AAU Asked To Probe 'Universe'

Promoter Charges Change of Judges In Beach Contest

(newspaper article reprinted in Muscle Builder, Oct 56)

VIRGINIA BEACH--The Junior Chamber of Commerce here has asked the National Amateur Athletic Union to conduct an investigation of the judging at a "Mr. Universe" contest held here last weekend.

The action was announced today following a four-hour meeting of the organization Tuesday night, at which the refusal of Buck Cowling, promoter and faction-holder of the contest, to accept the decision of the judges, was discussed.

In a letter to Carl Hansen, president of the National AAU, William Robertson, president of the resort Jaycee organization, said: "(We) request and strongly urge that a high and impartial AAU official conduct a thorough and complete investigation of all questions raised concerning the judging of this contest..."

The Jaycees are also asking that the AAU make public its findings.

Cowling, the day after the two-day contest was completed, announced that he would not accept the decision of the judges and charged Bob Hoffman, head judge and Olympic Weight Lifting Team coach, had changed judges in the middle of the contest.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the contest, as part of this city's Golden Jubilee Celebration, said through a spokesman today and in its letter to Hansen that it is not interested in the personalities involved and therefore will not attempt to resolve the issues recently raised.

Cowling said upon announcing his decision that he had evidence to back up charges that first night ballots were changed during the second night of the contest.

Cowling however was not at the Jaycee meeting held here last night. A club spokesman said today that he wanted to make it clear that Cowling was not a member of the sponsoring organization and that the organization is taking no sides in the controversy.