Inducted into the Weightlifting Hall of Fame: November 15, 2024
Bill LeBlanc was born in Abbeville, LA to Harold and Alberta LeBlanc. Bill has one brother, Father Steven LeBlanc and a sister, Teesie Landry. As a freshman in high school, Carlton Falgoust was Mount Carmel High School’s new football coach. He was on the USL Olympic Weightlifting Team and a member of the football team as well. Carlton introduced all high school athletes at Mount Carmel High to Olympic lifting.
Falgoust had taken several athletes, including Bill, to weightlifting competitions. During Bill’s senior year at Mount Carmel, Warren Perrin trained with Bill on Fridays. Warren would instruct Bill on his technique and strength—as well as discussing with Bill the possibility of attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) and joining the Olympic Weightlifting Team. Bill started his weightlifting career in the 123-lb. class and would sometimes enter the 132-lb class to help the USL team, if needed.
(continued below)
(continued from above)
After graduating from USL with a B.S. in accounting, Bill was employed in the oilfield as an Area Accountant out of Lafayette, LA. In 1987, Bill and his family moved to Metairie, LA, where he worked as comptroller for a medical supply company until he retired. Brenda, Bill’s wife, is a USL graduate, with a BA degree in elementary education and is also retired.
Bill and Brenda were married in December of 1974 and they will celebrate 50 years of marriage in December 2024. The couple has three children: Billy, Bill’s oldest son, is in medical sales and is currently living in The Woodlands, TX. His daughter, Brooke, is an X-ray and ultrasound technician living in Metairie, LA. Bill’s youngest son, Bryson, is a recruiting coordinator for the University of Missouri baseball team in Columbia, MO. Bill and Brenda have seven grandsons and three great-grandsons, which keeps their lives pretty busy. They also enjoy traveling throughout the United States.
Bill’s High School Competition
1964 Placed 1st in the novice competition 123-lb class
1966 Placed 1st in the Jr. S.A.A.U. competition 123-lb class
1966 Placed 3rd in the Sr. S.A.A.U. competition 123-lb class
1967 Placed 1st in the Sr. S.A.A.U. competition 123-lb class
College Competition
While attending USL (1968-1972) Bill competed in 4 National Collegiate Championships
1968 National Championships in Lafayette, LA, placing 1st in the 123-lb class
1968 Teenage National Championships in Des Moines, IA placing 1st in the 123-lb class
1969 National Collegiate Championship was not held
1970 National Championships in Princeton, NJ, placing 1st in the 123-lb class
1971 National Championships in Virginia Commonwealth University, placing 1st in the 123-lb class
1972 National Championships in Cornel University, Ithaca, NY
While attending USL, Bill won All State and Southern AAU Regional competitions (across four states) in the 123-lb and 132-lb classes
Other Competitions
1969 YMCA National Weightlifting Championships New Orleans, LA placed 1st in the 123-lb class
1978 Junior National Championships in San Francisco, CA placing 1st in the 123-lb class
1978 Bill broke the Louisiana State Clean and Jerk record in the 123-lb class with a lift of 258.5-lbs, originally set in 1956 at a weight of 250 lbs
1979 Senior National Championships in Totowa, NJ, placing 4th in the 132-lb class
1979 Invited to the first U.S. Olympic Sports Festival in Colorado Springs, CO placing 2nd in the 123-lb class
1980 Invited to the second U.S. Olympic Sports Festival was unable to attend do to work schedule conflict
1980 United States Olympic Trials in Philadelphia, PA, lifted in the 132-lb class, with a 3rd place snatch 209 lbs and a 2nd place clean-and-jerk 280.5 lbs totaling 489.5 lbs for 3rd place in the competition
1980-81 Attended the Cup of America International Competition in Mexico City, Mexico placing 2nd in the 123-lb class
1968, 1981 Bill took 1st place in Louisiana State and Southern AAU Regional competitions in the 123-lb and 132-lb classes
Weightlifting Accomplishments and Other Awards
1978 AAU Southern Regional Lifter of the year
1995 Inducted into the U.S.L. Hall of Fame
2024 Inducted into the Louisiana Weightlifting Hall of Fame