Iron History with Joe Roark

Joe Roark's IronHistoryArchives.com

The HUGE library of Iron History compiled by Joe Roark.

Welcome to Iron History with Joe Roark!

Joe Roark has been studying the iron game since 1957, and by 1970 began a systematic gathering of information on index cards. By the time his first computer was acquired, there were several hundred thousand references to be typed into it.
For a few years he published his own newsletter called MuscleSearch: The Roark Report. By 1992 he was appointed as the IFBB Men's Bodybuilding Historian, and began writing about history for FLEX in his column Factoids. For ten years he contributed to Iron Game History from the U of Texas at Austin. Recently he also began writing All Our Yesterdays for FLEX.
His passion has always been the period between 1880 and 1920, with particular emphasis on the oldtime strongmen of that era. Joe will be offering bits of history for Cyberpump once per week, and the text will be relevant to the dates of the calendar for those events of yesteryear relevant to the coming week.
In this column, readers will also be able to ask Joe questions or comment on his posts. Note: The comments are solely for interaction between Joe and the readers only -- not reader to reader.

5/27/05: Norb Schemansky�s Lifting as Reported in S&H mag (Part 4)
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Part 4: Norb Schemansky�s lifting as reported in S&H mag: May 27, 2005
Aug 1962 p 11 Empire State meet
360-340-000 = 000 (missed all his cleans in the C&J) 3rd place heavy
1. Gary Gubner 370-305-400 =1,075
2. Stan Cheifetz 265-245-310 = 820
Sep 1962 p 13 Sr. Nationals in Detroit, MI., Jun 2-3, 1962 age 38
380-340-420 = 1,140 Wins heavy and best lifter bodyweight 259
Dec 1962 p 14 Tryouts for World Championships, York, PA. Sep 8, 1962
375-340-415 = 1,120 Wins heavy
p 17 World Weightlifting Championships in Budapest Sep 16-22, 1962
402.25-352.5-429.75 = 1,184.75* 2nd place heavy bodyweight 260 winner:391.25-341.5-457.25 = 1,190.25 was Yuri Vlasov
*Norb�s total was a new USA record
Jan 1963 p 11 Second Annual Outdoor Chicago Championships Jul 28, 1962
375-325-400 = 1,100 Wins heavy
Jul 1963 p 25 Prize of Moscow Tournament Mar 15-17, 1963
363.75-341.5-396.75 = 1,102.25 2nd place heavy
winner:385.75-341.5-418.75 = 1,146.25 was Leonid Zhabotinski
Oct 1963 p 15 Sr. Nationals in Harrisburg, PA Jun 28-29, 1963 age 39
370-335-415 = 1,120 2nd place heavy bodyweight 258
winner: 380-320-425 = 1,125 was Sid Henry
Dec 1963 p 17 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden Sep 7-13, 1963
396.75-352.5-435.25 = 1,184.75 2nd place heavy bodyweight 258.5
winner: 413.25-352.5-462.75 = 1,129 was Yuri Vlasov
Feb 1964 p 13 North American Championships, Trenton, Ontario Oct 19, 1963
380-330-420 = 1,130 Wins heavy and best lifter
