AAU Mr. America Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Roy Hilligenn – 1951 Mr. America

Posted on Sunday, November 27th, 2016 by John Wood

South African Roy Hilligenn, seen above on the cover of the September/October 1951 issue of Iron Man magazine was the AAU Mr. America that same year. Hilligen was a tremendous all-around “iron athlete” — As a bodybuilder, he won the Mr. South Africa title in 1943, 1944, 1946 and 1976 as well as Mr. Northern California (1949), Mr. Pacific Coast (1949), and The World’s Most Muscular Man (1952). Hilligenn was the shortest man to ever win the AAU Mr. America title (at 5’6″).

As an Olympic lifter, Hilligenn was the first South African to Clean and Jerk double body weight.

His lifts in 1946 were Press: 245 pounds, Snatch: 255 Pounds and Clean & Jerk: 321 pounds. In the early 1950’s, and weighing just 173 pounds, Hilligen unofficially equaled the world record in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 375 pounds. He actually finished second in the 1951 National championships to Norbert Schemansky.

Hilligen eventually Clean & Jerked 405 at a slightly heavier body weight, which was an unofficial world record at the time. It was voted as one of the greatest “lifts” of all time. Hilligenn also “cleaned” a pair of 142-pound dumbbells (but did not press them) at Ed Yarick’s Gym in Oakland, California in the 50’s.

Interestingly, Roy Hilligenn was also a life-long vegetarian and claimed to have never eaten meat ever.

John Grimek’s Bodybuilding Contest History

Posted on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 by John Wood

Here’s John Grimek showing his winning form and hardware after taking first in the 1948 Mr. Universe contest (defeating Steve Reeves in the process!) Most bodybuilders are lucky to win one contest in their careers but Grimek finished first in EVERY contest he ever entered. Here’s a look at the full list:

1939 – York Perfect Man
1940 – AAU Mr. America
1941 – AAU Mr. America
1946 – Most Muscular Man in America
1948 – NABBA – Mr. Universe
1949 – Mr. USA

After winning the AAU Mr. America contest for the second year in a row, they passed a rule that one could not enter it again once they won – the powers that be figured that if they didn’t take this step, Grimek would just keep on winning them.

1960 AAU Mr. America Contest Results

Posted on Sunday, February 16th, 2014 by John Wood

1960 AAU Mr. America Contest Results, Final Placings:

1. Red Lerille
2. Ray Routledge
3. Joe Lazzaro
4. William Stathes
5. Joe Abbenda
6. Bill Golumbick
7. Frank Quinn
8. Elmo Santiago
9. Mike Ferraro
10. John Gourgott
11. Leroy Saba
12. Don Van Fleteren
13. Kenny Hall
14. Pete Ganios
15. Steve Sakoulos
16. Bill March
17. Buddy Basil
18. Harold Poole
19. Paul Mintal
20. James Piesrante
21. Raymond Huecke
22. Bill Galewood
23. Michael Majoris
24. Henry Efland
25. Nick Spano

Most Muscular Subdivision:

1. Red Lerille
2. Leroy Saba
3. Kenny Hall

The 1960 AAU Mr. America contest took place in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 11, 1960, and was won by Lloyd “Red” Lerille of Harvey, Louisiana, who is shown here on the cover of the August, 1960 issue of Ironman Magazine.

The full lineup and final placings were as follows:

The Arm of Casey Viator

Posted on Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 by John Wood

At just 19 years of age, Casey Viator became the youngest man to win the Mr. America title. This impromptu shot from 1971 gives you a pretty good idea why. Under the tutelage of Arthur Jones, on May 16, 1971, Casey Viator won the AAU Junior Mr. America contest. Then, four weeks later, Casey Viator won the AAU Mr. America contest in the most spectacular fashion in the history of such contests. In addition to the overall AAU Mr. America title, Casey took the Most muscular Man in America title and the subdivisions for Best Arms, Best Back, Best Chest and Best Legs.