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
Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 26, 2021 Alvin Chustz was born in New Roads, Louisiana. As a young child he developed a preoccupation with physical strength. He was always trying to lift heavy objects and read any magazine article that dealt with strength. The first time he saw a set of weights … Read more
Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 26, 2021 In 1959, Dick and his younger brother joined Mike’s Gym, and it was there that his interest in weightlifting began. At this time some of the best lifters in the area were also at Mike’s Gym, and there he met Mike Stansbury, Walter Imahara, Red Lerille, Mike Thompson, Gene Hebert, and Jimmy … Read more
Inducted into the Louisiana Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 26, 2021 Walter Imahara was arguably the most decorated athlete in the history of the university. He was the first Asian to attend the university in the mid-1950s and graduated with a degree in horticulture in 1960. At his university graduation President Fletcher handed him his … Read more