p 12 Chicago Sr. Outdoor Championships Jul 27, 1963
360-330-420 = 1,110 Wins heavy and best lifter
Apr 1964 p 65 Lone Star Invitational in Dallas, TX., Dec 14, 1963
370-330-415 = 1,115 Wins heavy
Aug 1964 p 8 The 14th National YMCA Championships, Los Angeles Apr 10-11, 1964
390*-340*-420* = 1,156* Wins heavy
*new national YMCA record
Sep 1964 p 10 Sr. Nationals in Chicago Jun 13-14, 1964 age 40
400-340-420 = 1,160 Wins heavy bodyweight 265
Oct 1964 p 42 Olympics Tryouts
397-330-419 = 1,146 Wins heavy
Dec 1964 p 43 Olympics in Tokyo Oct 18, 1964
396.5-363.5-424 = 1,184 3rd place heavy
1. Leonid Zhabotinski 413.5-369-479.5 = 1,262
2. Yuri Vlasov 435.5-358-462.5 = 1,256
Feb 1965 p 64 Olympics in Tokyo
396-363-424 = 1,184 3rd place heavy
Aug 1965 p 42a Sr. Nationals June 11-12, 1965 Los Angeles, CA.
385-345-425 = 1,155 Wins heavy bodyweight 263
Jan 1966 p 61 North American Championships, Montreal, Sep 5, 1965
360-320-000 = 680* 4th place heavy bodyweight 263.25
1. Gary Gubner 415-325-420 = 1,160 bodyweight 285.75
2. George Pickett 330-270-360 = 960
3. Joe Saguto 265-240-300 = 795
*Norb badly injured his arm snatching 335
Aug 1966 p 10 YMCA Nationals in Detroit, Apr 30, 1966 age 41
360-325-400 = 1,085 Wins heavy
p 42 Sr, Nationals
330-325-390 = 1,045 3rd place heavy bodyweight 266.5
1. Gary Gubner 293.5-420-325 = 1,170 bodyweight 293.5
2. Bob Bednarski 365-320-445 = 1,130 bodyweight 234
Oct 1966 p 16 Sr. Nationals, York, PA., Jun 17-19, 9166
330-325-390 = 1,045 3rd place heavy bodyweight 266.5
1. Gary Gubner 420-325-425 = 1,170
2. Bob Bednarski 365-320-445 = 1,130
Dec 1966 p 11 North American Championships, York, PA Sep 10, 1966 age 42
000-000-000 = 000 failed to finish
Bob Bednarski won via 375-340-440 = 1,155
Jun 1967 p 13 Mr. Cincinnati Olympic Meet Jan 29, 1967
360-325-400 = 1,085 2nd place heavy
winner: 400-330-420 = 1,150 was Bob Bednarski
Aug 1967 p 42 Sr. Nationals, Columbus, OH Jun 9-10, 1967 age 43
370-335-000 = 000 3rd place heavy bodyweight 273
1. Bob Bednarski 410-330-435 = 1,175 bodyweight 237.5
2. Joe Dube 405-305-420 = 1,130 bodyweight 300.5
On Dec 9, 1967 at the Empire State Invitational in Monticello, NY. Weighing 277 he managed a 415 press, a 345 snatch, then hit his chin with 425 in a clean [S&H did not mention this event, except to announce it as upcoming. See lifting News Feb 1968 cover and page 12 for coverage as well as Mar 1968 cover and page 11 for some details] Norb made 415-345-400 = 1,160 bodyweight 277 for 3rd place heavy
1. Joe Dube 435-340-430 = 1,205
2. Gary Gubner 425-340-425 = 1,190
3, Norb Schemansky 415-345-400 = 1,160
4. Bob Bednarski 400-300-450 = 1,150
5. George Pickett 390-300-430 = 1,120
May 1968 p 10 3rd Annual Monroe Jaycee Classic, Feb 3, 1968 Monroe, Iowa age 43
380*-335*-405* = 1,120* Wins heavy
*new Monroe Jaycees record

