Melvin Wells

 

Ray Van Cleef on Melvin Wells at the 1949 Mr, America in Cleveland . . . 

Melvin Wells placed second with a score of 63.5 points. The enthusiastic response that greeted this muscular marvel in the competition was only surpassed by Jack Delinger. A month earlier this new physique sensation won the "Mr. New York State" title by a comfortable margin. At Cleveland again justified the praise that has been showered on him so liberally since he came into sudden prominence at Bob Hoffman's birthday show in York last November. 

His unassuming nature is particularly evident in a contest of this kind. The majority of the contestants are puffed up like pouter pigeons when exposed to the audience. Some make themselves ludicrous with the exaggerated postures they assume endeavoring to accentuate their development. 

The naturalness of Wells' stance and actions is by contrast especially admirable. Wells differs from the majority of physique contestants in other respects. This superman from Buffalo does not participate in the self-inflation orgies that take place in the dressing room prior to a contest, when the frenzied "pumping up" activities dominate the atmosphere. 

In the Mr. America competition it was noticeable that Wells confined his posing display to the restricted number of poses. Some of the other contestants took advantage of the situation by doing a series of poses much in excess of the specified number. Wells' good sportsmanship in this connection added to his prestige. 

His greatest liability is his comparatively poor calf development. But his drawback is overshadowed by the extraordinary features of his physique, particularly the remarkable development of his upper arms, shoulders and upper back. Wells won more individual honors than any other contestant at Cleveland. In addition to placing second in the Mr. America event, he was selected as Most Muscular Man and won the subdivision contests for Best Arms and Best Back. It was truly a field day for this popular athlete. 

From Joe Roark: 

After his final try for the Mr. America, Melvin Wells stopped competing but did guest pose for approximately ten shows, some of them in Canada. In October, 1993 I spoke on the phone with him, a black bodybuilder in an era when being black, in some cases, blacklisted you from the best placing. His wife Julia joked that maybe he should have painted him white so he would have a chance of winning at the AAU Mr. America. Melvin stopped most exercise in 1990 due to kidney problems and bone cancer. 

Melvin Two articles on Wells, the first from HEALTH and STRENGTH, March 24, 1949 . . . 

Heralded as the greatest discovery since John Grimek, sensational Melvin Wells, the Buffalo Hercules, hit the headlines when he stole the show at Bob Hoffman's 50th birthday show held at York last November. This dusky superman is no doubt a phenomenon and I prophesy a tremendous future for him in the body-building world. 

Twenty-nine years of age, this outstanding discovery who was brought out of oblivion, says Frank Wrzesinski in the (second article to follow) in the January issue of Strength & Health, just simply grew up strong. 

At the age of eight Melvin began to use rocks as weights. Anything that was heavy fascinated him and he would try to lift it. Rock-lifting was his hobby for many years, though he did not understand nor could he explain this unusual urge. While serving overseas in the USAAF he kept in trim by lifting small car wheels. 

Returning from overseas he took some professional tuition. He is now lifting 281 pounds Clean & Press, cleaning the weight without splitting. His one-arm military press is at about 150 pounds and he performs deep knee bends with 450. 

Employed at the Ford Motor Corporation, Melvin plays softball for the work's team and is a keen swimmer. 

His measurements?

Height - 5'10"

Weight - 203 pounds

Neck - 17-1/4"

Upper Arm - 18-3/8"

Cold forearm - 13-7/8"

Waist - 30-3/4"

Thigh - 25-1/4"

Calf - 16-1/8"

What I can't understand is that the chest measurement is 48" normal, 48-3/4" expanded. 

I wish that all authorities would adopt the standard Health & Strength form and give normal inflated and expanded measurements, from which much can  be learned. Anyway, it will be interesting to compare the lifting abilities of "wedge-torso" Wells with the "square-torso" Johnny Davis! 

From Strength & Health, January, 1949 . . . 

The Buffalo Hercules, by Frank Wrzesinski

The average person today seems to have the erroneous impression that strong men and perfect physical specimens are totally extinct in this 20th century of ours and that the crowded and unhealthy conditions of our big cities in which most of us live are not conducive to the growth and development of strong and healthy bodies. 

Oh, that pesky modern world. 

When speaking of strong and physically developed men most everyone seems to think first of the circus or fall back on their knowledge of history which recounts the daring feats of the bold and powerful Vikings or some other barbaric tribes that lived a long time ago. Those were supposed to have been real he-men in comparison with whom the men of today are mere weaklings. 

Berserkers? Average height and weight 5'8" and 160 pounds. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. 

