DIFFERENT BUT SAME

Title from Karate Kid

Story from 2 previously
published works by Peter  Vuono from Powerlifting USA


   Back before the internet I had published about 70 articles on powerlifting and bodybuilding. Most of these magazines are long gone. I had a series in Powerlifting USA about Pioneers of Power. Of the champs that I wrote about who were still alive, three wrote to me to thank me. One even wrote from prison! I would never besmirch the others as they may have very well never have known but two of the three who did had amazing power of body AND heart that would make these two persons very much the same  when, if seen today, people would formulate an opinion that they should be adversaries.
   On 4/17/77, in Nashua, NH, Silver Star winner Joe Zarella promoted the 1st  national powerlifting meet for women only. Stephanie Moody, of Ohio, competed and came in 2nd as a middleweight. She would later be a national champ in both 1979 AND 1980. She would compete in the 1st women's world championships in Lowell and her 396 deadlift was 20 lbs. higher than strength legend Bev Francis.
    I wrote about her in 87 and in writing to me Stephanie told me that she didn't realize the amazing fact that I stated in her article. On that day in Nashua in 1977, she became the FIRST African American woman to compete in a WL meet of any kind. Stephanie told me in her letter that her dream of strength immortality was achieved in her being the FIRST, a record that cannot be broken.
   The 2nd  person who took the time to thank me was the immortal police officer from Huntington Beach, Pat Casey.  Pat, as everyone knows, became the 1st to bench press 600 with 617.25 in June of 67. He would go on to be the 1st man to squat 800 and total 2000 for 3 lifts. He too wrote and invited me to California. Unfortunately, I never made it. Pat succumbed to cancer in 2012. I communicated with his widow who told me that Pat NEVER took steroids and was a very spiritual man. Pat was so tough that he worked out 12 days before he died.
   Both were a kindred spirit in powerlifting and although some groups would see them on opposing sides of a conflict they were also kindred spirits of the heart in that they took the time to thank a total stranger for acknowledging their greatness.
   This author is sure that the reader has picked up on the premise that this author is trying to make. However it is hoped that when we see someone that others tell us we should be at odds with we should remember the prophetic  words of Mr. Miyagi; that a person can certainly be, "Different but Same".