In March 1972, just for the fun of it, Norb pressed 380, snatched 310, and C&J�ed 410. �I was pretty sure I could win the Nationals at 242, but there would be no chance at the Olympics, so I didn�t enter the trials. Why go along and be tenth?� At that time he was two months away from his 48th birthday.
Quotes from S&H August 1973:
On Jon Cole: �Did he look like the strongest man in the world? I pressed 425 ten years ago.�
On Jim Bradford: �Jim would have lifter better and longer, but he had the same problem as most good lifters. He once told me that he was getting a little tired of owing at the gas station, the grocery store, etc.�
On being in the shadow of Davis and Anderson: �I don�t think I was in the shadows of those two. I broke their records didn�t I? Lack of money stopped me from beating Davis in 1950. I had a bad back when Anderson was lifting and couldn�t have beaten Truman Capote if I had to.�
On isometrics: �Take a heavy press and really press it. If it doesn�t go, that�s isometrics.�

Posted by TheEditor @ 08:48 PM CST
5/20/05: Norb Schemansky�s Lifting as Reported in S&H (Part 3)
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Part 3: Norb Schemansky�s lifting as reported in S&H.
Sep 1954 p 12 Sr. Nationals Jun 25-26, 1954 Greek Theater in Los Angeles
320-320-410 = 1050 Wins heavy bodyweight 219
the total of 1,050 was the third highest ever recorded!
[note: Norb made a C&J on extra attempt with 416.5]
p 60 National YMCA Championships, Providence, R. I., Apr 24, 1954
315-320-400 = 1,035 Wins heavy bodyweight 219.5
Jan 1955 p 9 World Weightlifting Championships, Vienna, Austria Oct 7-10, 1954 age 30
330.5-330.5-413.25 = 1,074.25 Wins heavy bodyweight 224.5
Feb 1955 p 7 Open lifting meet (1954) in Ann Arbor, Michigan
320-320-375 = 1,015 Wins heavy
p 44 All American Weightlifting Team
330.5-330.5-413.25 = 1,074.25
Jun 1955 p 24 Pan American Games Mar 12-26, 1955 Mexico City
330.5-319.5-391.25 = 1,041.25 Wins heavy
compare Humberto Selvetti placed second via 352.5-292-363.75 = 1,008.75. You may recall that Selvetti tied Anderson the following year at the Olympics, but Paul won due to lighter bodyweight.
p 65 The 1955 Metro Detroit YMCA Weightlifting Championships
325-280-370 = 975 Wins heavy
Jul 1955 p 66 Central Michigan AAU meet in Fenton, MI.
325-310-390 = 1,025 Wins heavy
Sep 1955 p 58 The 6th National YMCA Champions Apr 23, 1955 Washington, DC
300-280-350 = 930 Wins heavy
no reports from 1956
Oct 1957 p 11 Sr. Nationals Jun 22-23, 1957 in Daytona Beach, FL. Age 33
320-290-380 = 990 Wins the inaugural 225 class bodyweight 218.5
Jan 1958 p 56 North American Tournament in Montreal Aug 31, 1957
325-295-380 = 1,000 Wins heavy
Nov 1959 p 10 Sr. Nationals in York, PA. Jul 31-Aug 1, 1959 age 35
Dec 1959 p 14 (Norb had two operations on his back sometime before this competition)
335-285-360 = 980 3rd place heavy
1. Dave Ashman 310-315-415 = 1,040
2. Jim Bradford 360-310-370 = 1,040
Jan 1960 p 11 A.M.A. Open in Pittsburgh Sep 12, 1959
330-285-355 = 970 Wins heavy
Apr 1960 p 11 North American Tournament Quebec City Oct 24, 1958(sic) but is 1959
345-310-360 = 1,015 Wins heavy
Jul 1960 p 27 Mid-States meet in Whiting, IN., Mar 27, 1960
350-315-370 = 1,035 Wins heavy
note: Norb had a slight knee touch while cleaning 400 for a jerk]
Sep 1960 p 66 Sr. Nationals in Cleveland, OH., Jun 12, 1960 age 36
355-320-400 = 1,075 2nd place heavy
winner: 375-320-390 = 1,085 was Jim Bradford
Dec 1960 p 11 Olympics in Rome Sep 7-10, 1960
374.75-330.25-396.75 = 1102.25 3rd place heavy bodyweight 247.5
1. Yuri Vlasov 396.75-341.5-446.24 = 1,185
2. Jim Bradford 396.75-330.5-402.25 = 1,129.75
p 64 Michigan Open Class A
330-300-390 = 1,020 Wins heavy
Apr 1961 p 27 Detroit�s Class A meet Jan 14, 1961
380-320-405 = 1,105 Wins heavy bodyweight 256

