George Frenn Really Gets it On! - Don Scott (1972)

 Man, it's almost more work finding articles Dale hasn't got on the site than it is to type them up.

Strength & Health April 1972

The athletic career of George Michael Frenn began at North Hollywood High School, in the San Fernando Valley, in February, 1957. He started out in track and field as a runner just to be with his then close friend Brad Bechtol. Brad’s father, Beck, was a crack 440 yard dash man of the early 1920’s at Sain John’s University. Beck had encouraged his son to go out for track with the idea of trying to match Beck’s early high school and college performances. This Brad did, going on to receive a college scholarship for his running ability. In the meantime, athletics was just the thing that George needed to start out his life because he had lost his own father when he was 4 years old and being the youngest boy of seven with one older sister and one younger sister, he did not get the attention and guidance in the developmental years of high school. So, in a sense, athletics gave him a direction and a set of goals worth shooting for.

The now strong man spent his 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9^th years at Sain John’s Military Academy in Los Angeles where he learned a disciplined life of regimentation. While at that institution, he tried out for every team sport and could only make 2^nd and 3^rd string at the standard sports that young boys play. So George gave up all hope of playing athletically until he discovered track and field in high school. He really dug the sport because the athlete could progress at his own rate and there was never a team cut because you could only be given a competition suit when you were good enough to perform with the other athletes on the field. So the harder he trained the better he got and finally in his senior year, Johnny Sanders, now the director of player personnel for the Los Angeles Rams, who was track and field coach, gave George a suit for the one and only track meet that he took part in high school. George did very poorly in the 220 yard dash and the 880 yard run but he still loved the competition and he still wanted to participate. So, at the end of the year he asked his coach about the possibility of getting a scholarship to Abilene Christian College because that’s where Bobby Morrow went to school and he was George’s idol. Coach Sanders told him to forget about getting a scholarship to A.C.C. but he suggested that he enroll at a local junior college and start his college career there. It should be noted that George tried out for the high school football team but again failed to make the team for several reasons. He was in good shape for that period of his life, but the 1959 team at North Hollywood High School had one All-America and 2 All-American honorable mentions plus 5 All-L.A. City linemen. In short, the competition was very tough and he had to settle for 2^nd string junior varsity. Also, weight training had just been introduced to the high school program and no one knew very much about this method of training other than to say “don’t life too much because it will make you muscle bound.”

After graduation in June, 1959, George was at a major crossroad of his life; should he go to college or join the army. Truthfully, his high school counselor told him that he could never do college work and consequently had always put him in a shop program for the duration of his high school days.

It proved to be an easy decision to make in that George continued to run during the summer of 1959. In July of that year, he went to an all-comers track and field meet to run the 100 and 220 yard dashes. He came in last in both races. After the competitions, Gary Comer, a star 440 yard dash runner made a wise crack to the developing Frenn. He said, “Why don’t you get into the field events where you belong and stop running?” George was insulted and got up and walked down the field. It should be pointed out here that George was no lightweight by sprinter standards. He was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds and truly not very strong. But he had one thing going for him that few ever really achieve: that is the genuine desire to take part – to participate for the sheer pleasure of doing something really well. A few moments after drying his eyes from the Comer insult, it was announced that 2 Olympic champions would compete that evening. They were Harold Connolly, his now close partner in international hammer throwing and the incomparable Parry O’Brien, the shot-put and discus king.

