Power Weightlifter

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 George Weatherford sent me this email retelling the story of the team going to compete in the Ozark Mountains Weightlifting Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 29, 1966. While out-of-state, the Ark-La-Tex Region was hit by a massive ice storm causing us to have … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Mike Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  He attended college at Tulane in 1961 and graduated from USL in 1965 with a BS degree. At UL, he taught P.E. 210 weight lifting and isometrics for one semester in 1965. Mike was part of the … Read more

Inducted Posthumously into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Louis “Lou” Riecke Jr. was born on October 2, 1926, in New Orleans, the eldest of four children (two younger brothers and a much younger sister). His father owned a lumber business and was active in civic affairs. Lou took up weight training in … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Joseph “Poss” Major was a manager and breeder of Arabian horses and collector of antique tractors and sportsman. He was a member of the 1963, 1964 and 1966 National Collegiate Weightlifting Teams. He was the winner of several lifting meets throughout the South. Poss was … Read more

Inducted Posthumously into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Joseph Gaynor Burleigh, Ph.D., was a scientist, professor at University of Arkansas and a leading expert on the honey bee. In 1995, Burleigh was inducted into the UL Athletics Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame gives perpetual recognition to those athletes who have … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Born in New Roads, La., as the grandson of a blacksmith and farmer, Jess Shows learned about hard work and the joy of accomplishments early on. In high school, several friends, including “Poss” Major, George Weatherford and he used a shed behind Poss’s house as … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 Dr. James R. Reinhardt’s interest in weightlifting began in eighth grade and progressed all through high school.  Jim trained at Mike’s Gym and built lasting friendships with his future teammates as they trained and learned techniques crucial to improving their abilities.  Upon entering the University … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: January 25, 2023 George Weatherford is an insurance executive and former president of the UL Athletics Hall of Fame Club. George was from New Roads, Louisiana and attended USL and graduated with a BA degree in 1969 and a master’s degree in 1973. He received a Charted Life … Read more

Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 26, 2021 Gene Hebert earned his bachelor’s degree in 1964 and a Master of Education in music from USL in 1966. A two-year letterman in gymnastics and weightlifting (following the sanctioning of the sport by AD Whitey Urban), Gene was the bantamweight national champion in 1963 and … Read more