Richard DuBois
Crowned Mr. America 1951
by Earle Liederman
Richard DuBois crowned Mr. America 1954, Norbert Schemansky sets new world record in the clean and jerk. 416 1/2 lbs.
TENSION and drama prevailed throughout the two nights of June 25th and 26th during the senior weightlifting championships and the Mr. America contest which the AAU staged at the Greek Theater in Hollywood, California. Without a doubt it was the finest presentation that the Amateur Athletic Union has ever accomplished. The setting was intriguing, since the theatre is modeled after the ancient Greek structures, and it stood like an illumined enchanting edifice that faced the ten thousand spectators who attended both nights, and who sat surrounded by walls of pine trees and under a roof of sky.
The opening night brought together the top lifters in the heavyweight, the 198 lb. class, and the 181 lb. division, and was featured by Norbert Schemansky's exciting total of 1050 lbs. after which he made a new world's record in the clean and jerk by doing 416 1/2 lbs. at his final and fourth attempt. Dave Sheppard was a standout in the 198 lb. division with his perfect timing to reach a total of 975 lbs.; while Tommy Kono added his own sensational style to secure a 930 lb. total in the 181 lb. class. (A complete report of all the lifts may be found on another page of this issue.)
Following these Olympic lifts was the judging of the "best body parts". Bud Counts won "best arms", with George Paine taking second place and Malcolm Brenner receiving third spot. In the "best legs" section, Ludwig Shusterich received top honors, with Mickey Hargitay getting second and George Paine receiving third place. The "best back" first prize went to Malcolm Brenner, with Ludwig Shusterich getting second place and Dominick Juliano given third spot. In the "best abdominals" division, everyone yawned as usual, for there stood Irvin Koszewski as a foregone conclusion and which quickly became a reality when he was handed the first place title, while George Paine had to be satisfied with second honors as did Harry Johnson with his third spot award. Dominick Juliano won the "best chest" department by swelling out his rib-box so that a plate of soup could have rested thereon without spilling. Dick DuBois came in second and Harry Johnson of Georgeia, ran third. The most exciting division seemed to be that of "the most muscular" for this enabled everyone to display himself from more varied angles. George Paine easily ran away with the first award. (To this reporter's way of thinking, George Paine seemed to be the uncrowned Mr. America in nearly every contest he enters.) Irvin Koszewski squeezed into second place in this same division while Ludwig Shusterich ran third. All the preceding events occurred during the first night and it was around two o'clock in the morning when the final curtain was lowered.
It was but expected that the cash customers would jam the seating capacity on the second night of events, and that they did, for this was the long awaited Mr. America event! As usual, the lifting was staged first with the lighter divisions competing. Bert Elliot became a bright start with his total of 765 lbs. in the 165 lb. class, while Yas Kuzuhara, in the 132 lb. division excelled with a 685 lb. total.
Bob Hoffman was the master of ceremonies. He so frequently became commercially minded and plugged almost everything which he had for sale, thereby not only boring this scribe but causing wearisome remarks from the cash customers who paid to see muscles. (EDITOR'S NOTE: We wonder how long responsible AAU officials will continue to allow this man to use an AAU microphone for his own commercial purposes.) Finally, Orbie Kleghorn, the operatic tenor, sang our National Anthem with a rich silvery voice as the curtain slowly raised and revealed the twenty-seven contestants for the big title. Across the wide stage they stood in magnificent splendor! Aside from variations in height, there was little to differentiate between their muscularture at the opening impression, for each and every one was a former prize winner of a big contest. Each took his turn upon the pedestal with three poses, front, back and optional choice. The top ten contestants were then weeded out for the final judging and again went through their individual gyrations. When the curtain was lowered for a brief while during which the judges checked up on their point-scoring system, there entered that great silent suspense which prevails at all such affairs.
The judges were Bob Hoffman, George Wilcutt, Ray Van Cleef, Bobby Higgins, Karo Whitfield, Jim Messer, and Peary Rader. In their hands rested the verdict!
Slowly the curtain again was raised amid quietude. The names of the lowest place, which is the usual procedure, were then called. For fifth place there was a tie between Ludwig Shusterich and Harry Johnson; fourth place went to George Paine; third to Irvin Koszewski; second to Gene Bohaty and then -- Richard DuBois! The Mr. America of 1954!
