• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

George Frenn

George Frenn, born in San Fernando, California, 1941, took up the hammer throw toward the end of high school in 1959 and continued through 1978. In the 242-lb powerlifting division, he squatted 855 and had a 540 bench and 815 deadlift. An elite thrower of the 35-lb weight, an Olympic hammer thrower, and holder of a world record in the 56-lb, George went on to become a high school science teacher for 32 years. He died in Sacramento, California, June 26, 2006.

The obituary is in the Sacramento Bee; there's a guest book if you care to add a note.

Frenn was featured as Powerlifter of the Month in Muscular Development, Jan 1968, and was profiled in Strength and Health, April 1972.

In Dick Tyler's book, West Coast Bodybuilding Scene, we find two choice excerpts featuring big, bold George.

More on George Frenn from American Powerlifting Evolution here, and here, and with Bill "Peanuts" West, here.

George Frenn and Pat Casey at the 1st Annual California Powerlifting Hall of Fame in Los Alamitos, CA - March 27, 2004

You're sure to enjoy this George Frenn discussion in the forum.

From Westside we read: Louis Simmons, the owner of thecurrent Westside Barbell Club, chose the name in honor of the original Westside Barbell Club located in Culver City, California. This club was known for great athletes who include Bill "Peanuts" West, George Frenn, Pat Casey, and superstar Billy Graham. In Louie's opinion, this club was 30 years ahead of its time. This group of lifters was performing the box squat and bench squats long before Louie had ever considered the idea. It was from an article authored by Bill West and George Frenn that first introduced Louie to the idea. They would use the bench squat for what we refer to at Westside Barbell Club as a high box squat. The height of this bench was approximately 17 inches. They would also squat down to a 10 inch milk crate and this was called the low box squat. Louie has modified these two ideas and has come up with the parallel box squat, which has become a staple exercise at Westside Barbell.

Arley Vest has fond memories of George from the old Dungeon gym:

''I never got to know George Frenn on a personal level, but I'll always remember the first time I met him. The scene was the squat rack at the Dungeon in Santa Monica. I had just finished a warmup set with 135 when a stocky young man in a grey sweatsuit politely asked if he could work in. He took the 135 for a warmup, then we did 225 for a second set, his going way easy, smooth up and down like the bar was empty. My temporary workout partner then asked when I'd like for the next set and, with all the over-confidence of youth, I told him whatever he'd like. What he liked was 2 more plates on each side - 405 for another warmup!

It was then, almost as an afterthought, that he held out his hand. "I'm George Frenn," he said, still very quiet and polite, with no hint of expectation that I'd even remotely recognize the name. I later told some friends that I had done a squat workout with George Frenn, but I neglected to mention that I took 3 plates a side and then bowed out.''

Visit Joe Roark's IronHistory for a full listing of Frenn's magazine coverage and contributions.

And now, enjoy a couple of tales of George, excerpts from West Coast Bodybuilding Scene, including an example of his heroic side.