As the 1990's started, Olympic lifting was all but forgotten, and powerlifting fragmented into many different organizations. The USPF held meets for many years, and the ADFPA became the USAPL. Then there were the traveling federations which came into N.C, held meets, then left. One meet director in particular, Johnnie Howie, with his wife Diane kept N.C. Powerlifting going strong during the 1990's. Strongman competition made a comeback with official strongman events during the 1990's. In 1995, the AAU, which gave birth to powerlifting sanctioned meets again , and many of it's lifters returned. As the 1990's drew to a close masters, women and teens were represented well in meets and had their own divisions.
1970's lifters like Bob Strauss and Red Swaim continued masters careers in the 1990's. Lyle Hogan and Alan Campos were also two successful 1970 lifters who returned. Bob Strauss became the first N.C. powerlifter to lift as teen through master. Red Swaim made N.C. Powerlifting history when he became the oldest N.C. lifter to deadlift 600 at age 61 at 198 lbs
May 1999 198 lb 61 yr Red Swaim makes N.C. Powerlifting history. He squats 555, bench presses 250, and deadlifts an amazing 600 !!!
