2-22-02

WF: I was born December 3, 1955, in Eden NC, and presently live there. I have been a sales representative for Charles White Chevrolet, Cadillac in Martinsville, Va. since 1994. I'm 6'1" and 282 pounds.

WF: I started lifting with my dad as a young boy. I continued lifting throughout high school. I set school records in the military press and the bench press at Rockingham Community College in 1975-76. I powerlifted in full 3 lift meets for the USPF and AAU from 1979 through 1985. I had knee surgery in 1985 and developed a NEAR FATAL blood clot in my lungs that forced me out of lifting until 1993. I saw a powerlifting meet in Asheboro, NC in 1993 that motivated me to get back to lifting in meets. Harold "Iron Bear" Collins of "World's Strongest Man" fame was a guest lifter and he was very inspirational. I'm not able to compete in full powerlifting meets anymore because of my knee injury and subsequent degenerative arthritis but I enjoy competing in the bench press competitions.

WF: Since 1975 I have competed in over 90 meets in 31 different cities and 4 different States. I have over 170 titles and awards. I’m also the team captain for the House of Payne competition team.

WF: Best lifts include: 611 in deadlift, 406 in the bench press, 588 for the squat. These were all at a body weight of 242 pounds.

WF: I believe all meets should be drug tested. But testing random lifters - maybe a couple each meet, would be the only financially feasible solution for the meet promoters. Steroid users, you are only lying to yourselves.

WF: Whey Protein, creatine monohydrate, glutamine, amino acids, DHEA, OKG, a good multivitamin, B-Complex with C, two aspirin every 12 hours as a blood thinner and I have to take Celebrex for my arthritis.

WF: Since my surgery in 1985, I only train for the bench press. I train heavy bench presses on Sundays. I do medium to low reps and heavy weight using four different grip widths, cycling according to how close I am to a contest. I utilize board presses and chains in my bench press routine. I also do incline presses, hammer curls, triceps extensions, and heavy rows on that day. On Wednesday I do a light workout including nine sets of three reps on the bench at 55% of my max with 45 seconds rest between sets. Wednesday is called acceleration day. Assistance work this day includes heavy flyes, hammer curls, shrugs, pullovers and deltoid raises front and side. Occasionally I work out at Wake Forest University with strength coach Ethan Reeve.

WF: I want to lift until I'm 51 years old and outlast Keith "House" Payne and Lyle "Hitman" Hogan.

WF: I want to lift for a full year and bench press 400 lbs. raw as a 50 year old and maybe set some records in the 50-59 year old masters division. I also want to successfully defend my WNPF World Title and NASA National title.

WF: None

WF: I don't wear any. I want to know that I'm lifting the weight, not the supportive gear lifting it.

WF: Yes, One time I helped carry a house before a powerlifting meet.

WF: All free weight. It's the only way to develop proper joint and ligament strength, not to mention 20 inch arms. Has a machine trained individual ever competed in a weight lifting competition?

WF: It would be easier to list the ones I haven't lifted in but I have lifted numerous times in NASA, USPF, APA, USAPL, BPOW, AAU, WNPF and numerous non- sanctioned events including all the Wake Forest Demon Deacon Push-Pull Championships since they started in 1995.

WF: Since 1993 I have competed in the 275, 280, 308, 315, 319 and SHW classes. I am the WNPF Raw Masters 40+ World Bench Press Champion in the SHW class for 2001 won in Greenville, SC at Furman University. I am also the NASA Raw Masters 40+ National Bench Press Champion in the 315 class for 1999, won in Nashville, TN. I hold North Carolina State bench press records in NASA , WNPF, APA, USAPL and AAU.

WF: The deadlift was always my favorite. My back always responded well to weight training for this lift. Keith "House" Payne, Mike "Young Lion" Lovelace, Lyle "Hitman" Hogan and Kent "Brick" Wall claim that I have a REAL back.

WF: Always use perfect form when training. It helps prevent injuries and also helps to keep perfect technique in competition. Hitting that perfect groove and sweet spot at a meet are the results of slow, deliberate descent of the bar while training every repetition for 12 months a year.

WF: All meets should be drug tested and raw.

WF: Discipline and consistency are very important in powerlifting. Young folks need to learn that there are no shortcuts to huge strength. You can't buy it either. The only way to get it is "WORK". Live healthy, stay away from drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. Proper nutrition and rest are essential.

WF: Arm Wrestling. In 1986 I competed in and won the Iredell County Arm Wrestling Championships in Statesville NC, for my weight class. In 1987 I won the NC State Arm Wrestling Championships held in North Wilkesboro, NC. I also enjoyed playing competitive softball for 20 years. I played 1^st and 3^rd base on two state champion softball teams in 1981 and 1989. Altogether, I played approximately 800 games which equals approximately 3200 at bats. I have also competed on several organized tug-o-war teams.

WF: My father, mother and girlfriend have always been inspirational and have helped me with my training and provided me with good nutritious meals. I admire all of them for putting up with me all these years.

WF: My father passing away in 1997 was the toughest. Trying to work a 50 hour week and spend time with my family and girlfriend while maintaining a consistent training schedule has been difficult. Training through prior injuries, and my painful arthritic condition from 25 years of athletics has also been tough. Twice, fluid has been drawn from my left knee, the result of degenerative arthritis.

WF: Extremely important from the standpoint of motivation and safety. I also enjoy punishing my workout partners Mike "Young Lion" Lovelace, Keith "Take it to the House" Payne, Kent "Brick" Wall and the head man himself Lyle "Hitman" Hogan.

WF: High protein foods including 3 gallons of 1% low fat milk per week, and as much peach ice cream as I can eat.

WF: I lifted in the days before supportive equipment when men were men and sheep were nervous. I have always lifted raw and thought it was more interesting to see what a man could lift instead of his shirt. For every piece of equipment used, more credibility is lost. Powerlifting will never be accepted as an Olympic sport until we get rid of the supportive equipment that some lifters use. Can you imagine an Olympic lifter putting on his/her clean and jerk shirt in front of a worldwide television audience and doing their mummy imitation while walking to the lifting platform?

WF: I'm thankful everyday that I still have the strength, health and good fortune to lift at 46 years of age. Also, thank you Keith "House" Payne for your tireless work on our website and for being my training partner. Thanks to my dad and mom, Ray and Lorene, and a very special thank you to my beloved and beautiful girlfriend, Sharon. She has attended probably 20 of my competitions and has never spoken a negative word at any of them even after driving and riding to and from them for hours, sitting there and standing there cheering for hours, even helping me plan strategy at the meets and providing me with food and encouragement at the meets.