HIGHTLIGHTS OF THE 1966 MR. AMERICA SHOW
by Bill Starr
The 27th Annual A.A.U. Mr. America Contest was more than a physique contest -- it was a tremendous variety show as well. Mike Steven and Lyle Crim put on a fine clean and jerk exhibition. The Mannetts thrilled the crowd with their tumbling, acrobatics, and parallel bar exercises. Steve Johnson demonstrated his skill in karate in between appearances in the Mr. A competition. Ken Sherburne delighted the audience with his juggling performance and Karen Nyce made the most flexible viewers feel very humble indeed after watching her contortionist act. Bill Parker, who was also a Mr. A contestant, treated everyone to a fantastic display in muscle control. The variety part of the show was topped off with a gilded artistry presentation. Gene Kuczinski posed in gold with Rick Sargent, Ray Dotterwich, Mel Long, and Chick Schiesser in silver.
The entire show was MCed very expertly by Bob Callahan and John Picard at the organ gave the entire affair a professional touch.
Strength & Health presents an exclusive "first" -- the judges scoring for the 1966 Mr. America Contest. We have long felt that the individual scores of the judges should be made public as they are in any other athletic activity such as: figure skating, diving, boxing, gymnastics, etc. This would eliminate any behind-the-scenes "hanky panky" on the part of the officials. We feel that if the judges are aware that their decisions are going to be published, then they will be less biased and more discreet in their decision making. We recommend that this be a required practice in future physique competitions.
1966 MR. AMERICA SCORE SHEET
| contestant | Whitfield | Stanko | Hise | Bates | Weissbrot | Crist | Ferguson | Sub-Total |
Athletic
Points |
Total |
| 1. Will Whitaker | 15 | 12 | 11½ | 12 | 19 | 11½ | 12 | 59 | 5 | 64 |
| 2. John Kaczynski | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7½ | 44 | 2 | 46 |
| 3. Ray Melendez | 8 | 8 | 9½ | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7½ | 39½ | 2 | 41½ |
| 4. Randy Watson | 15 | 12½ | 13½ | 11 | 10½ | 11 | 12½ | 60½ | 5 | 65½ |
| 5. Gene Kuczinski | 10 | 12½ | 10½ | 10½ | 8 | 10½ | 10 | 51½ | 5 | 56½ |
| 6. Jerry Doettrel | 10 | 8½ | 10 | 9½ | 7½ | 9 | 9 | 46 | 4 | 50 |
| 7. Flaubert Peltier | 7 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 7½ | 7½ | 6½ | 39 | 5 | 44 |
| 8. Charles Fautz | 9 | 11 | 9½ | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 47½ | 5 | 52½ |
| 9. Gene Wells | 12 | 10½ | 11 | 9½ | 10 | 10 | 9½ | 51 | 5 | 56 |
| 10. Ken Covington | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8½ | 7 | 8 | 9 | 43½ | 3½ | 47 |
| 11. Ralph Kroger | 14 | 12 | 12½ | 12½ | 11½ | 12 | 12½ | 61½ | 5 | 66½ |
| 12. Tom Hutson | 10 | 12½ | 9½ | 9 | 9 | 9½ | 9 | 47 | 5 | 52 |
| 13. Kent Kuehn | 8 | 7½ | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 46 | 5 | 51 |
| 14. Bill St. John | 12 | 10½ | 10½ | 11½ | 10½ | 10 | 10 | 52½ | 5 | 57½ |
| 15. Tom Helms | 12 | 12½ | 10½ | 9½ | 11 | 9½ | 10½ | 53½ | 5 | 58½ |
| 16. James Kowalski | 9 | 10 | 9½ | 8½ | 9 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 2 | 46 |
| 17. Wm. Parker | 14 | 10½ | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9½ | 50 | 5 | 55 |
| 18. Jim Dorn | 9 | 10½ | 11 | 8½ | 7½ | 9 | 10 | 47 | 5 | 52 |
| 19. Steve Johnson | 12 | 10 | 10½ | 8½ | 8½ | 10½ | 8 | 48 | 5 | 53 |
| 20. Dennis Tinerino | 13 | 14 | 11½ | 12 | 11½ | 12½ | 12½ | 61½ | 3 | 64½ |
| 21. Bob McNeill | 8 | 8½ | 8½ | 8½ | 7½ | 8½ | 8 | 1½ | 5 | 46½ |
| 22. Charles Estes | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10½ | 10½ | 11 | 11½ | 59 | 5 | 64 |
| 23. James Haislop | 14 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12½ | 13½ | 12½ | 60½ | 5 | 65½ |
| 24. Eugene Dickerson | 12 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 6½ | 9 | 9½ | 51½ | 5 | 56½ |
| 25. Bob Gajda | 14 | 10 | 13½ | 13½ | 12½ | 11½ | 13 | 64 | 5 | 69 |
| 26. Nick Spano | 14 | 9 | 12 | 10½ | 9½ | 9 | 9 | 50 | 5 | 55 |
| 27. Jose Lopez | 9 | 9 | 10½ | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 47 | 2 | 49 |
| 28. Sergio Oliva | 15 | 11½ | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12½ | 12 | 61½ | 5 | 66½ |
| 29. Dan Howard | 9 | 9 | 12 | 9½ | 7½ | 8 | 9 | 44½ | 2 | 46½ |
| 20. George Papp | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 38 |
| 31. Steve Sakoulos | 10 | 9 | 9½ | 9½ | 7 | 7 | 9 | 44 | 5 | 49 |
Judging the Mr. America Contest is done by the point system. The judges can give a maximum of 5 points to each contestant for: symmetry, muscular development, and general appearance for an overall maximum of 15 points. A panel of seven judges vote for Mr. America. The high and low scores for each contestant are eliminated to prevent bias and the remaining five scores are totaled. This give the sub-total. A five point maximum for athletic ability is allowed for each contestant and this is added in after the sub-total. This gives the final total for the contestant. In cases of ties the high and low scores are added to determine the highest man.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- The 1966 Most Muscular Winners: (left to right) Ralph Kroger, 5th; Dennis Tinerino, 3rd; Sergio Oliva, 1st; Bob Gajda, 2nd; and Will Whitaker, 4th;
- (Above) The contestants make an impressive showing before the Mr. A Contest begins. (1) The physique judges confer with John Terlazzo, meet director, and Rudy Sablo, National AAU Weightlifting Chairman. (B) Bill St. John is being interviewed during the pre-judging phase of the contest. (C) The judges look over half of the entries during pre-judging. (D) Pre-judging gave the photographers an excellent opportunity to take some fine pictures.
- The Mr. America show had something for everyone. The final act was a gilded artistry demonstration. Gene Kuczinski went through a posing routine while glistening in gold as his silver-glazed attendants accompanied him.
- One of the highlights of the variety show was the contortionist and balancing act put on by lovely Karen Nyce.