Well, the evening was just right; warm, balmy, and quiet. Harold stepped into the throwing ring and let loose with a great effort. The silver ball whizzed through the air and George immediately tripped out to the event. He went around asking who that man was an what is it that he was doing. He was told that was the hammer throw and that there were very few throwers in the United States. Well, George went home and he began to think about what he saw. In October of that year, he finally got up enough courage to call Harold and introduce himself and ask for some information about the hammer throw. Harold gave him a book which he had written about the hammer and George began to study the event. George made his first hammer at Cannon Engineering Company out of a block of steel and Ted Cannon made the handle for him and attached it to the block by means of a cable. After 2 months of training with this contraption, he finally bought himself an official hammer for $26.00 from a sporting goods store. George entered his first meet with the hammer and got second with a throw of 90 feet 1 inch. Not bad, except that there were only two people in the contest. The winner, Tom Pagani, threw 180 feet and after the competition gave George his first real lesson in hammer throwing. Well, in the meantime George knew that strength was important because all the throwers were very large and seemed quite strong. So again George asked Harold for help and again Harold responded positively. He took George down to the old alley gym at Muscle Beach where all of the West Coast strong men trained and he took George through a complete workout once. He instructed George in all of the proper exercises for throwing the hammer and then he said, “George, you are on your own. Train hard and you might make it.” This was about the only encouragement that George got except from the Bechtols. George continued to train at the alley gym and then at the old Vic Tanny gym at 4^th and Broadway in Santa Monica until he met his coach and close friend, Bill West. This chance meeting of George and Bill proved to be the greatest thing that ever happened to George because Bill was able to get the very best out of his young pupil. George had a strong frame and excellent constitution and he could take the work that Bill dished out. This meeting took place in February, 1965. Bill and George started training together on March 6, 1965 at the now famous Westside Barbell Club. While all of this weight training and running was going on, George finished a semester at Pierce Junior College, a semester at Abilene Christian College where he just could not hack the strict religion that was placed on the students, and 6 semester at Valley Junior College. While at Valley, he earned his college letter in track and field as a discus thrower under the coaching of George Ker. Coach Ker also gave George  his first lesson in throwing the 35 pound weight. This event is similar to the hammer throw but the implement is shorter and it is heavier. After receiving the Associate in Arts degree from that institution  our man about town was supposed to enroll at the University of Southern California but that scholarship was cancelled because of a dispute with the narrow minded athletic director, who just could not see giving a scholarship to a hammer thrower. At this point, we are up to February, 1964. Athletically, George had placed second in the National A.A.U.  Track and Field Championships in the hammer throw – yes – believe it or not. In just three years of throwing, young Frenn, at 21 years of age was the second best thrower in the country and qualified to make a tour to the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, Harold bumped George off of the team and he did not get to throw against the Russians, but he did stay on tour and threw in Poland, England, Romania, Germany and since that year of 1964, he has competed in just about every major country on the face of the earth. He has made three trips to the U.S.S.R. with the U.S.A. National Track and Field Team and 2 trips to the Pan-American Games: Winnipeg, Canada and Cali, Columbia placing third and second, respectively.

Within the 10 years of Frenn’s athletic career, he has suffered three major physical injuries. The first took place in high school while practicing hurdling. Many coaches have their men run the hurdles with a removable crossbar. This is done in the event the athlete kicks the bar with his training leg, he won’t kick over the entire hurdle, only the cross bar. In this particular instance, the bar that George used was too long, so that it happened that he did knock it off with his trail leg. As he landed back on the ground from jumping the hurdle the crossbar propped itself up, one end on the ground, the other pierced George’s lower abdomen and came out his stomach. This freak accident required 50 stitches to close and he lost one month of training time.

The second serious injury was a back injury. While squatting in the old Vic Tanny Gym in Santa Monica, George was trying heavy poundages two days in a row. Apparently, he was more fatigued than he realized as his back went out and he lost muscular control of his right leg instantly. This back injury plagued him all through the track season and this was the probably reason that he did not make the 1964 Olympic Team. The injury eventually healed after a great deal of stretching and deadlifting. Doctors wanted to operate and remove a disc but he would not let them do it. This injury took place in April, 1964.

The third major injury George went through was the weirdest of them all (not sure how it could be weirder than being impaled on a hurdle crossbar.) It happened in February, 1966 just 3 days prior to the indoor nationals in track and field. George was throwing the 35 pound weight at Cal-State Long Beach and listening to his favorite music at the same time – that of the great jazz pianist, Erroll Garner. This music psyches him up because of the great rhythm that Garner creates. Incidentally, George plays the piano for his own enjoyment and if he really gets bugged he might pick it up and throw it. This particular throwing session was the final workout before going to New Mexico to do battle with Harold and Ed Burke for the national title. George had been over the then world record in that session on at least 8 throws. In fact, a small crowd had gathered and they were awed by this terrific display of throwing power. George looked at Gary Ordway the discus thrower and said, “this will be my last throw.” Well, the weight was picked up and spun and he was about to release it when it got caught on his glove. The force whipped George around and his right leg got caught against his left leg an instantly he suffered a spiral fracture of the right fibula. Talk about depression, well after the cast was applied, George went right over to Bill West’s house and told him. They then both agreed that George could bench press for the next 13 weeks and this he did. While in that cast, George did some other remarkable things also. For instance, he began to do quarter squts after a 4 week period of recovery while still in the cast. You may remember the great contest that was held in San Diego between Pat Casey and Terry Todd. Well, George was in that one also. Only he lifted in a cast.

