IronMan, Vol 25, No 6, Page 38, September 1966
AS most readers are aware, we have been pushing for changes in the Mr. America contest for many years, trying to get a fun day for it, and complete pre-judging. Finally this has come to pass, and the improvement is so great that we are sure the Mr. America contest will take on new life and mooning.
The pre-judging was done in the afternoon in a large gym in the rear of the stage, and this long period of observation by the judges permitted them to make a much more accurate decision. It also gave them time for selecting body part subdivisions for which awards were given this year.
The staging was the best we have ever seen at a Mr. America, with good background curtains and columns, statuettes and plants to lend atmosphere. The lighting was excellent, and orange lights were used, which gave the skin texture of the athletes a golden glow. John Grimek had worked hard in setting this up and I'm sure he was proud of the effect.
Another excellent service provided at both the Junior Nationals and the Senior Nationals was space for setting up background and lights for the legitimate photographers at the meet. This will enhance the quality of the photos to appear in the magazines and hence bring better publicity to the Show in general.
This was the first time in the past 15 or 20 years that your editor hasn't been on the judging panel and it was a welcome relief not to have this heavy responsibility and to be able instead to visit with the athletes and others around a show. I remarked to one judge that now I was in a position to criticize. However, frankly, I found nothing to criticize in the selections. I think they did a fine job.
I will have much more to say about the Mr. America contest in general in future issues. Just now our shortage of space will crowd us to get the report of this great show adequately covered.
Because of the almost unlimited time for presenting the show since it was given the whole day and evening, it was possible to include some special vaudeville acts, which greatly improved the whole presentation.
The show started with everyone standing for the Star Spangled Banner, then the curtains were drawn to show all the contestants standing at attention on elevated staging of different heights. This was an impressive opening. Then the curtains were drawn and the men came out one at a time and posed for the subdivisions. This gave the audience an excellent view of the men, tho not all of them were entered in the subdivisions.
Following this, two boys, Mike Stevens and Lyle Crim, came out and gave a demonstration of the clean and jerk. Mike is 11 and weighs about 80 lbs. and Lyle is 8 and weighs 68. Mike made 100 lbs., and Lyle about 80. Both boys showed wonderful style and excellent control in these lifts, both having been carefully coached by their fathers.
A girls' tumbling team called the Mannettes, came on and presented some excellent tumbling. They ranged from tiny little girls of about 50 pounds, up to older girls weighing perhaps 120 or so and all went through the difficult tumbling stunts, all dressed in flame red suits. They were very good.
The Mr. America contestants now came forth and posed individually on the posing platform for the Must Muscular title and this brought amazed gasps from the audience as they viewed some of the unbelievable physiques.
Following this, there was a Karate exhibition, or rather a stone slab breaking exhibition, by one of the Mr. America contestants, Steve Johnson. He broke 2 inch slabs of marble with blows of his hands.
The Mannettes now appeared for a fine exhibition of the parallel bar exercises and this was followed by the Mr. America competition in which all the men participated and all posed individually and were allowed 60 seconds on the posing platform. A 10 minute intermission followed.
After the intermission, Ken Sherbourne, a most remarkable juggler, gave a display of balance and juggling. He seems to be one of the best. Karen Nyce, a contortionist and balancer, then gave an unbelievable performance as she proceeded to do a one finger balance on a ball on a table. There must have been a gimmick somewhere, for she balanced almost on the tip of the index finger of one hand in a slight depression in the ball and the finger and hand were held at an odd angle. Even considering this possibility, it is the most remarkable balancing feat we have ever seen a woman perform, or for that matter, anyone else. She wore gloves and later took them off very carefully, and even though there might have been a finger support in the glove it was still an unbelievably feat of balance, Among other things, she also bent over backward and reached at least two feet below her feet to pick up a flower with her teeth and stand erect with it while standing on high pedestals under each foot.
It was now time to announce the Most Muscular contest winners and the crowd waited in great anticipation for the judges' decisions. The men were called out in reverse order, with Ralph Kroger getting 5th, Bill Whitaker 4th, then Dennis Tinerino 3rd, Bob Gajda 2nd, and it was no surprise that Sergio Oliva was first again this year. This man certainly is fabulous and it would be hard to visualize anyone being more muscular, no matter what your definition of muscular might be. It was a popular decision with the audience and surely the contestants could not complain, at least as far as first place was concerned. The other places were so close that it could have gone any way.
