Leroy Marsh Memorial Award Winners

Randy Biggiam is the coach of the Colfax Mustangs Powerlifting team and is responsible for the origination of this team which began back in 1997. Located in a small town in the middle of Illinois, the Colfax team travels to each meet in large numbers and are very well coached. Randy's approach is very basic and straightforward: Do the work, follows the rules and be the best lifter/person you can be along the way.

Along with being a dedicated coach, Randy is also an accomplished benchpresser as well. The Missouri USAPL salutes Randy Biggiam, a throwback to the way people were when things were done right! Randy was present the Leroy award at the 2006 River's Edge Powerlifting Championships at the River's Edge powerliftign warehouse in Granite City, IL.

In 2003 the Missouri USAPL was blessed to come in contact was Harold and Dawn Gaines, two super individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty in promoting events. With having no prior connection to the world of powerlifting, Harold willingly accepted the challenge of running a powerlifting event when he dutifully held the 2003 Ozark Championships.

Since then, he has held numerous top level championship events. As of this writing they include the 2003 Deadlift Nationals, the 2004 Mike Cissell Classic at the St. Louis Fitness Festival, the 2004 Ozark Championships, the 2004 Squat Nationals, the 2005 Womens Nationals, the 2005 Mo St/Ozark Championships, the 2005 Benchpress Nationals and the 2006 Mo St/Ozark Championships.

Harold and Dawn are great promoters, but as hard as it is to believe, they are even better people than they are promoters. We are proud to have them as part of our team!

Dr. Pat Anderson has a lifting pedigree that spans 3 decades and a whole lot of mileage. Pat began competing in the middle 80's, lifted in a few Teenage Nationals, and then graduated to the Jr. level and later the Mens Senior Nationals. A lifting technician, his lifts are some of the most beautifully performed as he carefully and precisely executes each move on the platform.

Along with being a superb lifter, Pat has excelled in the world of coaching. On several occasions he has been named to coaching staffs for the USA's IPF Mens World Championship Teams, traveling far and wide to help our best lifters. Pat was presented the award at the 2004 River's Edge Championships held at the River's Edge Reception Facility.

For many years Cape Girardeau was well known for producing some of Missouri's bet powerlifters. Jerry Pledger is among the many champions to come out this southern Missouri river city.

Going back to the first ADFPA State Championships in Potosi, MO you would have to look long and hard to find someone who has attended more of them. As a member of the Body Works/Universal Physique/Universal Fitness powerlifting team, Jerry won four Missouri State titles and put up some impressive lifts along the way. He has quite a few state records that still stand today. Along with being a durable lifter, Jerry was responsible for spearheading the Cape contingency of lifters long after other founding members of his team had moved on from the sport.

For Jerry, powerlifting was a family affair. His 2 brother-in-laws were Lindsay and Leonard Sample, who with a combined total of 16 MO State Titles, are arguably the best brother combination in Missouri USAPL history. Jerry's nephew Brian Sample also lifted, and later, his two daughters Sabrina and Lindsay also graced the platforms. Sabrina and Lindsay set countless records and competed in a handful of National Championships under the tutelage and watchful eye of Jerry.. The Leroy Marsh memorial award was presented to Jerry in 2003 at the final Central USA Championships in Cape Girardeau, MO.

2002’s Leroy Marsh Award recipient was the none other than Pat Rankin. In 2002 the award was presented to Pat Rankin for several reasons.

As a longtime powerlifter and permanent fixture on the St. Louis lifting scene, Pat has made his mark in several areas. During the mid to late 1990's his lifting was superb. By 1999, he had captured 6 state titles, including a string of 5 consecutive titles from 95 to 99. From there, Pat ventured into Strongman training and began competing in the popular sport that invloves flipping cars and lifting heavy stones. Turned off by the use of chemicals in both powerlifting and strongman, Pat formed the group called Athletes Against Steroids. His intentions were to point out to kids and teenagers, that it is possible through hard training to get strong, and that dangerous drugs were not needed. Around the same time, Pat gave up drinking and begun a major spiritual cleansing. Today he is an Ordained Minister who is regularly part of a bible study group and goes out of his way to promote good will and positivity with a hardcore edge. We are proud to be associated with Pat Rankin, a true lifter's lifter.

In 2001 the author of this site and these pages was caught completely off guard when Dr. Mike Cissell took it upon himself to present yours truly with the Leroy Award. Not expecting it, for once I was left speechless and had very little to say at the time. It is an extreme honor to look back through the years and be in the company of so many great people who either lifted in our meets or just happened to be there. I think Leroy would be proud today of our efforts to uphold the tradition of lifting iron.

Some of my best memories of the meets involved Leroy and the years we trained together at Renaissance in Granite City, IL. Lee wasn't just a good coach but he was also a good friend to all.

James Bell could very well be the most generous person I know. His help to countless lifters over the years has been unlimited.

