How many years did you compete? 25+, still going

Between what year and what year did you compete? 2001 to present

What is the approximate total number of meets you competed in? 40

List your favorite meets you competed in.

WABDL Riverfest Meets, WABDL World Championships, Jon Grove’s APF Georgia Meets, Brent Tracey’s Cell Block Meets & Buddy McKee’s Alabama APF Meets, Ken Millrany’s WABDL Tennessee Meets
 

What's the highest classification you achieved? Elite

What's the highest score you achieved? 490.78 DOTS

What are some of your powerlifting accomplishments?

Deadlifted my first 505 in my first WABDL meet in January 2001 in Pensacola, FL

Benched my first 407.7 at 198 at the WABDL Nationals in Birmingham in 2001.

My first 501.5 at 198 at Ken Millrany’s WABDL Tennessee State meet.

Squatted my first 600+ at Jon Groves APF Georgia meet in 2003.

Deadlifted my first 600.7 at the WABDL Nationals in Birmingham, AL in 2012.

Benched my first 600.7 at the WABDL World’s in Las Vegas, NV in 2012.

Squatted my first 700+ at Brent Tracey’s SPF Cell Block meet in TN. In 2013

Benched my biggest number 606.2 at Ken Millrany’s WABDL World Cup in 2015.

Writing the rule book for the WABDL.

Proud to serve the Alabama Powerlifting Hall of Fame on the Board of Directors for the last 7 years and be voted the Vice Chairman of the Board in 2025.
 

Who are some of the most memorable lifters/people for you in your career?

As I mentioned earlier, the one who got me started in all this was Rick Hagedorn. He invited me into their powerlifting group at Gold’s Gym in Gadsden, AL The group welcomed me in. The group was Rick, Eddie McConnell, Bobby “House” Driskill, Derrick Thomas, Bubba McConnell & Steve Khader. They constantly pushed me, challenged me and encouraged me. Without these guys none of this would have ever happened. These guys mean the world to me and I can never thank them enough for letting me join them.

 

Rick was the guy that started me down this road. He was all the time teaching me about the sport and helping me understand the sport. He was the major influence on my powerlifting career and became a great friend. He helped me understand how to train for a competition. He encouraged me to compete on a regular basis. We would go compete together and help each other at meets along with the rest of the group. I owe him my Hall of Fame career. I wouldn’t be writing this for the Hall of Fame if it wasn’t for him.

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Gus Rethwisch has been a big influence on me and my powerlifting career. As stated earlier I met Gus at a meet in January 2001 Pensacola, FL. Later that year in July 2001 in Birmingham, AL at the WABDL Nationals I got to talk with him more. Over the next couple years with going to help or compete at WABDL meets in the southeast and the World’s. I started talking to Gus on a regular basis to tell him about the meets and how they went. Over years I’ve heard hundreds of stories and developed a unique friendship with him that continues today.

 

Eric Roberts was part of the group at Gold’s by at that time in his lifting career he was more in and out. However, he was a big influence on my squat and deadlift technique. As time passed he we developed a good friendship that continues to this day.

 

Tiny Meeker, who spent 2 hours with me on a Sunday afternoon at the WABDL World’s at the Peppermill Casino in Reno, NV in 2001, and changed my bench press set up and put me on the road to establishing my competition set up.

 

Ken Millrany, I met at one of WABDL Riverfest meets I helped Rick Hagedorn put on. Since then he has been a constant encourager and friend in life. I can always count on him to listen to me and give me great advice.

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Jon Grove, who I met in 2003 when I did his first APF Georgia State meet. He’s a constant source of training knowledge. He’s always been will to help me with my training. Two of Jon’s workouts are the direct reason I was able to squat over 700 and bench over 600. He’s always been a friend to listen to me and help me when he could.

 

WC Carter – I met Carter at Buddy McKee’s Alabama APF meet. I found out that he moved back to Huntsville and I was working in Huntsville, we were able to grow our friendship. Since 2005 he’s become one of my best friends, not just in iron but in life. We have helped each other thru a lot of life’s lessons and becoming brothers in iron is a great bonus.
 

With your name as part of the history of powerlifting in Alabama, what would you like to be most remembered for?

I would hope as an ambassador for the sport and someone who was willing help other lifters reach their goals.
 

What words of wisdom would you like to pass down to future powerlifters?

Find experienced lifters and ask them questions. Find a good group a lifters to train with. Support and help each other by being honest about your squat depth, pause on the bench and hitches or lock outs on the deadlift. You need training partners around you to push you and help you get stronger and help you fix your technique when its off. The more you help your training partners the more they will help you. You need friends in this sport. Set goals and compete regularly. Learn the history of the sport.

 

What are some of your contributions to the sport of powerlifting in Alabama? (please list all you want)

State Chair, Meet Director and pertinent meets, Judge & level & Feds, ways you contributed to other meets (announcer, score table, spot/loader, expediter)

 

I’ve been the Alabama Co-chairman or Chairman for the WABDL since 2004. I’m a WABDL World Judge, APF National Judge and have been a USPA National Judge. I’ve been a co-director or director of several meets for both the WABDL and APF. Have helped numerous lifters over the years in training and at meets try and reach their goals. Have performed all the duties of the score table, been an expediter for meets and have spot loaded. Performed all this at one time or another at local meets and up to World Championships. I’ve had a great powerlifting career and I'm still going.