SPORTS CATEGORY

Member of the Bristol Boys Club “Strength & Health Club Weight Lifters” from approximately 1935 to 1950. As a member of the team he participated in many competitions and exhibitions. During World War II, Paul as part of this group and as part of the Hail America program sold tickets ($1.80 each) to an exhibition and the proceeds in the amount of $519.48 was turned over to the Kits for Bristol Servicemen Committee.

CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS YOU WERE ON

List of Medals:

1936 Connecticut champion-gold; 1937 Connecticut Weight Lifters Championship 1^st place; 1938 Connecticut Open Meet – Bronze; 1938 New England States Champions; 1938 Western Union – Tel. Handicap-silver; 1938 AAU Senior National- 2^nd place; 1938 Connecticut Champion – Gold; 1939 Connecticut Champion – Gold; 1939 New England Open Meet – Gold; 1939 New England Metropolitan Champion – Silver; 1939 – Presented for achieving new weight record – Gold; 1940 – A.A.U. Champion – Gold; 1941 Bantam Connecticut Champion – gold; 1942 – A.A.U. Champion – silver; 1944 – Worlds Weightlifting Championships – Philadelphia; 1946- 132 lb. class – 1^st place gold; 1948 – New England Woonsocket, RI gold; 1948 A.A.U. Silver medal; 1948 Silver medal; 1949 132 lb. class 1^st place gold.

ALL-LEAGUE/ETC. YOU WERE ON

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STATISTICS

1939 1^st place in the New England Weight Lifting Championship.  Achieved a state record in the press (170 lbs.); snatch (165 lbs.); and the national mark in clean and jerk (230 lbs). His total of 565 lbs. was the best in the country that year for his class.  1940 – 1^st place in the New England Weight Lifting Championship for 2^nd year.  Connecticut champion for 7 consecutive years in both 126 lb. and 132 lb. classes. He was the only state lifter to have accomplished that record at that time.  Received a letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee to compete in the 1940 Olympics. (1940 and 1944 Olympics were canceled because of the war).

TELL US MORE

For 19 years beginning in 1935, Paul won numerous state championships and he was an undisputed champion in the 132 lb. weight class.  He was recognized by the Bristol Boys’ Club staff at an annual Recognition Dinner and congratulated for his excellent work.  He also participated at the Bristol Boys Club in the early 1950’s when the club tried to reactivate the Bar Bell Club.  He spent time as a volunteer to instruct and supervise young men 18 years of age and older who wished to learn the sport of weightlifting.