James Talbot Williams (February 25, 1940 – January 23, 2007) was a record holder professional competitive powerlifter from the United States of America.
[3] Jim Williams was the first man to bench press 300 kg (661.41 bs) in competition[3] the international governing body for the sport of powerlifting.
[1] In his early life Big Jim Williams became involved in criminal activity and in 1961 was sentenced to ten years in prison for assault, battery and strong-arm robbery.
On November 9, 1972, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the second World Powerlifting Championships ever, Williams achieved second place again, this time behind fellow training partner John Kuc.
He also made his best official bench result with a 675 pounds press with only ace bandages of a specified length on his elbows, wearing a T-shirt and singlet.
In addition to that, it stood as the American record in the AAU and later in the USPF for over 20 years from November 9, 1972, until July 31, 1994, when Anthony Clark established a new mark at 683 pounds with the help of a bench shirt.
[12] Iron game historian Dr. Terry Todd, said Jim Williams was one of the strongest super heavyweight lifters he had ever seen: Joe Ladnier, multiple time World Champion: