Background:

Sam was born in San Diego CA in 1954. He joined Boy’s Club at the age of 8. It was there that he learned mini basketball, flag football and track and field. He participated in Little League, Pony League and flag football in junior high. In high school Sam concentrated on basketball, and it became his focus for those years. In his senior year at Castle Park High School, he was All-Metro League 1^st team MVP in basketball. His parents retired to Medford in 1978, and Sam followed them to Oregon. He joined the YMCA, and it was there that he developed his passion for weightlifting. He taught an all-women’s weight lighting class. In 1981 he decided to enter the class in a bench press contest in Grants Pass. Even though he was the only one at the time not to place or get a trophy, he was hooked on the sport for life. 37 years, 5 operations and 18 World Championships later, Sam still competes and continues to set and break records.

Sam is the Oregon State Chairman for the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) and is a national judge.  He is on his way to becoming a World international judge.  Sam continues to coach anyone who wants to learn powerlifting.

Accomplishments:

• Inducted into the WABDL Hall of Fame in 2015
• Won 13 WABDL World Championships
• Won 8 ADFPA National Championships
• Wan 2 WDFPF World Championships
• Won 1 AAU World Championship
• Set 9 world records in WABDL, AAU, and WDFPF
• Received the Bill Pearl Community award for working with kids in Southern Oregon
• Coached his team to 1^st place at the 200 WABDL Worlds
• Coached daughter, Alex, to 6 world titles, 9 world records; coached Eric Thomas to 4 world titles, 5 world record; coached Nick Hepner to 6 world titles, 7 world records
• Oregon State chairman for US Power Light Association, 2016-17
• Certified International; judge for world competitions.
• SOU’s softball strength coach, 2006
• In October 2017 Sam will be attempting to break 2 more American records in the bench press and dead lift