He bench pressed 420 pounds and just missed 440 pounds. He then squatted 600 pounds believe it or not, he has the pictures to prove it, and then he deadlifted 585 pounds while in the cast. One week later, he entered the Coliseum Relays and took the cast off and threw the hammer 191 feet for third place. He also has thrown the hammer with the cast on 151 feet 7 inches.

In 1964 George enrolled at California State College Long Beach and earned his letter as a hammer thrower and discus thrower as he did at Abilene Christian College thus becoming a three year letter man at three different institutions. While at Cal State, George took a bachelors degree in Physical Education and one in Psychology. He also earned a Masters Degree in Physical Education and three California State Teaching Credentials.

During the time of this education, George worked hard with Bill west and together they won every major contest on the West Coast in powerlifting and George even won the California State Heavyweight Olympic lifting title in 1967. In 1971, he was second in this competition. The true story of Frenn on Olympic lifting is the fact that it is not applicable to hammer throwing and so he has never put any real time into these lifts, but he has spent most of his time powerlifting because it applies to hammer throwing and because Bill West is his close friend and Bill does not Olympic lift.

To list the athletic accomplishments of George Frenn would take too much space so here are the major awards he has won. He was selected for the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine July 6, 1970. In 1970 he won the U.S.A. championships for throwing the 16 pound hammer, the 35 pound weight indoors, and the 56 pound weight outdoors. He repeated this same trio in 1971 and he is the only man in U.S.A. track and field history to ever do this. In track and field he holds the following records: American  and World Records for the 35 pound weight indoors, 74 feet 3 ½ inches; 35 pound weight outdoors 68 feet 7 ½ inches; 56 pound weight for height, 17 feet 2 ½ inches (George was the first man to go over seventeen feet) and he has officially thrown the hammer 232 feet 7 inches. In powerlifting, he was the fist man to get through the 800 pound squat barrier and the first man ever to total 2100 pounds. He holds the following records: American 242 ½ pound class full squat at 853 pounds. He has held the 242 total record at 2100 pounds and the superheavyweight squat record at 815 pounds and the deadlift record at 812 ½ pounds. His best official bench press is 520 pounds. Again, here is an exercise that he can not practice very much because it hinders his hammer throwing but most people don’t realize this.

There is an interesting story about George and the 56 pound weight. Andy Magna, a New York stock broker sent a 56 pound weight out to George as a gag. The freight alone was $14.00. The strong man decided to try to throw it in a competition. He did – and broke the existing World Record by 3 ½ inches. However, when the weight was weighted, it was found to be 5 grams too light and George did not even get credit for the record. But he was given another opportunity to throw it at the Rose Bowl and this he did, setting a new World Record of 48 feet ¾ inch. Immediately after that throw, Harold Connolly came running up and gave him a great hug and said, “George, you have just immortalized yourself. No one will ever break that record.” Bob Backus had held the previous record at 45 feet 7 inches and this record has stood for 14 years. In 1969 George upped the record again to 49 feet 7 ½ inches and again in 1971 to 49 feet 8 ½ inches. He has a standing offer of $100.00 to anyone who can break the 56 pound weight throw record if he fails to set a new record in a follow up competition. Any takers?

The Frito Bandito, as he is sometimes called, has won 10 National Championships: 1 in powerlifting, 2 in hammer throwing, 2 for the 35 pound weight throw, and 5 for the 56 pound weight throw. After all has been said and done it is of interest that Bob Backus, the former great track and field man is probably Goerge’s greatest idol along with Harold and Parry. Bob took notice of the developing youngster and always provided encouragement and coaching for George whenever he visited Bakus’ Boston Gym. Bob has even paid expenses for the champion weight thrower to the National Championships just so he could see George throw.

Probably George’s best and closest friend is Curt Stevens, a psychological social worker. They met for the first time in May of 1960. Frenn was having trouble staying in the circle and he would foul out in almost every competition. He was under a great mental strain so he decided to get some help through the school counseling service at Valley College. They have been working together ever since in in-depth psyco-therapy. “This was the smartest thing that I have ever done. Everyone needs someone that he can discuss anything with and I have been able to discuss my athletic hang-ups with Curt and he has helped me straighten them out. This has helped my track and field and powerlifting competitions greatly” says George. George feels that between Curt Stevens, Bill West, Harold Connolly, and Bob Backus he received the guidance and encouragement that got him to where he is today.

