Author Topic: RIP - Harold Poole  (Read 61713 times)

Schmoff

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5223
RIP - Harold Poole
« on: August 07, 2014, 07:46:31 PM »
from bill grant

Quote
Today was another bad Day for Bodybuilding..The owner of the Iron and Silk Fitness Center in New York where I work informed me that The Legendary Harold Poole Has Passed away in New York I am saddened to Hear this. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever know. Harold was the manager of the Cheetah Club in New York. He also worked at the Weider Headquarters back in the day when it was located at 801 Palisades Ave. Union City along with the Legendary Leroy Colbert. He also was a Mr. America and Mr. Universe winner. He also competed against Larry Scott for the Mr. Olympia..He will be sorely missed..So Lets give Harold our respect as a Legendary Bodybuilder..I will miss you my Friend.it was an honor to have known you..RIP Harold Poole..May God Bless you..

TheShape.

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 6205
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2014, 08:13:24 PM »
How old was he?

Schmoff

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5223
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2014, 08:20:26 PM »
How old was he?

Harold Poole (born December 25, 1943 died August 7, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a former AAU, IFBB and WBBG professional bodybuilder.

Poole's athleticism was apparent very early on. He was quarterback on his football team at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, placed fourth in the state high school wrestling championships, ran 440 yards in 50 seconds and put the 12 pound shot 55 feet.

In 1960, Poole entered the AAU Mr. America and, at the age of 16, took 18th place. His final AAU teen opportunity came in June 1963, where he won most muscular, but was the runner-up to Vern Weaver. Three months later, Poole switched to the IFBB and, at age 19, he won the Mr. Universe. In 1964, he became the first African-American to be named IFBB Mr. America. Starting in 1965, Poole became the only man to compete in the first three Mr. Olympia contests finishing runner-up to Larry Scott in the first two Olympias.

He retired from bodybuilding competition following the 1982 IFBB Night Of Champions, where he placed outside the top 10. He lived in Florida, where he continued to train with weights and practice martial arts until the end of 2010, when he moved to New York City. He was inducted to the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004 and the WBBG Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2008, Poole was voted the Greatest Teenage Bodybuilder of All-Time.

Competition and award history

1960

Mr America - AAU, 18th

Mr Mid-America - AAU, Most Muscular, 2nd

1961

Mr America - AAU, 4th

Junior Mr America - AAU, Overall Winner

1962

Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st

Mr America - AAU, 2nd

Mr North America - AAU, Winner

1963

Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st

Mr America - AAU, 2nd

Teen Mr America - AAU, 2nd

Universe - IFBB, Tall, 1st

Universe - IFBB, Overall Winner

1964

Mr America - IFBB, Tall, 1st

Mr America - IFBB, Overall Winner

1965

Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd

1966

Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd

1967

Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner

Mr. Olympia - IFBB, 2nd

1968

Pro Mr America - WBBG, Winner

1971

Mr USA - IFBB, Tall, 1st

1972

Mr World - IFBB, Tall, 3rd

1980

Night of Champions - IFBB, 12th

1981

Grand Prix California - IFBB, 7th

Grand Prix New England - IFBB, 9th

Night of Champions - IFBB, 6th

Canada Pro Cup - IFBB, 8th

1982

World Pro Championships - IFBB, 9th

2004

IFBB Hall of Fame

2007

WBBG Hall of Fame


jude2

  • Competitors II
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 10914
  • Getbig!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2014, 08:23:06 PM »
RIP.

BODYBUILDINGBRAZIL

  • Getbig II
  • **
  • Posts: 118
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2014, 08:42:02 PM »
RIP

Viking11

  • Competitors
  • Getbig IV
  • *****
  • Posts: 2002
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2014, 08:55:54 PM »
Oh Christ. Hard to get happy after this one.

wolfrittner

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3402
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2014, 01:27:15 AM »
He was  legend and a good guy.

