RIP - Regis Philbin Passed Away -

[funk51]

Born: August 25, 1931, The Bronx, New York, NY
Died: July 24, 2020, Greenwich, CT

[funk51]

Gladys Portugues and Carla Dunlap on the Regis Show in about 1983 with Brian Moss. Regis put bodybuilding, womens and mens, on national television. (Edit - Ron)

[IroNat]

Regis was very cool with Meeko.  Most hosts would make fun of bodybuilders.

Well done, Regis.

[Kwon]

Regis was very cool with Meeko.  Most hosts would make fun of bodybuilders.

Well done, Regis.

I think Regis read alot and was somewhat of a bodybuilding-afficionado himself!

He knew what it took to build real muscle.

[Bevo]

Regis was very cool with Meeko.  Most hosts would make fun of bodybuilders.

Well done, Regis.

10k calories haha

[G_Thang]

[funk51]

10k calories haha

    don't laugh, I've seen the guy eat. he was a regular at the buffets in the area. Joseph John Meeko
The Morning Call
The Morning Call
Joseph John Meeko, 49, originally of North Catasauqua, PA, and presently of Herrickville, PA, died on December 8, 2009 at St. Lukes Hospital, Bethlehem, PA. Joe was a 78 graduate of Catasauqua High School, 80 graduate of Lehigh County Community College, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, North Catasauqua, and more recently had attended Herrickville Wesleyan and Hope Baptist Church in Herrickville. Joes accolades mainly stemmed from his outstanding heights reached in the sport of Bodybuilding. Joes most coveted titles are: 1984 Mr. America AAU in Pasadena, CA (1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner) and 1988 Mr. Universe AAU in Tuscon, Arizona (1st Place Heavyweight Class + Overall Winner, where Joe was at his best at 5 ft. 7-3/4, 235 lbs.). Many guest posings, autograph signings, photo shoots, seminars, other special events were to follow, not to mention his very own Welcome Home Parade held in Catty/North Catty! Joe trained many places, but he was usually found at Fitness America (Whitehall), Golds Gym (Bethlehem), or the Suburban North Y (Catasauqua), and to think all this started in peoples garages!Titles - Teenage Mr. Lehigh Valley Winner + All Body Parts and Best Poser titles; Teenage Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Medium Class Winner + Overall Winner; Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Novice Division Medium Class + Overall Winner; Mr. Eastern USA-1st Place Medium Class Winner + Overall Winner; Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; 83-Mr. North America AAU-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner + All Body Parts and Best Poser titles; Mr. USA-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; Mr. Pan-American-1st Place Heavyweight Class + Overall Winner; 84 Mr. Universe NABBA-2nd Place Medium Class; Mr. World-2nd Place; 87-Nationals NPC-10th Place Heavyweight Class; 87-USA Nationals NABBA-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; 87-Mr. Universe NABBA-4th Place Medium Class; 87-World Championships NABBA-2nd Place Medium Class. Magazines - 84-Muscle Up-Aug. Vol. 6, No. 30; 84-Muscular Development-Dec. Vol. 21, No. 6; 85-Iron Man-Jan. Vol. 44, No. 2; 85-Health and Strength-Apr.; 88-Muscular Development-Jan. Vol. 25 No. 1. In Joes youth, he enjoyed many things: building things from mini-bikes and go-carts (where the family would participate in local Halloween parades), to building a hovercraft and hot air balloon with his Dad. Other interests were archery, BB guns, cars, guitar, swimming, always with his friends, Jr. bowling, Jr. baseball and wrestling (Dad coached), track (a record still holds for the 440 relay at CHS), football, and ultimately bodybuilding. Joes Dad was always involved in everything with Joe! Joes Mom was always with a camera (were thankful for all these movie/pix!!), and Diane was the cheerleader and PR person! As an adult, Joe was an entrepreneur, inventing and patenting Power Grip, a weightlifting device, over 25 years ago! Once again, Joes Dads involvement with PG was extensive, and now Val and Bob Barker from Avon, Indiana, hold and run that part of Joes Power Grip business, which will continue on. Joe also, at one time, designed and built personal helicopters, then started another business, Pyrotek, selling and putting on fantastic fireworks displays locally where he lived in Hunlock Creek, PA at the time. Joe was a very intuitive businessman, heating his own home with solar panels and using generators. Joe enjoyed his mountain, and he wishes to return there! Joe will always be remembered for that smile, his generosity, and his unselfish willingness to share his knowledge with anyone. Joe had the biggest heart ever! He loved everybody. Unfortunately he chose to internalize his pain, and if there is a lesson to be learned from Joes passing, it is simply that there is help for everyone, no matter what the circumstances, but you have to first recognize and want that help, and then get it! Survivors: Joe is survived by his Mother, Mary B. Meeko of North Catasauqua; his nephew/Godson, Zak Leddy (whom he called BUBBLE!) of North Catasauqua; his sister, Diane Meeko and her boyfriend, Ed Micklos of Umatilla, FL; his estranged wife, Lori Millen Meeko of Whitehall, PA; his alleged daughter Nichole Dreher Hainesl; and his alleged granddaughter, Zoe Haines, both of Walnutport. There are a certain few family members/friends who helped Joe tremendously throughout his life, and they know who they are. Joes former Manager/Photographer, Bob Gruskin, was also helpful in Joes career. Joe had a dear friend who named their first-born son Meeko, because Joe was such a good friend of their family in Nebraska. What an honor; a namesake! Many people were touched by Joes short life! Joe was predeceased by his Dad, Joseph Meeko, on June 4, 2005. Theyre together again! Services: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the ODonnell Funeral Home, 1064 5th St., N. Catasauqua, PA 18032 (610-432-8522).

