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Recent Olympics Bring Recollection of Local Weightlifter, Paul Anderson

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Johnson City resident, Peggy Harvey Street, a member of the Harvey Family Singers, called the Press recently to remind readers that Paul Anderson, a former Elizabethton weightlifter, won a gold medal in the 1956 Olympic games held in Melbourne, Australia.

Paul was born on October 17, 1932 in Toccoa, Georgia. After winning a football scholarship to Furman University in 1950, he returned to his parents’ home in Elizabethton one year later with a strong desire to become a weightlifter.

Paul began developing innovative ways to lift weights and increase his strength. For example, he would squat all day every other day and on alternate days, work on the bench press. He placed objects in concrete to lift them and would sift through junkyards in search of heavy objects to use. 

In 1955, the muscleman broke two world records at the World Championships in Munich, Germany and became world champion in his weight class. Upon his return home, then vice-president, Richard Nixon, thanked him for being a goodwill ambassador for the United States.

In 1956, the 304-pound contender became an Olympic gold medal winner, beating Humberto Selvetti of Argentina. Although both men lifted the identical amount of weight, Paul won because he weighed less than his competitor. It was during this time that he turned professional.

Mrs. Street said her husband, the late A.J. Street, became acquainted with Anderson about 1954: “A.J. liked to skate a lot back then and spent a lot of time at the Recreation Building. I believe it was there where they first met.

“When my husband and I were dating, we often took in a movie at the Majestic or Sevier Theater. Frequently while attending the theatre, we would meet Paul and his date, a pretty petite blond lady. Back then, people dressed up when going on dates. I remember seeing Paul dressed in a beige suit and a shirt with a pointed collar. His neck was so big that he probably couldn’t get a tie around it so he just left his collar open.”

Peggy said that soon after Paul won the 1956 Olympics, she and A.J. saw him again at the Majestic Theatre, not in person, but on the big screen during a Movietone Newsreel. When news of Paul’s winning an Olympic gold metal was announced, the crowd whooped and hollered; this was their local hero from neighboring Elizabethton.

In one Newsreel scene, Paul is shown with his hands and feet bound so as to keep them from bursting under the tremendous amount of weight he was lifting. 

Paul was invited to appear on the hit quiz show “I’ve Got a Secret,” emceed by Garry Moore, He amazingly lifted the panel, consisting of Faye Emerson, Bill Cullen, Jayne Meadows and Henry Morgan. He also appeared on the popular Ed Sullivan Show. A Johnson City Press-Chronicle newspaper showed a picture of him lifting his wife into the air with one hand. In a movie clip, he was seen carrying a large cow around on his back. Paul was even able to lift the front end of an automobile. An impromptu visit to his garage in Elizabethton often found him doing squats with 800-900 pound motor blocks.

In 1961, Paul and Glenda, his wife became devout Christians and took the gospel message inside prison walls. Later, he founded the Paul Anderson Youth Home for troubled youngsters in Vidalia, Georgia. Over time, he received many letters from appreciative fans, including one in 1963 from J. Edgar Hoover.

The “World’s Strongest Man” died in 1994 at the age of 61, but not before leaving an impressive mark on the world of sports. Thank you, Mrs. Street for reminding us of him. 

  • Sports

Anderson "carrying" a cow

Tom Ryan (not verified) — Thu, 2012-02-16 22:57

The movie being alluded to is the 1958 movie "Once Upon a Horse", in which Anderson had a small part as a blacksmith. He didn't actually carry a cow, however. He did take a couple of steps with a steer but the steer had its two hind legs on the ground and its upper body was leaning on the back of Anderson's shoulders. This was a large steer and it would have been virtually impossible for Anderson or anyone else to literally carry it.

Tom Ryan

Paul Anderson

bobcox — Thu, 2012-02-16 23:05

Tom: Thank you for sharing this story about Paul Anderson. I saw Paul while I was in my early teens lifting weights for a service station promotion. It was located on W. Market Street diagonally across from the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company on the west end of Kiwanis Park. 

Paul Anderson

Tom Ryan (not verified) — Tue, 2012-02-28 02:37

Bob,

Thank you for your reply. I knew Paul Anderson casually, as I corresponded with him some in the early 1970s, met him and chatted with him briefly when he gave an exhibition at a shopping center in 1972, and again corresponded with him in the late 1980s. Some readers may be interested in my profile article of Anderson at the Georgia Info website: .

Incidentally, I assume that Anderson lifted the I've Got a Secret panel in a back lift. That would have been very easy for him, as well as for many other trained weightlifters, including me. I have folders of material on Anderson but the photo of him lifting his wife that you mentioned doesn't ring a bell. Since it was presumably published over 50 years ago, I assume that it is no longer available on the Internet or elsewhere.

Regards,

Tom

Bob Cox's Yesteryear

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