Such supposition is far from truth. As a matter of fact, today we have more physically strong men in this so-called "soft" world of ours than they did in the days of yore. [but then, where's the marketable sales hype in facts when a guy wants to sell supplements and pre-workout crap to kids of all ages and levels of intelligence?) Recent research has shown that even an average college athlete of today would have quite a difficulty fitting into one of those steel armor outfits which were worn by these supposedly strong heroes of the Middle Ages. 

Strong and physically developed men are right in our midst and walk the sidewalks of our big cities today, their powerful muscles and marvelous physiques hidden from our eyes by the ethical and fashion requirements of our civilization. The age of mechanization in which we live overshadows them entirely as they are seldom called upon to perform unusual feats exhibiting their strength. It is only a sheer incident that leads to their discovery, otherwise in the privacy of some gymnasium, garage or a cellar they train their beautifully developed bodies and get into play their bulging muscles that could be the object of admiration by many.

In recent years the trend in physical culture as well as the fine publicity and promotion by such magazines as "Strength and Health" in glorifying the strong men of today has done a great deal for those forgotten physical specimens. Until recently they were like the pearls on the bottom of the ocean bed waiting to be discovered and brought to the surface where they can dazzle the eyes of onlookers with their brilliance and beauty. 

You've guessed by now that the author is getting wordy in an attempt to make a full article out of the limited knowledge of how Wells trains . . . 

Such was almost the fate of Melvin Wells, the strong man from Buffalo who possesses a most phenomenal physique and herculean strength. 

Melvin, who only recently was brought out of oblivion, just simply grew up strong. This was as natural for him as for the eagle to soar high into the sky or the panther to slink noiselessly and gracefully while stalking her prey. 

What is more amazing is that Melvin never had any professional training in the development of his almost mythical physique nor had he any forethought of ever cashing in on his strength or physical prowess. He simply grew strong by responding to that urge or rather a yearning to become physically fit which all men possess to a certain degree but in most cases never follow up. 

Note: that's all I have of this article.  

Next is something from John McKean in 2015 . . . 

It will surprise many that during Grimek's heyday there was another competitor who pressed and curled better, but according to serious, expert officials of the time, actually displayed more impressive arm musculature! 

His name was Melvin Wells, a physique man who placed second in a few early 1950s Mr. America contests, while always winning best back, and most muscular awards. It is said that no photo did this man justice, but he achieved the first REAL 19" arm, so full, thick, and defined as to defy description during those times. 

And he got size and strength with a very basic, all-round training scheme. 

Mel's entire arm program consisted of only 3 x 10 in the strict curl and press! Yet, when I say STRICT, Wells took this to a whole 'nother level. Our USAWA rules tell us for curling to put a sheet of paper behind our head and butt, backed up to a wall, then curl (without the paper slipping) for training. Wells didn't use the paper thing, but very reliable witnesses observed him ALWAYS performing very SLOW, picture-perfect barbell curls, full range, with 150 pounds for his 3 sets of 10. One writer counted him doing 12 perfect strict reps with 145 in front of a large crowd at the famous York picnic. 

 

His presses were perhaps even more noteworthy -- 3 sets of 10, super strict with 120 pounds. 

Oh, wait . . . 

I forgot to mention these were ONE-ARM PRESSES. Absolutely no side leaning or back bend either. 

And finally, "Marvelous Marvin Wells" by Charles A. Smith:

Since Melvin Wells appeared at the Bob Hoffman birthday strength show there have been requests for more information and photos of this sensation. We are glad to be able to present the following interesting story and the accompanying photos. Whether you agree with the author that Melvin is the finest built man in the world you must admit that he has the type of physique that is distinctly different and very outstanding. We will have still better photos to show you at a later date. In the photos Melvin is 5'10.5" tall and weighs 205 pounds, with a 48" chest, 18-3/8" arm (cold), 14" forearm, 31" waist and 26" thighs. His arms and shoulders are outstanding. -- Peary Rader

As I begin this story, I have a picture of Melvin Wells in front of me. Looking at it, I suddenly realize how incapable I am of doing justice to this most remarkable athlete. Not if I strummed a million minutes away on this typewriter could I give you any idea of the superhuman development of this man.

It is quite a few weeks ago since I first met Melvin at the Bob Hoffman birthday show. Ever since then, I have been wondering about him. How did he get this way? What exercises did he use? Was he always well built? 

You and I have perhaps seen the top flight physique men. We may have witnessed Ross pose, thrilled to the superb development of Grimek, admired the beauty of Reeves' statuesque musculature. We think we have a pretty good idea of what makes a man a strength athlete, an outstanding specimen of manhood. 