I first met Jim Bell way back in March of 1986 at Dr. Mike Cissell's USPF Missouri State/Ozark Open. Jim was there helping 14 year old Joe Presson, who was a standout 132 lber. Shortly thereafter, in May we ran into each other again at the St. Louis Open, held at I-55 & Butler Hill Rd. There, Jim was kind enough to offer me an entry form to the upcoming ADFPA Hazelwood West Open. From 1986, I, just as many lifters have, benefited from Jim's help through the years.

No matter if it meant needing a spot for a workout, or needing an extra hand at the meet, no matter the capacity, Jim has always been there for anyone and everyone. His help hasn't been limited to the lifting world either. Jim was a major player when his two girls were involved in sports at St. John the Baptist, down on Morganford. If something was needed, he could always be counted on to coach, help out, or fill in, no matter what the role.

Today, things are no different. He is still a willing and able body and is a friend to everyone. Jim was a personal friend of Leroy's, and I can assure you Lee is smiling down on Jim due to all the work he has done through the years.

Powerlifting, for the most part is a sport isolated from the general public and attended for the most part, only by lifters and family members. The same could be said for the staff at our meets. On occasion we have someone get involved who has no prior lifting or coaching experience. Ted Zagursky was one of those individuals. Ted selflessly came to the meets out of his love for the sport and was happy to lend a hand. At most of the meets Ted's job was to record the lifts on the wall charts, a thankless job that Ted dutifully did very well.

Lance Bargatze was an easy going Master lifter that had been around for a while. Lance was a lifter first, then became a referee, helping out at several of the big championships through the years. Lance competed ina a few National Masters Championships and has a handful of State Records that are still on the books.

Lance, always one to be a hard worker who had the ability to gently motivate those around him, usually said it best by telling us "Hey, Nobody ever said it was going to be easy.". Quite often it was recited to Sam and the other Physique world/Ultimate Gym lifters up in North St. Louis where he trained. Lance was one of many who was part of the 2002 High School Nationals which had 400+ lifters over three days. Lance played a key role in scoring and expediting at the overheads. Lance Bargatze, we salute you!

In 1997 the Leroy Award went to Sam Greco, a close and personal freind of Leroy Marsh's. Sam has the distinction of actually training with Lee Marsh. The two were part of the Granite City powerlifting team that trained first at Spartan's, and then later became part of the mega-team at Rennaisance Fitness Center in the mid 1980's. Like many of the Leroy winners, Sam still to this day goes out of his way to help as many as he can. No matter if is a young lifter who needs some equipment, or an elderly person who needs help, Sam is willing to pitch in and lend a hand.

It was ironic that the day after Lee passed away in Chicago, IL, Sam had won the WDFPF World Masters Powerlifting Championship in England. Lee had done so much to help Sam through the years and it had culminated with Sam winning a World Title in Birmingham, England. I still see Sam a few time a week and although injuries have slowed his lifting down, the man is as intense, sincere and emotional as ever. Sam is a great friend to have.

There is so much that could be said about Wally, that I'll keep things brief and then leave a link to his section of our website at the end of this paragraph.

Wally Strosnider was the living, breathing historian of our area. I may be able to recall quite a bit about our meets through the years, but Wally was the guy I went to when it came to really old lifting history in our area. As a trainer at George Turner's gym around 1970, Wally was offered a job at the Teamster's hall working in the exercise facility, training people. When Wally approached the normally gruff and stern Turner, George was open and honest and said "Wally, you have a gift. not just a gift to teach people to exercise, you have the gift of being able to teach people. You are a people person and you should do this."

Wally took the job and from there his real work began. Throughout his life he was everything to everyone. He coached the lifters at the Teamsters Hall, helping all that came along, weak or strong. The rules were very strict that the gym was open only to Teamsters. It should be noted though, that Wally's rule was that the gym was open not just to Teamsters, but all who needed help.

For several years George and Denise Huber were the tandem we were fortunate to have at the score table. No matter if it was a local contest with 100+ lifters, or if it were a prestigious National event, George and Denise were there. George is well known for his announcing abilities, with his golden voice and smooth demeanor, his relaxed approach announced some of the biggest names to grace our stage. Aside from being good on the michrophone, George had some pretty deep iron lineage. Not just a powerlifter, George was also an accomplished Olympic weightlifter and even made Herb Glossbrenner's list of Powerlifting-Olympic Lifting Superman, published in Powerlifting USA. Way back in the 70's, George was a frequent visitor to Granite City to visit Curt Mathes and the Wild Bunch that he trained. Many pitchers of ice cold "carbohydrate drinks" were consumed at Eddie's Tavern on Rt. 203.

Denise, George's better half, was the half of the team we didn't get to hear, but let it be known that her work was just as important. George might have been the guy announcing, but it takes a lot of work to keep things organized for a large meet. Denise did this and always did it with a smile. We were very lucky to have her anchoring the score table and also for her pleasant demeanor.