Posted by TheEditor @ 09:37 PM CST
5/13/05: Norb Schemansky's Lifting as Reported in S&H Mag (Part 2)
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Part 2: Norb Schemansky�s lifting as reported in S&H mag
Apr 1950 p 43 Detroit Metro Championships Feb 19, 1950 age 25
290-290-375 = 955
[had a near success with 392.50 in the C&J]
Sep 1950 p 8 Midwest Weightlifting Championships, Highland Park, MI. Apr 16,1950
285-300-370 = 955 Wins heavy bodyweight 210
Aug 1950 p 7 National YMCA Championships, Baltimore, MD Apr 21-22, 1950
280-300-370 = 950 Wins heavy
Jul 1950 p 36 Sr. Nationals Philadelphia Academy of Music, May 12-13, 1950
290-310-360 = 960 2nd place heavy bodyweight 209
winner:320-310-380 = 1,010 was John Davis bodyweight 226.25
Nov 1950 p 8 Mid-States Weightlifting Championships, Chicago Aug 13, 1950 age 26
270-290-350 = 910 Wins heavy bodyweight 205
Dec 1950 p 5 North American Weightlifting Championships, Montreal, Oct 7, 1950
280-290-380 = 950 Wins heavy bodyweight 206
Apr 1951 p 8 Pan American Tryouts, NYC, Feb 16, 1951
280-290-000 = 570 3rd place heavy
1. John Davis 310-310-385 = 1,005
2. Jim Bradford 310-300-360 = 970
Sep 1951 p 7 Sr. Nationals Jun 15-16, 1951 Greek Theater, Los Angeles age 27
270-295-350 = 915 Wins mid-heavy (bodyweight 196) C&J 370.75

Feb 1952 p 9 World Weightlifting Championships, Milan, Italy
275-291.5-374 = 940.50 Wins mid-heavy (198 and under)
compare: John Davis won the heavy with 313.5-286-352 = 951.50

Mar 1952, p 16 What event was this?? Dec 1, 1951
280-310-390 = 980 extra C&J 400.5 bodyweight 212
[note: he tried to C&J 405 three times on extra attempts, succeeding on the third try, but the bar was light so it was 400.5]
Aug 1952 p 7 National YMCA Championships in Cincinnati, Apr 19, 1952
295*-300*-380* = 975* Wins heavy
* = national YMCA record
Oct 1952 p 9 Sr. Nationals / Final Olympics Tryouts in NYC Jun 27-28, 1952 age 28
264.5-281-341.5 = 887 Wins mid-heavy
Nov 1952 p 8 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland Jul 25-27, 1952
281-308.5*-391* = 980.5* Wins mid-heavy
* new Olympic Games record
Jan 1953 p 8 North American Championships in Montreal, Oct 11, 1952
300-295*-370 = 965* Wins heavy bodyweight 213.75
*new Canadian Open record
Apr 1953 p 43 Open Meet in York, PA.
310-310-380 = 1,000 Wins heavy C&J 412.5 4th attempt
This was the first loss for John Davis in a 14 year period!
John Davis 310-290-000 = 000
Jul 1953 p 63 John Terlazzo�s Meet in NYC
000-300-375 = 675 2nd place heavy
winner:245-265-335 = 845 was Tom Gursky
Aug 1953 p 26 Sr. Nationals in Indianapolis Jun 6-7, 1953 age 29
265-285-350 = 900 Wins mid-heavy bodyweight 198

Nov 1953 p 9 World Weightlifting Championships, Stockholm, Sweden
281-297.5-396.75 = 975.25 Wins mid-heavy his C&J weighed 398.75
compare to Doug Hepburn who won heavy via 369.25-297.5-363.75 = 1,030.50