Right here and now, we will have to scrap those ideas and opinions. Melvin Wells sets standards which will in all probability, never again be approached in our time. 

Those who know me have wondered at what I have had to tell them about Wells. They know I am not the kind of guy to go overboard about anything or anyone. They regard me as a bit of a cynic, a hard man to please. Many frankly disbelieved my statements about Melvin, upon my return from York. They ate their words when I let them see the pictures. They were frankly and openly amazed. 

And yet, astonishing as these pictures are, they simply do not do the man justice. To gaze upon the flesh instead of the image, is an experience no one is ever likely to forget. 

There are many wonderfully developed athletes in our world of weights. There are men of gigantic power. Melvin Wells ranks with the best. His is the perfect combination of bulk, definition and strength.

Melvin Wells was born 29 years ago (article is from IronMan, Jan-Feb 1949), in Sulligent, Alabama. His mother had a family of three boys with Melvin being the firstborn. Mrs. Wells soon knew that her son was something above the ordinary boy. When the family moved to Buffalo in upstate New York, Melvin was but a child, but a child with a remarkably sturdy frame for his eight years. Even at that early age, the desire for health and strength was making itself apparent. Melvin cluttered up his bedroom with rocks and large stones which he used to lift in as many ways as his imagination conjured up. 

In school, he excelled as an all round athlete. During the years he attended Hutchinson High, he played basketball, baseball, and football. He was a letterman in baseball and football and an ALL HIGH in basketball.

In his after-school years, Melvin played basketball for a transportation company, helping them to win five titles in 1940. It might be mentioned here that at present Melvin plays softball for the Ford Motor company, his present employers, as first basemen and has belted out the most home runs on the team. 

The natural desire for strength, which had always been with him since his earliest childhood days, prompted him to take up weight training. In 1942, Melvin bought his first set of weights. They scaled 205 pounds. Such was his natural strength, and the progress he made during the first three months, that he soon found the original set much too light for his needs, and he was forced to make another purchase. 

Although his training was rather haphazard, his power and presence was such that his friends soon began calling him Hercules. They of course now realize that the term is a trifle inadequate. 

Melvin served in the armed forces during the was as a member of the Air Force. He rose to the rank of First Sergeant and out of 25 months, served 14 overseas. His opportunities for weight training did not come very often, but he managed to keep in trim with small railroad car wheels. 

It was upon his return from military service that Melvin really started to go to town. The prewar years' training was irregular, but now he took his workouts seriously and made astonishing strides. 

Melvin is an advocate of HEAVY training. He has never had professional tutelage or training of ANY description. 

When he first commenced his weight workouts, he was told that he should never use more than eight repetitions, as this was the best number for strength and development. Melvin has kept to this advice, and it has certainly worked out wonderfully well with him.

He told me that on the nights when he feels in form, he does several sets of 8 reps, but on the training days when he doesn't feel so energetic, he uses up to 15 reps with less sets. 

The measurements listed for Wells are of course interesting. They were ALL TAKEN COLD. No pumping up beforehand. 

During the Hoffman birthday show, Melvin gave ample proof that his muscles are not merely for show. He performed several strict curls with 145 pounds -- 12 reps as I counted them. 

Several rowing motions with 250, an uncounted number of squats with 350 and many ridiculously easy presses with 205 pounds. 

He has made 10 reps with 400 pounds in the deep knee bend. Some of his other lifts are as follows: 

Military press. Strick style, no back bend. 281 pounds. 

One arm military press. 150.

Squats (Melvin says "several"). 450 pounds. 

Bench press, several reps. 330.

For his military press, Melvin cleans the weight WITHOUT SPLITTING OR BENDING THE LEGS. He aims to train for competition lifting, and his greatest ambition is to represent his country in the next Olympics.

Melvin has no diet fads. He eats whatever he fancies. "Good and wholesome food is the best" he tells me. He does however, eat regularly and PLENTY. 

He reads all the weight training magazines avidly, and his favorites are, needless to say, IronMan and Strength & Health. Effing Weider A-holes. 

Contrary to popular supposition about weight men, Melvin does not have a single track mind. He likes quiet entertainment, music, the theater, swimming, and plenty of rest. 

So, not much in the way of brand spankin' new and innovative wonder layouts with the weights. Heavy training on the basic lifts of the time. The ones we all use. Good food in abundance. Plenty of rest. A tranquil mind that enjoys life while it lasts. Simple enough! 

Enjoy Your Lifting!