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that any contributions continue to be made to the Joseph Meeko Memorial Track & Soccer Awards, which were originally started in Joes Dads memory upon his death in 2005. These awards benefit outstanding senior track sprinters and soccer defenders at Catasauqua High School. Joe (CHS Class of 78) and Diane (77) participated in track, and then Zak (04) in both track and soccer, & Joes Dad and Mom were both very avid fans of their family. The family may alter the name/criteria to include something pertaining more to community service/humanitarianism/community service, in Joes memory. ODonnell Funeral Home will handle the receipt of said contributions.There is a tremendous amount of information on Joe on the internet. The family is asking that you please sign Joes online Guest Book via The Morning Call (www.mcall.com/obits; enter Joes name). God Bless You, Joe, Rest In Peace on Your Mountain.

[IroNat]

Why didn't Regis offer to rub oil on Joe Meeko?

[Methyl m1ke]

I gave it a quick second and the answer is 50% i almost went for 25% until i realized only ONE answer can be correct thus eliminating half of the possible choices. That was fun. The picture is hilarious.

[pellius]

Born: August 25, 1931, The Bronx, New York, NY
Died: July 24, 2020, Greenwich, CT

I still have those Meeko grips. Still the best out there. Unlike all the others, your grip actually gets tighter as you are using them during an exercise. I wish they still made them. Mine still works but I need to get a new pair.

[IroNat]

I still have those Meeko grips. Still the best out there. Unlike all the others, your grip actually gets tighter as you are using them during an exercise. I wish they still made them. Mine still works but I need to get a new pair.

You could replace the wrap part.

He went to a different design later didn't he?

[funk51]

You could replace the wrap part.

He went to a different design later didn't he?

  those were the second generation power grips . the early ones were black, like seen in the video.

[Humble Narcissist]

The best guest Regis ever interviewed was Kramer and his coffee table book about coffee tables.  RIP

[funk51]

The best guest Regis ever interviewed was Kramer and his coffee table book about coffee tables.  RIP

                           he was bonkers.

[Humble Narcissist]

                           he was bonkers.

Yes, he was.  Whatever happened to him?

[funk51]

Yes, he was.  Whatever happened to him?

   this he was bonkers       

[Humble Narcissist]

Racial hate.

[pellius]

You could replace the wrap part.

He went to a different design later didn't he?

Where? I can't even find a place where they will just stitch up the damn thing. I've gone to seamstress shops.

[BB]

Where? I can't even find a place where they will just stitch up the damn thing. I've gone to seamstress shops.

Try and find a cobbler/shoe repair shop. They usually will take on a small job like this in the off hours, and it's no hassle their machines. Leather workers might also be willing to do the work.

Seat belt webbing makes a good replacement for broken straps, if the whole thing needs to get redone. 

[pellius]

Try and find a cobbler/shoe repair shop. They usually will take on a small job like this in the off hours, and it's no hassle their machines. Leather workers might also be willing to do the work.