Posted by TheEditor @ 09:08 PM CST
5/6/05: Norb Schemansky: Lifting History as Reported in S&H (Part 1)
Thursday, May 5, 2005
Norb Schemansky: lifting history as reported in S&H, compiled by Joe Roark
[this is not intended as an exhaustive recap of Norb�s contests, but it should be a good launching point for anyone wanting more information on what Strength and Health reported on his contests. For a splendid �feel� for the man that Norb is, see S&H July 1973 and August 1973 for the two part:� Norb Schemansky, the �Old� Master� wonderfully written by Vernon Hollister. Excellent writing!
As always, any additions or corrections are welcome.
Part 1: The 1940s for Iron History on Cyberpump May 6, 2005
Strength & Health magazine:
Norb was born in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, May 30, 1924:
Feb 1942 p 10 AAU Sr. Nationals of Michigan 1941 age 17
170-200-250 = 620 2nd place heavy (bodyweight 182.25 lbs)
winner:195-200-235 = 630 was C. Kratkowski bodyweight 189
Apr 1942 p 10 In Detroit Feb 15, 1942 bodyweight 187
195-215-260 = 670 2nd place heavy
winner:230-210-270 = 710 was Jack Stanley bodyweight 201.5
Jul 1942 p 12 AAU Sr. Nationals, Cincinnati at Veteran�s Memorial Club House
On May 24, 1942 just six days before his 18th birthday!
190-220-265 = 675 4th place heavy bodyweight 182
1. John Davis 275-275-355 = 905 bodyweight 193
2. Charles Neitling 245-240-300 = 785 bodyweight 211.5
3. Mike Boross 230-230-290 = 750 bodyweight 198
Jan 1943 p 11 AAU Michigan Sr. Championships
215-240-310 = 765 Wins heavy
May 1943 p 11 Mar 14, 1943 Central States Meet at Chicago Duncan YMCA
220-245-290 = 755 2nd place heavy bodyweight 191
winner:250-225-330 = 805 was Hubert Curtis bodyweight 200
Jul 1946 p 50 AAU Sr. Nationals Jun 2, 1946 at Detroit Gymnasium age 22
242-252-322 = 816 5th place bodyweight 198.75
1. John Davis 282-282-353 = 917 bodyweight 215.25
2. George Shandor 247-257-327 = 831 bodyweight 207.50
3. Erwin Roger 252-262-317 = 831 bodyweight 212.75
4. Frank Orant 252-252-322 = 826 bodyweight 193
Aug 1946 p 47 AAU Michigan Sr. Championships Apr 28, 1946
245-245-325 = 815 Wins heavy bodyweight 203.50
Jul 1947 p 48 AAU Michigan Sr. Championships May 25, 1947
260-270-330 = 860 Wins heavy
Aug 1947 p 50 AAU Senior Nationals Jun 28-29, 1947 age 23
250-275-345 = 870 2nd place heavy (bodyweight 198.75)
winner:290-280-330 = 900 was John Davis bodyweight 215
Nov 1947 p 33 World Weightlifting Championships
259-286.5-363.75 = 909.25 2nd place heavy
winner:308.75-308.75-385.75 = 1,003.75 was John Davis
Feb 1948 p 45 Midwest Weightlifting Championships
255-275-350 = 880 Wins heavy (bodyweight 205)
Apr 1948 p 47 Feb 20, 1948 New York Invitational at St. Nicholas Arena
260-275-340 = 875 3rd place bodyweight 199
1. John Davis 340-300-360 = 1,000 bodyweight 225
2. Louis Abele 295-290-340 = 925 bodyweight 217
May 1948 p 47 Mar 21, 1948 North Central States Championships, Detroit, MI.
270-295-365 = 930 Wins heavy (bodyweight 198)
Sep 1948 p 47 Senior Michigan Weightlifting Championships May 16, 1948
275-292-352 = 919 Wins heavy
Aug 1948 p 46 Central Section Olympics Tryouts, Chicago, Jun 20, 1948 age 24
275-295-350 = 920 Wins heavy (bodyweight 201)
Sep 1948 p 49 Final Olympics Tryouts Jul 9, 1948 in NYC
270-297.5-352.75 = 920.25 2nd place heavy bodyweight 201.75
winner 292-281-363.75 = 936.75 was John Davis
Sep 1948 p 47 Olympics Aug 11, 1948
270-292-374.75 = 937 2nd place heavy bodyweight 198
winner: 303.25-303.25-391.25 = 997.50 was John Davis
[ interesting note: Norb told Roger LaPointe in World Weightlifting magazine in 1997:3 p 29, �I didn�t start training seriously until 1949.�]
May 1949 p 44 NYC Invitational Meet Feb 18, 1949
260-280-000 = 540
winner:275-300-360 = 935 was John Davis
Jun 1949 p 46 Senior Nationals Weightlifting May 21-22, 1949
275-290-320 = 885 Wins heavy (bodyweight 205.5)
Aug 1949 p 48 Detroit Metro Weightlifting Meet Feb 26, 1949
280-290-370 = 940 Wins heavy
Aug 1949 p 48 Michigan State Weightlifting Championships Apr 24, 1949 age 25
280-280-350 = 910 Wins heavy

Posted by TheEditor @ 08:50 PM CST