do today.

They actually flip-flopped back and forth for a while with 5 in 1931, 3 in 1932 and 1933, then back to 5 for 1934 and 1935, then stabilizing at 3 in 1936 and thereafter. Rather odd.

[Tom Ryan]

[b]Quote from dinoman on April 23, 2011, 15:34[/b]
Tom, What year did they quit doing the one arm lifts at Nationals?? Al

Al,

Hoffman’s book shows 1935 as being the last year.

Tom

[Tom Ryan]

Dick Bachtell competed in the 132-pound class after 1930. It was the 136-pound class in 1929 and 1930.

[Tom Ryan]

Flattery will get you nowhere, Al. 🙂

I readily admit that I did not think about the possibility of a person without a hand doing a one-arm snatch when I was going through your rulebook draft.

Okay, the answer to my quiz question is given below, in addition to the runner-up performances.

The first number in parentheses is the one-arm lift; the second is the two-arm lift.

1. Dick Bachtell, 1931 (154, 159.5) 96.6%

2. Gaukler, 1929 (110, 121) 90.9

3. M. Rohrer, 1929 (154, 170.5) 90.3

4. Arnie Sundberg, 1931 (165, 187) 88.2

5. David Rothman, 1935 (99, 115.5) 85.7

Needless to say, these are extreme combinations of lifts! These are also lifters from the lighter classes with Sundberg of the 165-lb. class being the heaviest. Bill Good did (192.5, 247.5; 77.8%) in both 1934 and 1935. I believe that Good was generally either slighter under or slightly over the 181 class limit during the mid-30s, so a 192.5 snatch, the highest he made in a national championship, is pretty impressive for someone of that size.

Remember that I am considering only the weight class winners for each year as Hoffman’s book Weight Lifting , first published in 1939 and revised in 1960, gives results only for the class winners. The complete results were probably given in Strength magazine for the competitions in 1929-1931, but I don’t think I have any of those issues, although I may have xeroxed some of the contest results 20 or so years ago from a friend who has those issues. Not sure about that.

Some of our Pa. members have probably interacted with Bachtell (1906-1990), as he worked for Hoffman. Here is his Wikipedia entry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bachtell . I didn’t know him but I was sitting at the juice bar in the York Barbell building in 1966 at the time of the Senior Nationals and Bachtell was standing behind the counter. In referring to the fans who were there to see the competition, he said something like “They don’t know how much work it takes to reach this level”.

Incidentally, in case any of you are wondering how I happened to know about Cayeux’s letter regarding Rigoulot, this is discussed on page 93 in the 8-page biographical sketch of Rigolout in Volume 1 of Anvils, Horseshoes, and Cannons by Leo Gaudreau. (There is no mention of to whom Cayeux wrote his letter.)

That two-volume set is extremely rare. Notice the price for a used set on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Anvils-horseshoes-cannons-history-strongmen/dp/B0007B754G.
It would take far more money than that price to motivate me to part with my set, as I am not interested in selling it. I’m talking really huge bucks. 🙂

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