The 1960's

During the 1960's Olympic Weightlifting hit it's peak with lifters and organizers such as Jack King and Joe Grantham. National lifters such as Bob Bednarski traveled to N.C. to compete. Powerlifting began to get more popular around the mid 1960's and toward the end of the 60's. Lifters such as Gene Neal, Don Long , Bobby Pugh , Tommy Newman, and R.L. Gurley  began to lift in powerlifting meets whenever they were held. Winston Salem was where the Olympic lifters were mostly while powerlifters centered around Henderson, Greensboro, Alamance County, and Boone

Don Long squatting                                         

Landon Averitte lifted from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's  in the mid weight classes. 

Olympic lifting was popular during the 1960's  Gene Neal (pictured here ) and Don Long who would later dominate powerlifting  would compete.

Olympic Weightlifting in North Carolina

  During the 1960's  North Carolina had good Olympic lifters some of which competed in National meets. Jack King, Joe Grantham, and Danny Smith represented North Carolina well.  In The late 1960's the Rotens in Boone also lifted well. Olympic hopeful Bob Bednarski traveled to Boone and set an American record. 

Danny Smith                                                     Joe Grantham