The 1954 Mr. America Contest

by Bob Hoffman

The 1954 Mr. America contest, a part of the National A.A.U. weightlifting championships, was held at the Greek outdoor theatre in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The special divisions and the Most Muscular contest were conducted on Friday night, June 25th, the selection of the 1954 Mr. America was conducted on Saturday night.

There were 25 official entrants in this year's contest. The entries for this great contest closed officially two weeks prior to the contest. This fact was stated upon the entry blank. Nevertheless, exactly 23 other entries were received too late to be officially a part of the contest. In addition, Jim Pratt from Vancouver appeared for the contest but was not entered and Steve Klisanin, who is now in the U.S. marines, found at the last minute that he could be present, but was not officially entered. Thus there were 25 officially entrants, 25 others who wanted to enter. It seems to me that when athletes train hard for a full year to enter a contest they should be sufficiently interested to note the date for the acceptance of official entries and be sure that their entries get there in time.

Qualified officials are most important in selecting physique contest winners. According to the A.A.U. rules it is the duty of the chairman of a sport to appoint the officials for that sport. The officials are scattered and are selected from at least seven different A.A.U. districts. Adhering to the rules, Clarence Johnson, the chairman of the national A.A.U. weightlifting and bodybuilding committee, selected the officials as follows: George Wilcut, Southern Cal.; Ray Van Cleef, Northern Cal.; Peary Rader of the Iron Man magazine, Alliance, Nebraska; Boby Higgins, the weightlifting chairman of the Indiana A.A.U. district; Karo Whitfield of the Southern A.A.U. district, Atlanta, Ga,; your reporter, chairman of the Middle Atlantic district, from York Pa., and Jim Messer of Norristown, who holds a unique record in attending and officiating at weightlifting championships and physique contests. Johnny Terpak was awarded a trophy for being the only man present who had taken part, as an athlete or an official, in 21 consecutive national championships. Both Jim Messer and the writer have taken part in 28 national championships over a period of 30 years. Starting in 1925, we only missed two championships, the 1943 and 1945 championships. There was a war on and I, for one, had too much work to do, sent the team out to California for both championships but could not be there myself.

These officials were exceptionally well qualified, had had unlimited experience, but as usual a meeting was held to interpret the rules. In selecting physique contest winners, the scoring is done on the basis of 15 points for perfect, six for muscular development, six for muscular proportions (symmetry) and three for general appearance, posture, carriage, skin, hair, teeth and face. It was pointed out that too often officials and spectators can see only muscular development, and overlook symmetry which counts as much, and the other three points which are also important.

When the 25 magnificent specimens lined up upon the stage it was evident that the judges had serious work cut out for the them. They were a wonderful group of strength athletes. It is customary to hold the special divisions the first night so the judges have ample time to get a good line on the competitors. Each judge after each special division was asked to list the three best in that category.

With this system Malcom Brenner received the special award for best back, Bud Counts won best arms, Dom Juliano best chest, Irvin Koszewski best adbmoninals, and Ludwig Schusterich best legs. George Paine, who had been unable to win one of the special awards, won the coveted Most Muscular again this year. He was the 1953 winner of this title, Jim Park having won it in 1952. It is interesting, even surprising, to note that the ultimate winner of the eastern Junior Mr. America, Harry Johnson, the western division, Geen Bohaty, or the big winner, Richard DuBois did not win a single one of the special awards. Similarly last year, Bill Pearl did not win a single one of the special awards. In recent years only Jim Park, who won best arms, best chest and Most Muscular, did well in the special divisions.

There were few empty seats on either night by the time the physique stars appeared upon the platform. The lights were poor the first night, but vastly improved the second. It was agreed that all the contestants would appear on the stage together so that they could be compared while standing at ease, front, back, and both sides. Then each man was given 30 seconds to pose under the lights: Front, back and optional. After that it was the judges task to pick out the 10 they thought to be best. It was a hard task. Physique contests are always heart breakers to me and I would rather delegate that task to some other, but after all good judges are at a premium and I flatter myself, after a moderate life time of experience in this and other countries that I am a well qualified judge and there I was with this heart breaking job. In such a contest nearly every man is good enough to be a Mr. America. I know every man in the contest personally. Most of them have trained in York, they are my friends and I have known them since they were youngsters. I know how hard they have worked, how they have sacrificed what privations they have experienced, what it means to them and their families to win.

