ROY HILLIGENN ... 1951 AAU MR. AMERICA
The life of Roy Hilligenn is a story of determination, achievement, and tragedy. Born in South Africa, Hilligenn was four years old when his father, a police sergeant, died of cancer. This left his mother the task of raising five children.
Sent to an orphanage from age 6 to 15, Roy frequently ran away and often scrounged for food in garbage cans. At age 15, he was sent to a trade school to become an apprentice electrician.
A proverbial "97-pound weakling," Hilligenn began weight-training at age 18, after falling from a four-story building, sustaining broken ribs, wrist, and fingers, plus internal injuries. Two years of convalescence, and then working out with a home-made set of weights, his body weight climbed to 101 pounds in the first year, and to 159 pounds the second. Three years following his seriouis injuries, he placed first in a novice weightlifting meet in the 148-pound class, with a 160-pound snatch, and a 240-pound clean-and-jerk.
In 1943, combining basic weightlifting and bodybuilding exercises, Hilligenn became the first South African to clean-and-jerk double his bodyweight. He captured the Mr. South Africa crown in 1943, 1944, and 1946.
Immigrating to the United States, Hilligenn placed third at the 1949 AAU Mr. California contest and won the AAU Mr. Northern California and Mr.Pacific Coast contests while training at Ed Yarick's hardcore gym in Oakland. In 1950, he placed third at the AAU Mr. America contest, behind John Farbotnik and Melvin Wells. That year, in the 198-pound class, he won the Pacific Coast Weightlifting Championships.
In 1951, weightlifting three days a week and bodybuilding on the opposite days, Roy captured the 1951 AAU Mr. America crown, weighing 176 pounds. He equalled the world record in the clean-and-jerk lift of 375 pounds, and it was reported that at a heavier bodyweight, he clean-and-jerked 405 pounds.
Hilligenn credited a large part of his strength and vitality to diet. He stated, "I believe being a vegetarian most of my life is the secret to my youthful countenance and longevity and perfect health. I believe fruit is the body's cleanser, vegetables are the body's healer, and meat is the body's premature aging agent."
In 1952, York Barbell Company sponsored a duel IWF Mr. World/World's Most Muscular Man contest. Jim Park, the current Mr. America, outscored Hilligenn by a half-a-point, for the Mr. World title, while Hilligennn captured the Most Muscular award.
At a height of five-feet, six-inches and a body weight of 175 to 186 pounds, Hilligenn's neck measured 17 1/2 inches; chest, 48 1/2 inches; waist, 31 inches; arms, 17 1/2 inches; thighs, 24 1/2 inches; and calves, 16 1/2 inches.
Sadly, Hilligenn served time in prison from 1987 to 1989, on two counts of sexual battery and three counts of assault. Shortly after release, he was sent to prison in Central Florida, to serve a 17-year sentence for grand theft and attempted sexual battery. He was released in 2008.
Roy Hilligenn died of injuries sustained after a fall in 2008, at age 85.
Roy Hilligenn
[image] [image]
Height 5'6"
Weight 178
Born November 15, 1922 South Africa
Died August 3, 2008
[magazine articles]
1949
Mr California - AAU, 3rd
Mr Pacific Coast - AAU, Winner
1950
Mr America - AAU, 3rd
Junior Mr America - AAU, 2nd
Junior Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
1951
Mr America - AAU, Winner
Mr America - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr Northern California - AAU, Winner
1952
Mr World - AAU, Medium, 1st
Mr World - AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
Mr World - AAU, Overall, 2nd
1975
Universe - IFBB, Short, 10th
1977
Canadian Championships - CBBF, Short, 3rd
Mr International - IFBB, LightWeight, 3rd
Magazines
1948 April Strength and Health
1949 March Vol 4, Num 3 Chicago Bodybuilder
1951 September Vol 11, Num 3 IronMan
1951 October Strength and Health
1952 April Vol 17, Num 1 Your Physique
1952 July Vol 17, Num 4 Your Physique
1952 August Vol 14, Num 3 Muscle Power
1953 March Strength and Health
1953 July Vol 16, Num 1 Muscle Power
1955 June Reg Park Journal
1977 February Vol 45, Num 2 Strength and Health
1977 October Vol 14, Num 5 Muscular Development
2000 January Vol 11, Num 4 Hardgainer
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