Seat belt webbing makes a good replacement for broken straps, if the whole thing needs to get redone.

Never thought of a shoe repair shop. I didn't even know those existed anymore. Who gets their shoes repaired?

Anyway, the grips still work. The only problem now is that a lot of the bars and handles are made thicker now and it's hard to get the cuff secure on the bar. But, I'm telling you, when you use them on regular bars and handles they are the best. I can't believe guys still use those old school wrap arounds as there is so much better and more effective stuff on the market. But they still don't give the feel of the Meeko grips. It never works loose as you are doing the exercise. And the previous poster is right. I got the latest generation model though I would have preferred the Black color.

Meeko was a great guy. We talked a lot when he was on IronAge. He always made the time for everyone. He was a devount Christain and had a good heart. There was a couple of things that seemed off though. I don't know why he stayed with that crazy wife of his. He's show pics of himself with black eyes and lumps on his head when his wife would attack him with a cast iron pan of whatever she could get her hands on. One thing that I never got and never understood, was that he insisted; and was very, very adamant, almost to the point of anger when you argued with him, was that Arnold had pec implants. I mean, I'd post pics of Arnold at 17 where you could see he was genetically gifted in the pec department. Even today no Mr. Olympia matched Arnold's chest. How the hell could they have implants that looked so perfect and flexed and everything back in the early 70s? Same with calves, which Joe also insisted were implants. I've seen guys with calf implants during the 80s and you could see the scar on back of the knee where they try to hide it with those natural creases that are there anyway. But somehow in early 70s they were able to come out with perfect calf implants just for Arnold. Even after Arnold retired and you could see the atrophy in his calves and pecs, Meeko still insisted they were implants.

It was just some quirk in Meeko's personality.

[IroNat]

Never thought of a shoe repair shop. I didn't even know those existed anymore. Who gets their shoes repaired?

Anyway, the grips still work. The only problem now is that a lot of the bars and handles are made thicker now and it's hard to get the cuff secure on the bar. But, I'm telling you, when you use them on regular bars and handles they are the best. I can't believe guys still use those old school wrap arounds as there is so much better and more effective stuff on the market. But they still don't give the feel of the Meeko grips. It never works loose as you are doing the exercise. And the previous poster is right. I got the latest generation model though I would have preferred the Black color.

Meeko was a great guy. We talked a lot when he was on IronAge. He always made the time for everyone. He was a devount Christain and had a good heart. There was a couple of things that seemed off though. I don't know why he stayed with that crazy wife of his. He's show pics of himself with black eyes and lumps on his head when his wife would attack him with a cast iron pan of whatever she could get her hands on. One thing that I never got and never understood, was that he insisted; and was very, very adamant, almost to the point of anger when you argued with him, was that Arnold had pec implants. I mean, I'd post pics of Arnold at 17 where you could see he was genetically gifted in the pec department. Even today no Mr. Olympia matched Arnold's chest. How the hell could they have implants that looked so perfect and flexed and everything back in the early 70s? Same with calves, which Joe also insisted were implants. I've seen guys with calf implants during the 80s and you could see the scar on back of the knee where they try to hide it with those natural creases that are there anyway. But somehow in early 70s they were able to come out with perfect calf implants just for Arnold. Even after Arnold retired and you could see the atrophy in his calves and pecs, Meeko still insisted they were implants.

It was just some quirk in Meeko's personality.

I remember him also on Ironage.  He was very nice but as you say, something was off.

He had that 'Jesus freak' kind of thing...not that he was a Jesus freak if you know what I mean.

Like he was so up.  Bi polar maybe.

He had lime disease bad and it supposedly drove him to suicide.  That stuff with his wife was like the movie Misery with James Caan.

[IroNat]

The strapping on those grips looks like canvas which you can buy in a fabric store.  Do you have those in Hawaii?

Or you could use nylon strapping.  Can't stretch though.

You could sew it yourself but you need strong thread and a heavier needle.  WalMart

[funk51]

I remember him also on Ironage.  He was very nice but as you say, something was off.

He had that 'Jesus freak' kind of thing...not that he was a Jesus freak if you know what I mean.

Like he was so up.  Bi polar maybe.

He had lime disease bad and it supposedly drove him to suicide.  That stuff with his wife was like the movie Misery with James Caan.

              joe after one of those attacks on him by his wife.