Billy Parker, one of the Mr. America contestants, now came out and put on his muscle control routine and muscle dance. He is very good, and provided the crowd with a lot of entertainment and humor. We were then treated to a beautiful posing tableau of 5 fine bodybuilders gilded in gold and silver, with Gene Kuszinski in gold and his attendants in silver. This was a very impressive presentation. I can imagine the difficulties they had in getting this gold and silver washed off. The attendants were Ray Dotterwich, Mel Long, Rick Sargent and Chick Schiesser.
Body Parts Winners were announced, with Sergio Oliva winning best arms and best back. No one could argue about this. Will Whitaker won best chest and he certainly had a good one. Best legs went to Ralph Kroger, a man who not only has good looking legs, but powerful legs, as he is a very good lifter. Best abdominals went to Dennis Tinerino.
It was now time for the big announcement -- the winner of America's top title for bodybuilders, the man who would proudly wear this title for the coming year was about to be announced. The announcer and MC, Bob Callahan, who had done a fine job all evening, brought out the 5th place man first to present his trophy (these trophies were certainly beautiful this year). Fifth place man was James Haislop, a wonderfully built young fellow, and last issue's cover man on Iron Man, and a man who with a little more shaping up will be one of our greatest Mr. America's (we predict). Fourth place was another great bodybuilder, a small man, but one of physical perfection, Randy Watson. Third place man was another with a great future, Ralph Kroger, current Mr. California. The last two men were the ones that everyone was wondering about. Two top men were in everyone's mind. Which one would take the title? When Sergio Oliva's name was called for second place, everyone knew that none other than Bob Gajda could be the winner of the coveted title for this year, and the MC wasted no time bringing him out. Judging from the applause, this was a popular decision. A few seemed to feel that Oliva had a slight edge, but they should remember that a Mr. America ought to be a citizen and must be able to speak English fluently, so that he may keep speaking engagements, etc., during the year. Sergio is trying to take care of the citizenship business and is also attending night classes studying English, and has already made much progress, so if he will continue he should win the coveted title in time. We have some photos taken by Bob Gajda which are marvelous and we will show some of them to you in next issue. When you see them you will know why everyone raves about Sergio Oliva. As most of you know, these two men are good friends and training partners at Duncan YMCA in Chicago.
So ended a great show and a very satisfying one for the public, I'm sure. John Picard accompanied the show with music played on an accordion hooked up to some electrical devices that made it sound like a big pipe organ. He did a wonderful job and added much to the presentation.
We would like to try to squeeze in a few facts about the different contestants-31 in all. We have already given you the facts and figures on some of these men in the report on the Jr. Mr. America contest, so will not repeat them here.
We will begin in the order in which they appeared at the contest, with Will Whitaker being first. Win has trained 4 years and won several important physique contests. He played baseball, football in Southeastern Louisiana college, is 5'10½" tall, weighing 198, with 18½ arms, 50 chest, 31 waist, 26½ thighs and calves of 17½. He has bench pressed 385, squatted with 475 and dead lifted 515.
Incidentally, the measurements and the lifts given here are those stated by the contestants, as we took no measurements, or required no certification of lifts. We assume they are accurate and truthful.
John Kaczynski was No. 2 man out on the posing platform and he too has trained for 4 years and attends the night school of Baltimore University. His favorite sport has been basketball, and he is 5'10" tal1 and weighs 190 with measurements not given.
Ray Melendez came from Puerto Rico 19 years ago and has been training 9 years. He likes gymnastics, for which he is well built, being 5'4" tall and weighing 164, with 16½ arms, 46 chest, 30 waist, thighs 23½ and calf of 14.
Randy Watson is a minister in the Church of Christ, a man of sparkling personality and a real credit to the game. He has trained 9 years, is married and has a two year old son. He has won outstanding honors in gymnastics and the rings. He has bench pressed 360, squat 450, dead lift 500. He is 5'7" and weighed 170. He won the 1963 Jr. Mr. America title and was 3rd in the Mr. America in 1964 and 1965. We have carried Randy's story and his schedules in Volume 22 Number 6 Iron Man.
Gene Kuczinski has trained for 4 years and is in the Navy, working as an aviation electrician. He is 22 and weighs 205 at 5'9" and has bench pressed 375 and squatted with 450. He has 18 inch arms, 50 chest, 31 waist, 27 thighs and 17½ calves.
Jerry Doettrel has been training. 8½ years and is 5'4" and weighs 178, with 17½ arms, 45 chest, 25 thigh, 31½ waist and 17¼ calves. He is a cook by trade.
