Doug hepburn

[Roark]

On Nov 22, 2000, Doug Hepburn, one of the strongest

men the world has seen, particularly when time adjust-

ment is allowed, died at age 74.

On his website before he passed, Doug indicated that he

considered himself on par with Paul anderson, and indeed

MUCH stronger than Paul in certain movements, though

his website does contain some errors (such as saying

that Paul was in the movie Blazing Saddles, when he

meant to say Once Upon A Horse, no doubt) there is

some solid information in the site as well, though one

wonders about some of the claims at squatting ability.

Anyway, in my files there are several noteworthy grip

feats that Doug accomplished, which are outstanding

even today, and on the first anniversary of his death,

as a way of refreshing our memory as to how phenom-

enal he was, here are some of his feats pulled at ran-

dom from my files, and not meant to be his greatest:

Doug told me that at Paul's manager's house in Los

Angeles, Doug and Paul had a bench press contest,

with Paul weighing 32 lbs more than Doug. Both benched

500 with a dead stop at the chest, but Doug felt his

own went up 'easier' than Paul's, and that he won on

bodyweight.

Then they took a crude 'thick-handled' barbell of 160 lbs

which Doug curled strictly, and then Paul "...stepped in

and picked up the bar to curl it as I did. I couldn't be-

lieve it! He tried with everything he had, the bar didn't

move."

On another occasion Doug curled 145 lbs for ten reps!

Could also do ten reps each arm with 75 lb dumbells.

While seated could crucifix a pair of 85s and hold for

3 seconds. Could reverse curl 145.

In York in 1951 he cleaned and pressed a 90 lb dumbell

USING ONLY THE INDEX FINGER OF HIS RIGHT HAND!

Also did a one finger holdout of 50 lbs (45 + 5 on a

wide rimmed plate; later did 61 lbs.

On another occasion lifted 100 lb dumbell overhead

using just his middle finger.

In a 1954 interview Doug told an interviewer that no

matter how strong you became, the audience wanted

to see you lift more: "Do 400 and they want 430. And

what do you get for it? Pats on the back...and all the

pats on the back in the world won't buy you a meal

when you're fifty and forgotten."

Some of us have not forgotten you, sir.

[Guest 86-1005097353]

I lived in Vancouver during and after my university years at UBC in the 1960's. While at Uni I was on the Weightlifting team. During one contest I saw Doug Hepburn for the first time. He was wearing a dark suit and I have never seen anyone that wide! He was known for doing strength exhibitions but I never did witness any, except on one occasion where he easily pressed 450 pounds from a rack. He was exceptionally strong in the standing press but was very upset when the Russians and others surpassed his efforts  using a bending style instead of his more erect military style.

Doug was also an inventor. He developed a home gym apparatus that had a chromed bar rubbing against oiled leather. It worked fine but I doubt if he got rich with it. He was always the battler. Because I was involved promoting his machine I got to meet him. I recall his giving me many issues of Ironman magazine. I asked Doug to help me train my arms as they didn't want to grow. Well, he asked me to come over twice a week and boy did he had a tough workout for me. Using a bigger version of his concentric only machine I did 20 sets of 5 reps with as much force as I could manage in biceps curls then standing triceps extensions. After, two weeks of this regimen I added about 1/2 inch to my upper arms. Then he announced he was lending that machine for some promotion and that ended my training under his guidance.

I never embraced what he had me do. I always believed that John Grimek was right in that doing the minimum to get a maximum pump was the go. Thus, I did about 7 sets per bodypart afterwards. I think Doug's method is probably closer to the truth. Large muscles are needed to lift big weights over and over again. That is the key. After 42 years in the Iron game I can reflect back and see the errors of my ways!

Doug was a highly intelligent man. I have a masters degree in philosophy and he wrote stuff I couldn't comprehend. He wasn't formally educated at university but he was well read and a deep thinker. The man had a passion for integrity.

For a few years Doug earned money singing in a Jazz band. He lamented that the world has plenty of singers that did his style and he didn't make it big. I heard him sing and he did it like a professional.

The last time I saw Doug was in 1987. I recall mentioning that dogs are more intelligent than cats. He had a pet cat. Well, he said, "I don't know about that. Cats are pretty smart. They hang around and watch what you are doing and know what is going on." Ever since I have had more respect for cats!

We had many chats about the old times in the Iron game and since he is Canada's only Olympic weightlifting champion he is well respect in my former country. Doug was amazing because he had a club foot. Despite that "handicap" he built a superstrong body and performed gymnastics feats that are difficult to perform. I think he tried professional wrestling but the guys would try to work on that club foot and he gave it away.

I respect Doug as a fine human being. A philosopher, inventor, businessman, singer, weightlifter, strongman, showman and champion.

[Roark]

Vince,

Thanks for the first person memories!

Doug began to be involved in wrestling

in late 1954, and his manager was

'Whipper' Billy Watson in 1955.

Both Hepburn and Schemansky suffered

in publicity by Paul Anderson hitting the

scene when they did. Rader said 'Just as Hepburn

is the top example of overhead pushing power

so Paul Anderson might be classified as the

leading example of lower body pushing power." [1954]

Schemansky, when I was in communication with

him a few years ago, told me (paraphrasing) :

'Anderson outweighed me by 100 pounds and outlifted

me by 10 pounds. Big deal.'

Indeed totals for 1954 were:

Schemansky   1084

Hepburn         1040

Bradford         1034

Anderson        1030

For grip strength, Doug probably led the pack.

