GEORGE FRENN- TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

By Peter Vuono

     In 1975 I trained at the bob Backus Olympic Health Club in Pembroke Ma. This studio, which was one of the first of it's kind was the invention of Bob Backus who was an Olympian in 1952, a Pan Am champ in 1955 and a track and field hall of famer in 1965. Bob was kind and gregarious. This, coupled with his extraordinary resume drew strong men and super athletes from all over the country. Ken Patera trained there for the world's strongest man contest with club member Steve Sanderson, who in the 80's did an official 920 high bar squat!
    The immortal Dave Draper visited and brought with him a magnificent bench made of driftwood that Dave constructed himself. This bench adorned the lobby and was admired by all. Gold medal winner Harold Connolly visited frequently as did Olympian Al Hall. Last but not least was the Californian superman whom Bob mentored in the hammer throw, George Frenn.
    When it comes to strength, George was synonymous with legend. In 1967 he won the senior national powerlifting championships in York  with Bob Backus and Bill West of the original Westside Barbell Club at his side. At this meet Frenn won his class, became the first heavyweight to squat 700lbs. and broke 9 American and National records in one meet, a feat which I do not believe was ever duplicated by any other man.
   In July of 1970, his picture appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated and again in 1972 on the front cover of Strength and Health. George competed in the Pomona Police Officer's Power Meet in Pomona Ca. in 1971 at Garey High School. As a heavyweight(242) George bench pressed 520, squatted 853 and deadlifted 740 to become the first man to total 2100. Although only a heavyweight, George's record surpassed Jon Cole's superheavyweight record by 40 lbs.
   Frenn went on to compete in the 72 Olympics in Munich in the hammer throw and competed in one of the early World's Strongest Man competitions. Perhaps one of George's most valiant milestones was that he was one of the first Olympians to compete in the very first Gay Olympics in 1982. Shortly thereafter, George retired from the school dept. after teaching Science for 32 years. He later received another well deserved accolade by being inducted into the California powerlifting hall of fame along side of the immortal Pat Casey.
   I remember training with George in 1975 at the Backus Gym. I'll never forget the thrill of meeting an idol who would become one of history's greatest athletes. On June 26th, 2006, George Frenn's life abruptly, unexpectedly and sadly came to an end. There was much conjecture in the strength world as to how and why this occurred. I would rather dwell on the thought that George Frenn was an inspiration and a valiant warrior who insisted on being himself in a world that too often demands that we all become something else

"No one day will erase you from the memory of time"-Virgil