NOTE: Richard Sanders in San Antonio sent us this letter after reading reporter Jeff Frantz’s 2006 article, “Pecs, pink pills and powers: How York played a role in the steroid controversy,” recently on our Web site (www.inyork.com/ydr). Louis Riecke was a New Orleans native who, at age 35, developed into a champion lifter after Dr. John Ziegler convinced him to take Dianabol. Riecke served as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ strength coach from 1970-1980.)
I traveled down from New York City in 1958 with Larry Mintz, Morris Weisbrott and a couple of other Elechester lifters to the Teenage Nationals. I placed in the Junior and Senior Southern AAU contests in 1961 and met Louis Riecke. He was impressive and soft-spoken with a personable humility.
I knew he used isometrics, so in 1963 while at Selfridge AFB in Michigan, I made a two-pipe-and-chain gadget and did early morning squat, pull and press isometrics to enhance my afternoon training.
My overhead press went from 220 to 265 in about three months. My body weight went from about 164 to 178. Also I was able to really increase my high-rep squat with 350 from 20 reps up to 50 reps.
We didn’t have Olympic weights in the gym then and I never had a proper coach. Most memorable for me was when I came in second to Joe Puleo at the Michigan Class A championships in 1963. But that preceded my “Great Isometric Experiment.” Also, I did squat clean 350 in the gym but wrenched my wrists: that was the end to my isometric adventure.
Then came a wife, kids and the Lord has blessed me because I’m still breathing and we have grandkids.
But in all sincerity I have to say that Bob Hoffman provided me with a spark in life that kept me from a worse road not traveled. Along the way I got John Grimek’s autograph, met Louis Riecke, Joe Puleo, Bill Starr, Johnny Terpak and chatted for about 15 minutes with Norbert Schemansky when I went to view a Michigan contest in the 1970s. I treasure all those semi-supernatural moments and am glad I never tried “the juice.”
Oh, I bought two pipes and a chain about four months back and have 400-plus rusty pounds out back. I have a scheme to add it to my regular kettlebell and flexibility workouts along with some squats again. At close to 66 it seems that I am a bit slower at implementing my plans.
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