harry johnson mr america 1959 dies at 96

[funk51]

https://www.ajc.com/news/local-obituaries/harry-johnson-atlanta-two-time-america/lMMO9fIEEmdDB2hWHYUxCK/

[funk51]

 

[funk51]

rip

[funk51]

harry won mr a on his 7 th try.    http://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Johnson,+Harry+(1)

[Humble Narcissist]

Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.

[funk51]

Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.

          only bill pearl is left from that era.he won the mr a in 1953 but he'll only be 90 in oct this year.

[Humble Narcissist]

I remember a magazine article in Muscle & Fitness from years ago with Pearl where he told of his training routine at the time.  He got up and lifted every morning for a couple hours at 4 or 5am.  Truly loves the iron.

[Hypertrophy]

          only bill pearl is left from that era.he won the mr a in 1953 but he'll only be 90 om oct this year.

90!!! That's amazing.

[funk51]

[funk51]

[OneMoreRep]

Looking at some of these greats that have been posted above, I think Bill Pearl has the body I would aim to have the most in terms of the biggest size I would ever care to get and also the right level definition. I'd even dare to say that 10 pounds lighter would probably be just fine.



"1"

[Rambone]

Looking at some of these greats that have been posted above, I think Bill Pearl has the body I would aim to have the most in terms of the biggest size I would ever care to get and also the right level definition. I'd even dare to say that 10 pounds lighter would probably be just fine.



"1"

I’ve always said the same. Ideal physique IMO

[TTfit]

Steroids took out another one.  If he never used he would have lived to 97.

 

[Primemuscle]

Harry Johnson in middle age:

[prowlermaniac]

Harry Johnson in middle age:

Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck

[robcguns]

Rip,guy looked awesome.

On a side note his name makes me laugh pretty hard.its the immature kid in me.hahaha.

[wes]

RIP to a guy who paved the way for the rest of us !!

[Matt]

Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck

That's a slightly different Harry Johnson in that photo.  And while he was around 50 in that photo [possibly over 50], it was not the Harry Johnson from the OP, who turned 96 last November.

http://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Johnson,+Harry+(2

[harmankardon1]

Great physique bill pearl...

Rip Harry Johnson also a nice rugged old school physique..

[hazbin]

Rip,guy looked awesome.

On a side note his name makes me laugh pretty hard.its the immature kid in me.hahaha.

there was an IFBB pro named Harry Dinger.  he was 5 time mr. Turkey

[Vince B]

I started lifting weights in September 1958. Tom Sansone won Mr America that year and Ron Lacy won in 1957. In those days there were points for 'athletic' ability and often weightlifting competitions were entered to gain points. There was also an interview and many guys were prevented from becoming Mr America because of who they were. The Most Muscular Man title was awarded to the guy with the most muscles and definition. Black guys often won that title but not Mr America until Chris Dickerson won in 1970.

The IFBB started their Mr America contest in 1959 when Chuck Sipes won. Larry Scott won in 1962. This contest was for real bodybuilders, even muscleheads!

What happened in 1959 is that Harry Johnson wasn't the best bodybuilder that year. Several guys were better including Ray Routledge. He had to wait a couple of years to finally win the title.
We had Vern Weaver, Jerry Daniels, Val Vasilief, Steve Klisanin, and perhaps Lloyd Lerille were not the best bodybuilder when they won. None of those guys went on to win the NABBA Mr Universe title.

Well, Harry had paid his dues so it was his turn to win and he enjoyed the limelight for a while. He was featured in Strength and Health Magazine put out by Bob Hoffman.
Nice to hear that some of the old champs lived a long life. Not many of us will reach 90 let alone 96.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._America_(contest)

[Primemuscle]

Am I crazy or would he be in his 80s here if that 2008 NPC stamp is accurate?  Doesn’t seem right but if so then holy fuck

If that were right than yes "holy fuck" is exactly what I think too. More than likely, the date stamp is when the photo was published and not when it was taken.....otherwise....H OLY FUCK!

[Primemuscle]

I started lifting weights in September 1958. Tom Sansone won Mr America that year and Ron Lacy won in 1957. In those days there were points for 'athletic' ability and often weightlifting competitions were entered to gain points. There was also an interview and many guys were prevented from becoming Mr America because of who they were. The Most Muscular Man title was awarded to the guy with the most muscles and definition. Black guys often won that title but not Mr America until Chris Dickerson won in 1970.

The IFBB started their Mr America contest in 1959 when Chuck Sipes won. Larry Scott won in 1962. This contest was for real bodybuilders, even muscleheads!

What happened in 1959 is that Harry Johnson wasn't the best bodybuilder that year. Several guys were better including Ray Routledge. He had to wait a couple of years to finally win the title.
We had Vern Weaver, Jerry Daniels, Val Vasilief, Steve Klisanin, and perhaps Lloyd Lerille were not the best bodybuilder when they won. None of those guys went on to win the NABBA Mr Universe title.

Well, Harry had paid his dues so it was his turn to win and he enjoyed the limelight for a while. He was featured in Strength and Health Magazine put out by Bob Hoffman.
Nice to hear that some of the old champs lived a long life. Not many of us will reach 90 let alone 96.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._America_(contest)

Interesting backstory. Whatever the reason he was handed the title, he looked good then and from what little I could find, he maintained a healthy, muscular appearance well into his senior years. Maybe it was because of fewer or no steroids or maybe because he was just sensible in terms of his overall health and muscular fitness. Honestly, I don't know. I'd never heard of him before now. When I was 15 years old, I wasn't paying attention to which bodybuilder was a champion at that time.

[joswift]

but was he saved?

[Vince B]

Look at the results from 1959. Harry probably not in the top 6 or 8. Art Harris was probably the best but was given Most Muscular. Hapless Ray Routledge had to wait two years to win the title.
George Orlando was featured in Weider mags so not a favourite in the AAU. Strange judging in those days.


1959 Mr America - AAU

1     Harry Johnson
2     Ray Routledge
3     Pete Ganios
4     George Orlando
5     Vern Weaver
6     Elmo Santiago
7     Lloyd Lerille
8     Art Harris
9     Kenny Hall
10     Fred Schutz
11     Hossein Shokouh
12     Buddy Basil
13     Walt Cuzzimano
14     Tommy Johnson
15     Leo Downes
16     Joseph Simon
17     Bill March
18     Mike Ferraro
19     Hank Wayne
20     George Wojnowski
21     Harry Lanehart
22     Gene Wells
23     Sam Martin
24     Ed Jacobs
25     William Crozier
26     Pat Hensley
27     Lowell Scott
28     Joe Marino (1)

Most Muscular
1     Art Harris
2     George Orlando