He began lifting weights at age 15 where he only weighed 110 pounds standing at 5 foot 6 inches tall.

His early start to lifting weights paid off, leading him to win his high school wrestling championship and finishing the 100-yard dash in 10.2 seconds.

He later won the silver medal in Munich, Germany and was invited to be a part of the American team on its goodwill tour of the Far East.

In 1959, however, he competed in the Pan American Games in Chicago where he took home a gold medal.

During his career, he won four Senior National titles as well as several state and regional championships.