Flaubert Peltier has been training 8 years, is married and has a 14 month old daughter. He is a machinist and is 5'9" tall, weighs 180, no measurements were given, but he does a dead lift with 585.
Charles Fautz has trained 7 years and is 5'11" tall, weighing 220. He has a General Business Degree from Monmouth College and works as a purchasing agent. He has done a 440 bench press, 450 squats and 600 dead lift at 215 bodyweight.
Gene Wells has trained for 18 years and seems to improve all the time. He will be a cover man on Iron Man soon. He possesses outstanding chest and abdominal development -- we don't know why he didn't enter the abdominal subdivision. Gene is married, has a four month old daughter and works as a building contractor. He has done a press of 260, snatch of 220 and clean and jerk of 290 for a 770 total.
Kenneth Covington has trained 4 years and is 5'11½", weighs 190, with an arm of 17, chest 45½, waist 29, thigh 24 and calf 15. He has done olympic lifts of 230, 205 and 250 and power lifts of 310, 400, 540.
Ralph Kroger has trained 8 years and at 5'10" weighed 200, though he has weighed as much as 240, we understand. He has made a 1,000 pound total as a heavyweight lifter. His training consists primarily of power work, and he gives little thought to measurements. He works as a business manager and we hope to feature him in Iron Man soon.
Thomas Hutson has trained 5 years and at 22 years has an arm of 19, chest 49, waist 31, thigh 26, calf 18½, and stands 5'9", weighing 188. He works as a bottler for Anheuser-Busch.
Kent Kuehn has trained only 3 years but power lifts 340, 385, 530 and does 240, 215 and 290 in the olympic lifts. He was a gymnast at Central Michigan University. He is marred and has a 6 month old son.
Bill St. John has been training 3 years and does 250, 220, 290 in the olympic, lifts at 181 bodyweight, though he now weighs 210 it a height of 5'11. Bill is 23 years old and doesn't know what he measures as he doesn't consider measurements of any value. He was a high school wrestling champ in the 175 lb. class. He works for the Government as a draftsman.
Thomas Helms has been training for 6 years and was a Jr. Mr. America and was an outstanding wrestler and Delaware Olympic Lift Heavyweight Champ in 1963. He weighs 210 at 6'1" and has an arm of 18¼, 50 chest, 32½ waist, 26½ thigh and 17 calf. He works as a meat supervisor.
James Kowalski has trained 10 years and has won awards for track and field as well as marksmanship awards. He is a Pantagraph-Ultragraph machine operator, is married and has two children.
Wm. Parker has been training 8 years and is now a college student and 22 years of age. Standing 5'3" tall, he weighs 150 and has won many titles. He has done 200, 200, 250 in the Olympic lifts. He is a muscle control expert and much in demand for this activity at various shows.
Jim Dorn has been training a good many years and was formerly one of the top lifters in the 181 and 198 class, having done 315, 285, 360, 965 in the Olympic lifts. He developed sore knees and had to give up lifting. He is known to have one of the broadest backs in the country. He plans to go back to lifting when his knees will permit. Jim owns his own variety store, stands 5'7" and gives the following measurements 19 arms, 50 chest, 30 waist, 27 thigh and 17 calf.
Steve Johnson has trained 4 years and is a Karate expert and a member of the Philadelphia Police Department. He is 5'7" tall and weighs 182. He is a black belt in Karate.
Dennis Tinerino has been in the limelight for several years, having started training about 5 years ago, and later, in 1965, winning the Teen Age Mr. America title. Dennis attends the RCA institute and hopes to begin lifting soon. He is 6'1½" tall and weighs 217, with 19¼ arm, 50 chest, 33 waist, 26½ thigh and 17½ calf. We hope to carry his story soon. Dennis trained at Bill Pearl's gym for a few weeks prior to the Sell or Nats, and made great improvement over his condition at the Juniors. We talked to some who thought he should have won the Mr. America title this year.
Bob McNeill has trained 10 years and has won quite a few titles, is a Karate expert and does some lifting. He works as a receiving clerk and is 6' tall, weighing 210, with 18¼ arm, 50 chest, 29½ waist, 25 thigh and 16 calf, He is 30, married, and has two sons.
Charles Estes has trained for 10 years, is 6'2" and weighs a hefty 235 lbs. He is an inhalation therapist at the Nashville Hospital and has had a very good athletic history in most fields of athletics. In the power lifts he has done 450, 475, 525, and he measures: 19¼ arm, 51 chest, 32 waist, 27½ thigh.