The usual approvals and dissatisfactions were registered by the various groups of the cash customers which is to be expected. However, I was authentically informed by David Matlin, the Chairman of the AAU committee that the selection of the winner was made because of his superior proportions and not strictly by musculature. The points of the judging were: DuBois 68 1/2, Bohaty 64, Koszewski 63, Paine 60 1/2, Johnson and Shusterich in fifth place tie each 60 points.
To add human interest highlights to the gala occasion I might mention that many of the contestants were thoroughly discouraged and disgruntled. George Paine vowed that he would never again enter a physique contest; Malcolm Brenner has quit bodybuilding and is intending to take up professional wrestling; Ludwig Shusterich also made resolutions to quit all future contests, and Leo Stern, who had Shusterich representing his San Diego gymnasium and who lingered with several groups outside the theatre until nearly four A.M. continually complained of smelling dead fish. Many gymnasium owners have vowed to never again attend a physique show and space prevents further elaboration on the matter. However, I might state that everyone cannot be pleased all the time and regardless of varied opinions as to whom should be first, second or third, Richard DuBois is a fine specimen of a Mr. America and there are many who hope he will reap all the spoils that might link to his newly won title. According to rumor, the day after becoming Mr. America, he signed a contract to appear with Mae West at Las Vegas, California, for a week's engagement at $1,000. Also, I learned that Universal films are dickering for a long-time contract with him. If all goes well with Dick,, his career will rise with meteoric speed and he will become the most commercial Mr. America of them all through offers which he has yet to accept or sign. yet he belongs to the world of Muscledom and no matter under what nom de plume he may be known, he will always remain plain Dick DuBois to bodybuilders. It may be interesting to reveal that during his final posing for news reel cameras, scores of photographers, and amateur cameramen, after he received his trophy, Richard posed so determinedly and for son long that he kneeled over into a faint. he stated later that this was due to going without food for nearly three days so as to get his waist and abdominals looking better; however, "emotionalism" must also be considered under the ordeal of hot lights, cameras and the crowd which swarmed the stage after the show's ending.
Anyway, Richard DuBois is wished by his numerous admirers all the luck in the world for his future successes as well as for greater endeavors towards physical perfection.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- A new Mr. America is crowned. Dick DuBois stands at the peak of his career. Extreme right and left stand Ludwigh Shusterich and Harry Johnson, tied for 5th place. Next to Lud is Irvin Koszewski, 3rd. Gene Bohaty second is next to Johnson. Centre Mrs. Matlin. George Paine was 4th.
- Two top men in the Mr. America show. Left is Dick DuBois, Mr. America winner, right, Schemansky, new heavyweight champion.
- CHEST Dominick Juliano walked away with the Best Chest award. His rib box size and muscualr contours gained him the top honors in this sub-division. Dick DuBois was the 2nd man while Harry Johnson right, took third position.
- BACK Massive Malcolm Brenner got this sub-divisio trophy and well deserved it. But had had a hard fight from Lud Schusterich, extreme left who placed 2nd, while Juliano, right was the third man. All three were outstanding.
- ARMS And Bud Counts has 'em. No question in the minds of the judges as to who should take the Best Arms sub-division. Bud Counts, center, took the trophy. Paine left was the 2nd man while Malcom Brenner, right, placed 3rd.
- MUSCULAR When you think of Most Muscular one man leaps into your mind and that's George Paine of New York City. The officials had the same opinion too because they gave George the Most Muscualr award and there he is center. Irvin Koszewski, left was a worthy second place man while the amazing Ludwig Shusterich, making a comeback, placed third.
- LEGS Ludwig Schusterich grabbed this prize and he deserved it. There were many who thought he should have won the Mr. America title too. Dick DuBois placed second in this division, while Mickey Hargitay, right, was the third man.
- ABDOMINALS And there he is center, "Mr. Abdominals" himself, Irvin Koszewski, trophy winner in this sub-division. Left is George Paine who gave Irvin a tough tussle for this title while Harry Johnson, right took third place.