Thin Lizzy

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18266
  • It’s all a fraud
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2014, 01:45:14 AM »
RIP

Back in the day, an old school bodybuilder told me that Poole actually won the first Olympia, but, Weider wanted a white guy winning and changed the scoring.

wes

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 65269
  • What Dire Mishap Has Befallen Thee
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2014, 04:27:46 AM »
RIP

His muscularity was way ahead of its time.

funk51

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 39671
  • Getbig!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2014, 05:06:01 AM »
RIP

Back in the day, an old school bodybuilder told me that Poole actually won the first Olympia, but, Weider wanted a white guy winning and changed the scoring.
i heard they were tied, and the judge asked weider what they should do. Joeseph E Weider said give it to the white guy.
F

Andy Griffin

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 6620
  • I know my own name, bitch.
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2014, 05:08:25 AM »
RIP
~

Royalty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 29903
  • Mentzer is Alive
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2014, 05:13:29 AM »
i heard they were tied, and the judge asked weider what they should do. Joeseph E Weider said give it to the white guy.


Was Harold Hispanic? Mixed white/black?

funk51

  • Moderator
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 39671
  • Getbig!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2014, 05:50:33 AM »

Was Harold Hispanic? Mixed white/black?
black and american indian .
F

Rambone

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20200
  • bhank is coming….
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2014, 05:53:18 AM »
i heard they were tied, and the judge asked weider what they should do. Joeseph E Weider said give it to the white guy.

I'd figure that Joe the schmoe would go by cock size, not skin color.

Pet shop boys

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 11613
  • Getbig!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2014, 06:09:33 AM »
I'd figure that Joe the schmoe would go by cock size, not skin color.


Skin color would sell his magazines/products back then ....cock size was..... well .... for other kind of activities I guess !





WoooSSHHH  BE YE KE

Voice of Doom

  • Getbig IV
  • ****
  • Posts: 3631
  • Everything is under control.
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #15 on: August 08, 2014, 07:29:18 AM »
his pic was in Golds when I first started lifting.  Great physique.   :-\

Iceman1981

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 5184
  • www.LegendsOfBodybuilding.com
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #16 on: August 08, 2014, 08:37:14 AM »
R.I.P.!!!

Mr. MB

  • Getbig III
  • ***
  • Posts: 826
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #17 on: August 08, 2014, 08:37:49 AM »
RIP we lose another pioneer in our sport.

Hurricane Beef !

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 4723
  • Beat Coach, Wes & Chaos So Bad . . .
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2014, 08:56:13 AM »
May he be blessed.

Vic on deca for a few months would have beaten him in the universe . . . true story.

THE BEEF

tommywishbone

  • Competitors II
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 20489
  • Biscuit
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2014, 09:08:11 AM »
Beef liver tabs and brewers yeast.

PIP Iron brother.
a

The Scott

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 21321
  • I'm a victim of soicumcision!!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #20 on: August 08, 2014, 09:17:15 AM »
Handsome man with a superb physique.  Sorry to hear of his passing. :-[

Thin Lizzy

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 18266
  • It’s all a fraud
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #21 on: August 08, 2014, 09:51:50 AM »
He was a tough dude. That club where he worked was in the Times Square area, during the 70s. It held about 2k people and he was the head bouncer.

He lived in my neighborhood for awhile, and definitely looked like someone you wouldn't want to have a beef with.

Neptuno

  • Getbig III
  • ***
  • Posts: 373
  • From HUELVA - SPAIN
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #22 on: August 08, 2014, 10:52:25 AM »
It´s a bad new to bodybuilding world. Especially when this year celebrate the 50th aniversary of Mr Olympia.
w

Ronnie Rep

  • Competitors
  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 10117
  • Getbig!
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #23 on: August 08, 2014, 12:34:02 PM »
R.I.P.

timfogarty

  • Getbig V
  • *****
  • Posts: 7115
  • @fogartyTim on twitter
Re: RIP Harold Poole
« Reply #24 on: August 08, 2014, 05:50:01 PM »
i heard they were tied, and the judge asked weider what they should do. Joeseph E Weider said give it to the white guy.

Yet, Harold jumped from the AAU to a no-name org because he knew as a black man he would never win the Mr America.  The AAU Mr America was meant to represent the ideal American man, with points for facial appearance, interview ability and other athletic ability.  Weider offered a contest that was based on muscle size only, where Poole could win the overall title.