|
|
528 Chama, N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87108 http://www.cbass.com |
|
|
Pete George Passes at 91
One of the most memorable events of my life was having Claude Barnholth bring Pete George to my home gym for a workout on the way to competing at the 1956 Olympic trials in California. What stands out in my mind is the marked difference in Pete's lifting in my weight room and at the trials, which my father and I attended. He was missing lifts in Albuquerque causing him to ask if there was a light, suggesting that he was going to keep trying until he made the lift. In California, the difference was like night and day; his competitive genes were taking center stage. The weights flew up at the trials, leading us to believe that he would be hard to beat in Melbourne. (See below) * * * Claude Barnholth was one of three brothers who founded the American College of Modern Weightlifting where Pete and his brother Jim learned the squat style of lifting, which now predominates around the world. Claude was living and working in Albuquerque in 1956, officiating and helping with local contests. He also observed my lifting and encouraged me.
Pete won the Silver medal in Melbourne to add to the Gold he’d won at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and Silver at the 1948 Olympics in London. After becoming the first 15-year-old to clean and jerk 300 pounds, he went on to win five World Championships outside of the Olympics in 1947, 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1955. He also set four world records, three in the clean and jerk, and one in the total. Calling that impressive would be an understatement. * * * After retiring from lifting, Pete went on to get degrees at Kent State, Ohio State and Columbia Universities. He became an orthodontist and served on the faculty of the University of Hawaii. He was a long-time friend of Tommy Kono, who persuaded him to move to Hawaii where he resided for the rest of his life. Pete George may very well be the most accomplished US world champion Olympic Lifter, on par with his friend Tommy Kono, who is recognized as the best Olympic weightlifter of the 20th century. * * * You can see why I was thrilled to have Claude Barnholth bring Pete by for a tune up in my home gym. Remember that I was still a teenager. Understandably, my memory is better than Pete's. I later met him at a meeting of the US Olympic Weightlifting Committee—and he had no recollection of stopping by for a workout in my gym. It didn't help that room was not well lighted. Given more time it might have come back to him.
You’ll find more about Pete George’s many achievements on and off the weightlifting platform on his Wikipedia page. He was a superb athlete and fine man who will be missed by all who knew and loved him. December 1, 2022 Comment on this article: FEEDBACK Ripped Enterprises, P.O. Box 51236, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-1236 Home | Products Index | Ripped Bks | Lean Adv. Bks | Lean For Life | Recommended Bks | |Consultations | Tapes | To Order | Feedback] Copyright © 2022 Clarence and Carol Bass. All rights reserved. |