What lies ahead for the 30 year old National Champion? Well, in track and field he wants to make the 1972 Olympic Team and throw the hammer over 240 feet this year. In powerlifting, he wants to squat 900 pounds possibly in 1972. Now, the question comes up, “How about a contest between Jon Cole and George Frenn?” Well, you probably will never see such a contest until after the 1972 Olympic Games because George cannot practice the bench press. However, if the bench press were eliminated for a contest and the squat and deadlift were just used, well, that’s another question. Frenn has never been beaten in the full squat by anyone. And few have ever beaten him in the deadlift and now that he has learned the secret of the heavy deadlift it is doubtful that he would lose such a contest to any one. “I know I’m not the world’s strongest man but I know that Jon Cole is not either.”

Frenn feels that this is an impossible concept to achieve because nobody is up everyday. You get suck, lose weight and the like. The world’s strongest man should be strong every day. Suppose you have a bad day like Cole had at the 1971 Powerlifting Nationals? Are you still the world’s strongest man even if you set records in competition after the Nationals? Frenn says no. The champion or the world’s strongest man should always win and always be up. Since this is impossible to attain, the phoney title should be dropped. He would be in favor of a title like world’s best Olympic lifter or world’s best powerlifter but that would be it. Anyone foolish enough to think that he is the strongest man in the world is on an ego trip. Even Paul Anderson, who has moved the greatest amount of weight in one lift refuses to call himself the world’s strongest man. “Believe me,” says Frenn, “the world’s strongest man has not ever been found. There is always someone to take his place or he simply has not been found yet.”

George likes to keep himself in shape all year round and seldom lets his squat go below 700 pounds. He has squatted 700 pounds twice a week for the last 3 years.

George has taught school for three years but in order to make the Olympic Team, he resigned to devote full time to training and to a new career that he has dabbled in off and on, that of picture making. In August of 1971 the North Hollywood strong man met David C. Detert of San Francisco, an enterprising young man who does entertainment production while managing the Detert Chemical Company of San Francisco for his father Earl. David was interested in making a film and had many ideas similar to George’s so the two formed a production company known as Cinema Associates Ltd. They are currently working on a film about the 1972 United States Olympic Team which will be televised nationally prior to the Summer Games. The film uncovers many of the sacrifices that international and Olympic caliber athletes must make in order to represent their country in the Games. The film is a news documentary type which has much sports action and commentary from many of the nation’s leading amateur athletes and promises to be one of the finest works of its kind ever presented for viewing. Because of his commitment in the film industry, George has not had the time to answer the many fan letters that he has received but hoped that everyone will excuse this.

In closing, Frenn doubts seriously that we will ever see powerlifting in the Olympic Games. For one thing the Olympic Games have too many sports now, the Games are too big. For another thing, the rules are too strict and they are not uniform around the world. Finally the present concept of bodyweight classes is old and out0moded and this seriously hurts powerlifting at the international level. If powerlifting maintains the same bodyweight standards as Olympic lifting then the power men are going to be held back as well as the sport. Most foreign countries have little men in the Games as lifters and a change of the bodyweight classification would eliminate these countries from competition.

The complete training routine that George is on is here and as you can see he really gets it on. Thoe that train with him can tell you that he actually handles that much weight in his regular training sessions without really getting psyched up. If you intend to follow it, great, but get about 6 years of experience behind you first. George has done it. Maybe you will also.

George Frenn’s Powerlifting Training Schedule as of January, 1969

He is the 1970 National A.A.U. Hammer Throw, 35 Pound, and 56 Pound Weight Throwing Champion. In 1967, he won the National A.A.U. Powerlifting Championship. He is the American Record Holder for the 2 weight throws and the 242 ½ pound class full squat with a lift of 819 pounds (now 853 lbs.)

“I train only on Tuesdays and Saturday with the weights and I throw the hammer and run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. When I train for the Powerlifts I do bench press; otherwise, I never do any pressing movements as it hurts the hammer throw.”

TUESDAY

Bench Press

Bench Squats (20 inch bench)

Low Box Squats (14 inch box) 4 sets x 1 rep

Lat Pull Downs: 3 sets x 10 reps heavy as you can go

Good Mornings: 3 sets x 5 reps 135, 225, 315, sometimes 425

Power Cleans: 5 sets x 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Triceps Extensions: 3 sets x 10 reps heavy as you can go

For the bench press and the bench squat, do 12 sets. Low Box follows bench squats

“As for Saturday’s training, I do only the bench press, full squat, and deadlift. For the bench press schedule, follow the one I use on Tuesdays. Use the bench squat schedule for your full squats. The sets are the same but the poundages are not quite that heavy. During the hammer throwing season, I do not bench press, so I substitute the power clean and snatch for the bench press. Follow the power clean schedule for these two exercises.”