Author Topic: AAU Mr. America Jim Morris passed away at 80 (Read 34200 times)

PORKY · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2016, 11:57:00 PM »

Quote from: musclecenter on January 28, 2016, 11:08:27 PM

RIP

RIP. Isn't he that vegan bodybuilder?

DroppingPlates · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:09:38 AM »

That's sad, may he RIP

funk51 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2016, 05:48:22 AM »

Marty Champions · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2016, 06:11:10 AM »

2many veggies?

2much iron?

6 Reps · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2016, 07:55:11 AM »

Decades ago Jim owned and operated a gym in West Hollywood, Calif. I stopped in once to check about joining. I talked to Jim and he seemed like a nice person. I decided to join another gym and have always looked back on that as a poor choice and a big mistake. Had I joined Jim's gym and gotten to know him, I think he could have been really helpful to me in my body building.

Howard · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2016, 07:57:32 AM »

He was a guest at my first contest, the 1978 AAU Mr Eastern Seaboard in Greenwich, Conn.
Great show promoted by Mike Katz with Bill Pearl, Dave Johns and Chris Dickerson.

Jim and the others dressed and acted like real gentlemen.
I was only 19 and met Jim Morris briefly after the prejudging.
He shook my hand , looked me in the eye and greeted me properly.
I left the show, proud to become a bodybuilder.

Sadly, he has passed way at 80, which is an avg lifespan.
Jim Morris conducted himself well in public and was a good role model for bodybuilding.

RIP Jim, it was an honor to meet him.

BB · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2016, 08:00:38 AM »

Wow, even though he was old, I'm still a tiny bit shocked by this. Here he is at 79, still in great shape, and still sharp mentally -

.

RIP.

BayGBM · « **Reply #8 on:** January 29, 2016, 09:05:38 AM »

Awesome evolution. May he rest in peace.

jwb · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2016, 09:52:34 AM »

Was the guy pretty broke? Hard to live past 80 without good health insurance.

timfogarty · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:28:45 PM »

Long before he won Mr America it was common knowledge, at least in bodybuilding circles, that Jim Morris was gay.

In the AAU Mr America, like the Miss America contest, points were given for interview skills. Jim told me the story that during his interview for the 73 Mr A, Mable Rader (Perry's wife) who was one of the judges, asked him in the interview if he had a girlfriend. Jim said that everyone on that committee knew he was gay. He replied "Oh Mable, you know I don't have time to date anyone."

http://musclememory.com/showArticle.php?md10098

side note: Peter Grymkowski was second in the Mr A that year. There is no wiki page for him. Has he ever been married? have children?

Quote from: 6 Reps on January 29, 2016, 07:55:11 AM

Decades ago Jim owned and operated a gym in West Hollywood, Calif.

Jim Morris Gym, location is now the parking structure for CVS at Santa Monica Blvd and LaCienega. When Jim sold it, it became the Athletic Club. Lots of very big gay boys there.

funk51 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:45:15 PM »

Quote from: timfogarty on January 29, 2016, 12:28:45 PM

Long before he won Mr America it was common knowledge, at least in bodybuilding circles, that Jim Morris was gay.

In the AAU Mr America, like the Miss America contest, points were given for interview skills. Jim told me the story that during his interview for the 73 Mr A, Mable Rader (Perry's wife) who was one of the judges, asked him in the interview if he had a girlfriend. Jim said that everyone on that committee knew he was gay. He replied "Oh Mable, you know I don't have time to date anyone."

http://musclememory.com/showArticle.php?md10098

side note: Peter Grymkowski was second in the Mr A that year. There is no wiki page for him. Has he ever been married? have children?

Jim Morris Gym, location is now the parking structure for CVS at Santa Monica Blvd and LaCienega. When Jim sold it, it became the Athletic Club. Lots of very big gay boys there.

jim was a bodyguard and a friend to elton john...

funk51 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:48:52 PM »

funk51 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 29, 2016, 12:50:25 PM »

and w john lennon

BB · « **Reply #14 on:** January 29, 2016, 01:06:21 PM »

Shawn Ray is reporting suicide, brought on by depression, one hopes that it turns out to be false $:-\$ -

Breaking News:

"Update:

Word on the street.
Cause of death- Suicide by Gun Shot.
Depression issues.

Looking into confirmation.

Strength & Honor!"

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php/154883-RIP-Old-School-Bodybuilder-Jim-Morris/page2 .