Years ago when visiting Charles A. Smith (Weider

mag editor 1950-1957) he showed me an honorary

'cup/vase' that Hepburn had gifted to him for his help

in training. Later, Doug would try to distance himself

from Charles' input. After Charles died, this vase and

his collection of beer steins with scenes of lifters (one

a gift from Sig Klein) seemed to have disappeared

Anybody on the board tried to put a 100 pound

dumbell overhead with the middle finger only? I

found it very difficult- oh wait, this is Thanksgiving,

not April Fools Day... I'll be lucky not to lose my grip

on the carving knife... Happy Holidays!

[Sybersnott]

While surfing the net a little over a year ago, I stumbled onto Doug's website.  I couldn't believe it!  I immediately wrote him a long letter telling him I was one of his biggest fans, and I ordered a t-shirt (which he was selling).  This was late Sept. 2000.  

In late October, no t-shirt or anything arrived.  Just about that time, a letter from Doug came to me explaining the situation - he had run out of shirts, but when the new batch came in, he told me he would personally autograph it for me.  Man, was I thrilled!    

Well, I got that shirt two weeks after that.  Shortly thereafter, he passed.  I still have the letter he wrote me and the t-shirt (which I'll always treasure).  Doug was definitely one of the greatest, and to this day I'm lucky that I contacted him when I did.  I was so shocked when I heard of his passing.  I can't believe it's already been a year - how times flies.

Doug..... I miss you.  We all miss you.

[Guest tomykelly]

In case you haven't seen this .

http://www.doughepburn.com/ANSWERS.HTM

[Roark]

Tomkelly,

A few years ago while speaking with Anderson's

#1 worldwide fan, who, I suspect would believe

someone if told that Paul had side pressed Brazil

into the ocean, I 'learned' that Paul had taken a

heavy weight in the power rack at chest level,

and had push pressed it overhead twice and perhaps

a third rep. The amount of weight? 712 lbs, yes,

712 lbs. No one else seems to have heard of this,

including Paul, who never made such a claim, and

who, in the year in question had failed to get 3 reps

with nearly 300 pounds LESS!

But we certainly don't want facts to fog fallacy.

As your link shows, Paul was not as strong as some

would think.

If you read the magazines of his period, an amazing

thing becomes apparent. Even when Paul FAILED with

a lift he was described as probably able to do more,

even when he had just failed with the amount under

discussion. Phenomenon. I have never encountered this

in regard to any other lifter, and I have read a few

magazines in my time.

This illustrates the absolute danger of being so

desperate to believe that no feat is out of one's favorite

lifter's reach. Hepburn was not afforded the same

description of being credited with probably able to

lift more than he had just failed with.

Personally I have failed with the #3 but am almost

certain I could shut the #4...

[RiotGrip]

Doug Hepburn was definitely one of the all time greats, especially considering his drug free lifestyle and near vegeterian diet.  But my question to Roark is in John McCallum's book "Keys to Progress"  he mentions something along the lines of Doug Hepburn could bend and break a spike that most men couldn't even lift.  This is obviously somewhat of an exageration, but I was wondering if you had any insight into Hepburn's bending feats.  If so, Myself and other members on the Gripboard would be very appreciative.  Thanks!

[Roark]

RiotGrip,

That quote appeared originally in McCallum's

piece for Strength & Health Nov 1966 p 14,

then Strossen compiled McCallum's "'Keys to

Progress" articles from S&H and published his

book.

McCallum used hyperole very effectively, and remains

one of our sport's best wordsmiths. But when he wrote:

'Doug Hepburn is another man with a quality grip.

He can bend and then straighten out a steel spike

that some men would have trouble lifting.'- he was

employing his hyperbole- just as when he once commented

that Reg Park had half the weight in the gym draped

across his back.

Anyway, I am ignorant of any steel bending Hepburn

tried- he may well have, I have not made a notation

in my files, though. Sorry.

[Roark]

RiotGrip,

That quote appeared originally in McCallum's

piece for Strength & Health Nov 1966 p 14,

then Strossen compiled McCallum's "'Keys to

Progress" articles from S&H and published his

book.

McCallum used hyperole very effectively, and remains

one of our sport's best wordsmiths. But when he wrote:

'Doug Hepburn is another man with a quality grip.

He can bend and then straighten out a steel spike

that some men would have trouble lifting.'- he was

employing his hyperbole- just as when he once commented

that Reg Park had half the weight in the gym draped

across his back.

Anyway, I am ignorant of any steel bending Hepburn

tried- he may well have, I have not made a notation

in my files, though. Sorry.

[The Mac]

Joe,

I'm interested in your story about Hepburn and Anderson lifting at Paul's Manager's house. Any other witnesses/stories to this? It must have been something to see.....

[Roark]

The Mac,

So far as I know, most of the details seem to be in

Hepburn's version on his website (still available).

Stories about Anderson/Hepburn become clouded by their

opposite tales such as when Paul was squatting the

Silver Dollar apparatus in Reno. Hepburn claims that he

was invited to try the squat, and thus gain the $15,000

the two cubes contained, but was re-called two hours

later and told not to come to Reno for a try. The

Anderson camp seems to have a different version. So

who is right? I don't have an answer, but I have a

suspicion.

An interesting, basically unknown fact, about

Anderson's Silver Dollar squat: Before an audience member

was allowed to try the squat, he had to put a 300 lb

barbell overhead. This was a very effective filter, although

a seemingly irrelevant one, in view of the fact that a

heavy squatter may have chosen to do little overhead

lifting. The reported weight of the Silver Dollar apparatus

varied by hundreds of pounds, and the owner of the Mapes

Hotel in Reno (where this took place) told me that the

two safes actually required more than $15,000 to make

them appear fuller.

I apologize to the moderators for straying from grip.