James Haislop has been training for only 3 years but already has one of the most pleasing physiques with great possibilities. He is now a machinist for the Honeywell company and has already won many top titles. He is 6' tall and weighs 223 with 18¾ arm, 51 chest, 31 waist, 27¾ thigh and 17½ calf. See his story in last issue of Iron Man.
Gene Dickerson has his details in the Jr. Mr. America report in this issue. Please refer to it.
Bob Gajda also has his details in the Jr. Mr. America report. More will appear about Bob in future issues of Iron Man.
Nick Spano has been training 8 years and has made continual improvement. Nick is 5'8½" tall, weighs 185 and has won many titles. He is a teacher of social studies and was Jr. Middleweight wrestling champ of Georgia, and high school shot put champion. He has totaled 735 on the Olympic lifts and his measurements are 18 arm, 47 chest, 31 waist, 25 thigh and 16¼ calf. He has recently been on the Blair program and says he has made great progress.
Jose Lopez is a student at the University of Puerto Rico and has been training for 4 years, stands 5'11" and weighs 198. He has boxed in the Golden Gloves and also made 275, 240, 325 in the Olympic lifts in the 198 class, and this is good.
Sergio Oliva, who has been training 7 years, has details in the Jr. Mr. America report. Here is an added detail our reporter Don Wilson picked up. We didn't know Sergio was married, but according to this report, his wife is coming from Cuba via Spain.
Dan Howard has been training for 3½ years and is 6'2¼", weighing 222 lbs. He was honorable mention for All American football and is a sky-diver and is working on his doctorate at the University of Tulsa in Zoology and Physiology. He has an 18½ arm, 51 chest, 31 waist, 26½ thigh and 17½ calf.
George Papp has trained for 10½ years, was a boxer in the US Air Force, and is a steel worker. He is 5'11" and weighs 181. At 41, he was the oldest man in the contest.
Steve Sakoulos had been training the longest--22 years, and is the second oldest in the meet at 40. This is the 6th Mr. America contest he has appeared in. He is a glass blower but owns a company that manufactures hospital supplies. Steve is also an Olympic lifter, having made 250, 245, 320 while weighing 181. He is 5'11" and weighs 185.
We did not say much about the training methods of the above men. Most of them train pretty much on the general programs of several sets of about 8 repetitions and perhaps about 12 to 20 sets per body part for three to five workouts per week, most of them using the split system of upper body one day and lower body the following, thus getting in 5 workout days per week. Most of them follow very good nourishing diets, keeping their protein high and carbohydrates low. Most of them use some form of supplements such as protein, vitamin-mineral and wheat germ oil, as well as liver tablets. They all agree that dedication to a regular schedule, careful living habits and hard work are the secrets of their success. They are all dedicated to their programs ahead of all else.
We will carry stories of many of the above men in future issues of Iron Man.
We are indebted to the industrious activities of Don Wilson, the hard working Chairman of the Pacific Association this past year, and my wife, Mabel, for much of the information contained in the above remarks.
Judges for the Mr. America were: Steve Stanko, Karo Whitfield, Frasher Ferguson, Bob Crist, Frank Bates, Bob Hise, Morris Weisbrott.
- The opening of the curtain on this group of superbly built Mr. America contestants created a very good first impression. This is the first time that anyone has been allowed to really put on a good show with the Mr. America contest and we predict that it will become sensationally popular in coming years if this practice is continued.
- James Haislop looked great this year and while he only took 5th place, he has possibilities on winning, with a little more work.
- The two photos at right show the sensational condition that Bob Gajda had attained to win the Mr. America title. I doubt if anyone has ever worked harder over a period of months in preparation. Bob will be one of our most popular title holders.
- Ralph Kroger, present Mr. California, looked great, and won Best Legs, and was third in the Mr. America lineup. This shows his excellent back development.
- Bob Gajda, upper left had outstanding definition in winning the Mr. America. Oliva, with his fantastic physique, won the Most Muscular and Best Arms titles, while Ralph Kroger, on the upper right, won Best Legs. Olvia, at lower left, was the Best Back winner, and no wonder! Tinerino won Best Abdominals, while Will Whitaker, at lower right, won Best Chest. The judges had a difficult task in selecting the best body parts.
- Bob Gajda does a lot of clowning around, and is shown here with Oliva in a double pose (They had a very fine routine of double poses), when the Most Muscular men were announced while Kroger and Tinerino stand by.
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