Nether Animal · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2016, 01:36:13 PM »

Damn, RIP $:-\$

Straw Man · « **Reply #16 on:** January 29, 2016, 01:47:21 PM »

Quote from: BB on January 29, 2016, 01:06:21 PM

Shawn Ray is reporting suicide, brought on by depression, one hopes that it turns out to be false $:-\$ -

Breaking News:

"Update:

Word on the street.
Cause of death- Suicide by Gun Shot.
Depression issues.

Looking into confirmation.

Strength & Honor!"

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php/154883-RIP-Old-School-Bodybuilder-Jim-Morris/page2 .

Damn, I hope that's not true

The Abdominal Snoman · « **Reply #17 on:** January 29, 2016, 02:06:14 PM »

Quote from: jwb on January 29, 2016, 09:52:34 AM

Was the guy pretty broke? Hard to live past 80 without good health insurance.

And if you're not rich, there's really no point living past 80.

tommywishbone · « **Reply #18 on:** January 29, 2016, 02:20:58 PM »

A real gentlemen. Class act. PIP Jimmy.

Howard · « **Reply #19 on:** January 29, 2016, 02:59:56 PM »

Quote from: tommywishbone on January 29, 2016, 02:20:58 PM

A real gentlemen. Class act. PIP Jimmy.

That sums it up pretty well!
I hope heaven has a good gym and he's up there pumping .

mphgrove · « **Reply #20 on:** January 29, 2016, 06:44:47 PM »

Question about Grymkowski:

side note: Peter Grymkowski was second in the Mr A that year. There is no wiki page for him. Has he ever been married? have children?

[/quote]

Don't know for certain on Grymkowski, but here's what I think. I saw him with partner and infant at a bodybuilding show about 5 years ago. So yes, I think he's married. He looked lean but healthy. I had read that he had heart issues compounded by substance abuse a while back but moved out of LA (desert/Palm Springs not sure?) and now is doing fine. If anyone has better info, I would be interested too.

And with Morris, any history of depression? Or was this unique developments in getting older, health, etc? Seems like he had lots of self confidence and this would be out of character: open about himself long before anyone in bodybuilding owned up to that, friends with old timers like Pearl, honored by City of LA out at Venice Beach, vegetarian, etc.? What gives?

Never1AShow · « **Reply #21 on:** January 29, 2016, 06:55:19 PM »

PIP. Old dudes with depression often have cancer or dementia or or something that was revealed to them. Don't want to get eaten up and have awful last few years.

The Scott · « **Reply #22 on:** January 29, 2016, 07:44:16 PM »

Quote from: timfogarty on January 29, 2016, 12:28:45 PM

Long before he won Mr America it was common knowledge, at least in bodybuilding circles, that Jim Morris was gay.

In the AAU Mr America, like the Miss America contest, points were given for interview skills. Jim told me the story that during his interview for the 73 Mr A, Mable Rader (Perry's wife) who was one of the judges, asked him in the interview if he had a girlfriend. Jim said that everyone on that committee knew he was gay. He replied "Oh Mable, you know I don't have time to date anyone."

http://musclememory.com/showArticle.php?md10098

side note: Peter Grymkowski was second in the Mr A that year. There is no wiki page for him. Has he ever been married? have children?

Jim Morris Gym, location is now the parking structure for CVS at Santa Monica Blvd and LaCienega. When Jim sold it, it became the Athletic Club. Lots of very big gay boys there.

Who cares if he was gay? Oh yeah...People whose lives revolve around gayness. Morris was more than just gay. Sheesh...

timfogarty · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2016, 11:53:53 PM »

Quote from: The Scott on January 29, 2016, 07:44:16 PM

Who cares if he was gay? Oh yeah...People whose lives revolve around gayness. Morris was more than just gay. Sheesh...

Jim Morris was a gay pioneer, out before it was safe to be so. An out and proud gay black man in the 70s. Yes that is something to acknowledge and honor.

Radical Plato · « **Reply #24 on:** January 30, 2016, 01:59:45 AM »

Quote from: BB on January 29, 2016, 01:06:21 PM

Shawn Ray is reporting suicide, brought on by depression, one hopes that it turns out to be false $:-\$ -

Breaking News:

"Update:

Word on the street.
Cause of death- Suicide by Gun Shot.
Depression issues.

Looking into confirmation.

Strength & Honor!"

http://forums.musculardevelopment.com/showthread.php/154883-RIP-Old-School-Bodybuilder-Jim-Morris/page2 .

Good for him, went out on his own terms when he decided he had had enough.