1949 Bill Piephoff opens the first real commercial gym in N.C. The Greensboro Health Club which lasts for many years. Many great lifters come from this club.
Early 1950's Each year Bill Piephoff hosts strength events around the fourth of July. These odd lift contests were the crude beginnings of powerlifting in N.C. R.L.Gurley is a regular lifter in those meets.
1955 Paul Anderson sets world record in Olympic meet in High Point 17 yr old Red Swaim was in attendence.
By the late 1950's Olympic lifting meets were regularly held in N.C.
Byron Swaim lifted at 132 and pressed over 225 overhead
Late 1950's-early 1960's Olympic lifting is common in N.C. and Jack King becomes a national lifter and begins to promote Olympic lifting in N.C. Olympic lifting is rather common and meets are held in Durham, High Point, Greensboro and Boone
Mid 1960's Many of North Carolina's future lifting greats including Don Long compete in Olympic lifting, primitive powerlifting meets and odd lift contests.
1966-1968 Olympic lifting reaches peak in N.C. with big meets like the All-South in Durham Bob Bednarski Olympic hopeful lifts in Boone and sets American Record
Late 1960's ..Gene Neal, Bobby Pugh, R.L. Gurley, Don Long, Tommy Newnam, Byron Swaim, Robert Gasky, start lifting in regular meets.
1970..The first official N.C. State Powerlifting Championships were held in Henderson N.C. Ronny Barnes takes over Greensboro Health Club.
1972...At a state wide meet in Warrenton N.C., future Hall of Fame lifters Byron Swaim, Bob Strauss, Tommy Newnam, Bobby Pugh, R.L. Gurley, Don Long, Red Swaim , and Gene Neal all lift. Don Long squats 600 and bench presses 460 at 242 and Gene Neal attempts a 700 deadlift. This was the first of over 100 meets for Red Swaim.
Fall 1972 Gene Neal becomes first N.C. lifter to deadlift 700
Early to mid1970's Olympic lifting almost vanishes in N.C. while Powerlifting takes over. Most lifting is centered around the Henderson , Alamance, Aberdeen, and N.C. State Univ. Barbell clubs. Reguar power meets included the Central Prison meet in Raleigh and meets in High Point, Burlington, and Henderson. The All-South Meet in Durham brought lifters in from many southern states.
1974-1980 The Southern Open directed by Don Harris became the largest meet in N.C. and included many lifters from the east coast and West Virginia.
Mid 1970's The Winston Salem Open and a State Olympic Meet are only two Olympic meets left.
1975 North Carolina's first female 16 yr Sheila Hopkins lifts at several meets at 114 overpowering some male lifters
Mid 1970's Masters lifters Byron Swain, Red Swaim, R.L. Gurley and Chuck Braxton lift against much younger lifters and
set records.
1976 Ernest Morrison at 23 yr and 253 lbs becomes the first lifter in N.C. to bench press 500 lbs.
1977 First "supersuits and superwraps" appear starting assisted lifting. NCSU Barbell Club becomes the Carolina Ironmasters. First Powerlifting USA published.
1979 John Holladay becomes first N.C. lifter to Squat 700 with 749 at Senior Nationals Master lifter Chuck Braxton now top N.C. Superheavyweight.
1980 Powerlifting breaks away from the AAU , forming it's own organization the USPF.
Early 1980's Steroid usage peaks as many lifters are using them, some in large amounts as many N.C. lifts skyrocket.
Chuck Braxton has the highest lifts in N.C. with 755 squat 500 bench press and 755 deadlift. first 2000 total
1983 Steroids become illegal to use and possess.
Mid 1980's Terry Long from East Carolina lifts in his first and only Powerlifting meet squats 837 bench presses 501 and deadlifts 865 becomming the first N.C. lifter to squat 800, deadlift 800 and total 2200. He later plays pro football.
Mid 1980's Thanks to active meet promoters like John Howie, Tim King, Dean Best, and Charles Beane, there are many good meets in North Carolina.
1986 John Howie powerlifter, bodybuilder, and meet promoter involved in tragic accident becomes paralyzed.
Mid 1980's primitave bench press shirts appear able to boost one's bench by approx 20-30 lbs.
1986-1989 North Carolina has many good lifters on National scene like Harold "IronBear" Collins, Brian Smith, and O.D. Wilson Brian Smith first lifter to squat 900 in N.C. Jimmy Roberson is a top superheavyweight. 600 bench press done by several lifters. O.D. Wilson squats 1003 in National meet
ADFPA a drug free organization holds meets in N.C. Brian Smith becomes IPF World Champion.
1989 North Carolina Weightlifting Hall of Fame founded . Red Swaim and R.L. Gurley are first two Inductees.
Early to mid 1990's Powerlifting begins to fragment in N.C. with various organizations, holding meets. John Howie, although in wheelchair continues to hold meets in N.C.
Most meets by now have seperate divisions for teens, masters and women.
1995 The AAU regains Powerlifting and starts holding meets in N.C.
Late 1990's Michael Neal, son of Gene Neal becomes top superheavyweight in N.C. in drug tested meets.
1998 Bob Strauss becomes first N.C. lifter to compete as teen, open, and master during career.
May 1999 61 yr Red Swaim squats 550 benches 250 and deadlifts 600 at 198 !!!
Denim, canvas, and other stronger materials make their way into lifting gear as lifters and organizations find ways to add to the poundages by stronger equipment. There is also a raw movement in N.C. in which only a lifting belt is allowed.
The 100% Raw organization begins to hold meets in N.C. and there is a re-birth of raw lifting in the state.
The AAU gradually becomes the predominant organization again in N.C.
Jan 2002 64 Yr Red Swaim deadlifts 560 at Ironboy Push-Pull
Jan 2004 Red Swaim passes away at 66
Dec 2004 John Howie holds first annual Red Swaim Memorial meet.
2000-??? Renegade organizations hold non-tested meets in which extreme equipment and relaxed rules are used to produce inflated results. Many are bench meets.
2000-present Michael Neal son of Hall of Fame lifter Gene Neal is top superheavyweight.
Mar 2006 Ironboy Enterprises , a private organization hosts first full power meet. More well run meets held.