The 10 finalists took their turns upon the pedestal under the lights. Magnificent is hardly the word, but I know no better one. Everyone received roars of applause from the audience. There was not an official York Barbell entrant although all but two of the finalists had trained for weeks in York. Ludwig Schusterich was the most improved man in the contest. He had won Mr. New York City when he was 16 years of age, had won most muscular in the Mr. America contest in 1941. Then the war, and he got out of condition. He won Mr. North America in 1951. He dedicated himself to the endeavor to win the Mr. America contest, lost 40 pounds, ate hundreds of pounds of Hi-Proteen tablets. He looked wonderful. He won best legs and was well up in all the special divisions. Malcolm Brenner is well known; he was second to Jim Park in 1952. A weightlifting champion, his winning of best back in such extraordinary company well illustrates how great he is as a physique star. he finished third in the heavyweight class in lifting. Gene Bohaty, who had won Mr. North America, the Junior Mr. America contest, Mr. Illinois and Mr. Heart of America, one of the greatest ever to climb upon a pedestal under the lights. Irvin Koszewski, who had won the Mr. New Jersey, Mr. Middle Atlantic, Mr. Muscle Beach, Mr. California, Mr. Pacific Coast, many times most muscular, Best Abdominals in the last five Mr. America contests, George Paine, who had won nearly everything but Mr. America; Junior Mr. America in 1951, Mr. New York City, Mr. New York State, Mr. Eastern States. Harry Johnson, who was Mr. Atlanta, Mr. Georgia, Mr. All South, Junior Mr. America. Mickey Hargitay, of Indianapolis, who had scored a victory over Jim Park in winning Mr. Heart of America. Dennis Nelson, a 6' 4 1/2" wrestler who will soon be a professional, the only finalist who did not have a long list of triumphs back of him. Monte Wolford, Strength and Health cover man, the possessor of one of the finest physiques in the world. Richard DuBois had never won a big contest, but had been second to Mr. America last year.

The physique stars posed, the judges marked their scores. Bob Hise, vice president of the Southern Pacific Association which was staging the contest gathered the score sheets. Clarence Johnson our respected national chairman, a certified public accountant, well qualified to total the scores, did so and the placings were as follows:

The judges did their best and I for one, think they did a good job. The new Mr. America is 20 years old, the youngest Mr. America to date. He is tall, handsome, marvelously constructed. Last year when he was 19 I said he had everything: Broad shoulders, deltoids which are amazing, fine arms, a full chest, a comparatively slender waist, fine legs. Marvelously developed, superlatively symmetrical, handsome, smiling, likeable, popular.

While one of the contestants has been highly publicized by a rival publication, he trained for many months at Tony Terlazzo's gym where York methods are taught, of course. All the others were York barbell men of long standing.

The big contest was over. The crowd seemed satisfied with the winner. The applause was uproarious, boos were few and scattered. Richard DuBois will go far. Lately he has played many parts in the movies where he has been commended for his acting ability. With his great physique and acting ability he should go far in the screen world. Congratulations to you, Dick, we wish you great success in the future.

Photo Captions

- This photo shows the impressive lineup of the 10 finalists in the 1954 Mr. America contest. From left to right are: Gene Bohaty, second; George Paine, fourth; Irvin Koszewski, third; Harry Johnson, tied for fifth; Malcome Brenner, seventh; Ludwig Shusterich, tied for fifth; Dennis Nelson, ninth; Dick DuBois, first; Monte Wolford, tenth, and Mickey Hargitay, eight.

- (below) Bob Hoffman congratulates the new Mr. America, Dick DuBois, as he presents him with the impressive victor's trophy. Dick is a York Barbell man who trains at George Eiferman's Hollywood gym. He has spent weeks working out at the York Barbell Club gym when in the East.

- Photographed on stage just after being chosen Mr. America, Dick DuBois flexes his symmetrical muscles for the camera on Strength and Health photographer Cecil Charles. Over six feet tall, DuBois makes an impressive winner. The new Mr. America is an actor in motion pictures.

- The Big Three: Dick DuBois (left) is the new Mr. America, Gene Bohaty (center) finished second, and Irvin Koszewski placed third. A series of articles on the life and training programs of Dick DuBois (also shown at right) will appear in Strength and Health beginning next month.

- The Most Muscular Man award was made to George Paine (center) only after considerable deliberation placed Irvin Koszewski (left) second and Ludwig Schusterich third. Different physical types, all showed good development and unusual musclarity. Paine's amazing definition won him the title for the second straight year.