For over fifty years, Father Bernard Lange of Notre Dame University, ran one of the finest gyms and lifting programs this country had ever seen. Lange actually did not take up physical training until past 30 years of age but built himself up to one of the most powerful men of the time. He recognized the value that physical training could have on a person and thus promoted it for the rest of his life.

He was also a “secret weapon” of sorts, introducing systematic weight lifting to many of the great Notre Dame Athletic teams before such programs were en vogue. In fact, he often earned special recognition from the legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne for working with his players as early as 1922! Lange’s Gym was said to be one of the finest gyms in the land, as he spared no expense in quality equipment and even made a great deal of it himself using his carpentry skills.