JUNIOR MR. AMERICA CONTEST

By Bob Crist
Chairman Mr. America Committee

THE 1970 JR. MR. AMERICA CONTEST, was held on May 17. at Brentwood. N. Y. under the Dept. of Recreation of the Township of Islep, N.Y. Robert Cordani was the meet director for this event. The Metropolitan A.A. U. Committee worked long and hard to make this one of the top events of the year. It was my job as chairman of the panel to pick the judges and supervise the judging and scoring. A panel was chosen of Bob Bendel (Middle Atlantic), Bob Boulander (N.J.), Peter Miller (D.C.), Dick Smith (Rhode Island), David Traylor (Virginia), David Collier (Southeastern), Bernard Brand (Metropolitan). Len Bosland of N.J. was the M.C. for the event and did a top notch job. The new system of scoring, a trial basis to be presented to the National A.A.U. committee, was again used. It was composed of 25 points for muscularity, 25 points for symmetry and 25 points for presentation and/or general appearance, plus 5 points for the interview for a total of 80 points for each judge. The system had been tried in the past and proved to be a most needed revision. The panel, after a short briefing, adapted to the new system without any difficulty. The judging was conducted with interviews in street clothing first, followed by group and individual posing in three groups to qualify all of the 25 contestants. Things were well supervised and the scoring, plus interviews took four hours of hard work with one short 10 minute break.

The contest is now history but I shall try to give an accurate account of the scoring and my impressions on why some of the things went the way they did. Chris Dickerson is our new winner with a total of 371 points and was a favorite of the panel. Waller was the runner-up with 361 points and the spread was not to have been this much for at game time both men were considered a toss up. Lopez, the third winner, was not even in the picture and had to be a dark horse entry into the top five men. Even more surprising was Lopez going ahead of Carl Smith, but the overall surprise being Jim Handley of York in fifth place.

It appeared the day of the short man is returning for three out of the top five men are in the short man class; Dickerson, Lopez and Handley. How did this happen? My feelings were that Dickerson was master of the interview as his poise and showmanship out did the others and gained points here. His posing routine is flawless and his balanced development was improved over last year. His recent training under the supervision of Bill Pearl has readied him for the encounter. He now works for N.B.C. studios in Burbank, California as a guide and page and has appeared on the Johnny Carson T.V. Show. He is studying voice and has given one concert last fall before the Foreign Press Club in NYC. This man had done his homework and was ready from every angle.

Ken Waller, the number two man is a rugged, red headed physique star from Cincinnati, Ohio and last year's Mr. U.S.A. winner. He had improved and was more defined in the abdominals and legs. He has a quiet spoken personality and makes a good impression on people. He works as a salesman in the Cincinnati area. As stated, Ken had improved but Dickerson had improved more overall as you will notice on the scores that the third place man falls 50 points behind Waller. If you take two points from each judge on the panel this is what separated Waller from Dickerson - it was that close!

Anibal Lopez of NYC was third with 311 points and another favorite. The postal worker of Spanish background has an excellent physique that is short in height but heavily muscled. Lopez had improved over my last look at him some eight weeks before and was now more muscular. He has an excellent routine of poses and can relax when asked to do them by the panel; symmetry is one of his large point-getters. Too many of the physique men fail to relax when asked to do so and do not show the proper proportions of the well-balanced build.

Carl Smith of Kentucky was fourth and certainly a man to watch in the future. He has won many titles including Mr. Collegiate America for 1969. He is working on a masters degree in Administrative Education at the present. Smith reminds me of Jim Haislop before Jim budded and won his big titles. Carl has excellent skin tone and fine definition.

The fifth spot had to be the largest surprise to many, but not to me. Jim Handley of York, Pa. He astounded everyone with his top finish. Handley has won many titles in the Baltimore area but had made marked improvement in the past year or six months. He has a fine abdominals and his muscularity is tops. His posing routine is very good with help from John Grimek in this respect has helped him greatly. He, like Lopez, showed the importance of symmetry and being able to display the development when asked to do so.

Ellington Darden was in sixth place and the week before had won All-South Title in Durham, N.C. The second place man in that contest was Jim Handley. How about that for a turn of events? Darden had the best tan in the contest along with Nick Spano and Jim Handley. His rib-box and chest development are something to see. Reminds us of John Farbotnik of some years ago.

Bill Grant was seventh and had outstanding upper body development. If his legs matched his upper body he would be unbeatable. Grant is from East Orange, N.J. and works for the airlines. Robert Moore, who last year had astounded everyone with his high finish in Mr. America contest was eighth and lacked the definition and muscularity he had a year earlier. Peter Grymkowski was ninth and is another man to watch in the future. He has the muscle size and tone and given a bit more time to mature his overall development will make him a top contender. Like Bill Grant he was in the top five in the Most Muscular Contest.

Number 10 saw the current, Teen-Age Mr. America, Bob Gallucci tie Ken Covington and win in the run off. Bob Gallucci is a real-comer and his back is one of the broadest we have seen in some time. He is a real crowd pleaser and with more overall development will be unbeatable. Ken Covington was nosed out by Gallucci but is perhaps the most defined physique contestant of our time. Ken resembles the human anatomy chart and it is hard to see how so much muscle can be packed on a small frame. I was surprised that Ken did not place higher. This was how close the judges called it and how close the competitors themselves were.

The Most Muscular Contest saw Dickerson again take the field and his development must be seen up close to be appreciated. There is not a weak spot in his build and he knows how to display it. Waller was second, just slightly behind Dickerson. Ken has deep development and "put together like mortar and bricks." Bill Grant was the third and has the upper body to equal any but lacks legs. Ken Covington was fourth but again should have placed higher. Here I go again giving my impressions rather than those of the judges. Grymkowski was the fifth place man and, as stated, previously, one to watch in the future. He needs more overall development to win the big ones.

Summary:

The average physique contestant failed to relax and let the judges see them standing in a normal posture. Many gave too many poses showing their flaws rather than their good points. The top men had done their homework and were prepared for the interview and their posing routines. They each had a chance to pose under special lights at the pre-judging session conducted on Sunday afternoon. The contest was staged that evening. The era of the short man may be returning for the short men had their day with Dickerson, Lopez and Handley doing their thing. All were excellent posers. Did well at the interview and showed good symmetry in the line-up.

The Seniors are coming and the competition between Waller and Dickerson may swing the other way for the big one. Only time can tell! The trend, however, in recent years has been a sweep by Haislop, Coe and others to take both crowns. Dickerson is ready and primed and he is certainly the man of the hour and the man to beat in L.A. for Sr. Mr. America title.

One last closing remark was that the panel agreed this was an outstanding group of contestants. The game can be proud that they represent a good cross-section of our country. They were well-educated, well-behaved and "on the ball." I say "Hats Off to the 1970 Jr. Mr. America Physique Contestants." Good luck in the future.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Above: Winners of the Most Muscular Man contest, left to right: An AAU official, Chris Dickerson, Ken Waller and Bill Grant.

- Left: Chris Dickerson doing his thing - posing!

- Right: Ken Waller displaying his abdominals.

- Chris strikes a pose after hearing the announcement that he won. Waller is on his right. He took second. Anibal Lopez, third place man, is standing front.

- Unfortunately we did not get pictures of the first five winners, but below is a back pose of fourth place man, Carl Smith.