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Post by Kevin Allen on Jan 12, 2010 10:56:50 GMT -5
Could he be called the greatest - Armwrestler, Referee, Trainer, Promoter, 11 Times World Champion. A man known as the Godfather of Armwrestling. Al's first contest was in 1972 at the World Championships. He was 41 year old at the time with 16 competitors in his weight class. Al came away as the World Champion and a long and bright career began. Al always said that he liked to meet new people and to have a chance to be the best in the sport. Al contended that strength was the most important aspect of the sport and he was able to prove his theory many times. Al would always try to help new armwrestlers. Many of the people that trained with Al went on to win many titles over the years. Al always believed that if he could beat your hand then he could beat you. He did a lot of curls. Al could do a one hand table curl of 217 pounds. In his years of competing he won 11 World Titles. Al won his last World Championship in Timmons, Ontario, Canada in 1985 at the age of 54. Al was a man that did a lot to bring the Sport of Armwrestling the recognition it deserves. Hopefully he will not be forgotten by the new generation of armwrestlers Attachments:
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Post by Arturo Garcia on Jan 12, 2010 14:26:00 GMT -5
There is a thread on this board, kinda old, maybe 15 pages long last time I checked, where someone who knew Al (I think Jim Drysdale although I could be spelling it incorrectly) posted lots and LOTS of pictures, articles, and photos from a scrapbook with a lot of very cool stuff from many different times. Apparently I suck at using the search function here but I know it's here somewhere.
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Post by James Chaplic on Feb 7, 2010 22:27:25 GMT -5
Great topic , You are correct, Al Trained many notable guys Such as Jimmy And Joe Fitzsimmons, Mark Doherty, Jimmy Witt, Gabe Accardi, Joe Clifford, Willy Hargrove, The Shadducks, Bill Cox And many more, He was also A sparring partner for Rocky Marciano in his younger days, and much of his strength was from the tedious labor work he did most of his life. He worked in a foundry and later at seabond lumber company. Ma Armwrestlers still rely on Table curls quite a bit more than pullers from other areas, this in my opinion has to do the training lineage here back to Al Turner. In 1978 a full page article was published on Al Turner in Sports Illustrated. regards
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Post by Alan Bown on Feb 7, 2010 23:59:21 GMT -5
I compelled to say that Mr. Kevin Allen has done a great service to AL Turner and all of us for all of his great information on AL's career. I have been competeing since 1979 and did not come to know all these amazeing facts! Hopefully kevins message can serve as an example for all of to remember our fallen pullers,and honor them accordingly. Also welcome James Chaplic to the board. Your comentary on AL Turner was also very interesting.You guys really make this worthwhile . Good Job!
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Post by Rob Baker on Feb 8, 2010 10:26:50 GMT -5
Is anyone on here old enough to have pulled against him and have they ever ? Cleave Dean mabe
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Post by Derrick Mattera on Feb 8, 2010 12:01:25 GMT -5
Is anyone on here old enough to have pulled against him and have they ever ? Cleave Dean mabe Like Jimmy said, Al trained some of the best armwrestlers around and i train with some of those guys; Gabe, Norm, Jim Fitzsimmons. So they have pulled him. I know Guy "The Arm" Lasorsa from NH pulled Al in the 79 worlds sit-down. Theres prob alot of guys who have pulled Al that are still around.
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Post by Richard Lupkes on Feb 8, 2010 12:26:11 GMT -5
I had the honor of pulling Mr. Turner at the '77 (or maybe '78, that's what happen's when you get old, can't remember anything) World finals in Kansas City at World's of Fun. Mr. Turner just pulled my arm right out of the cup with his amazing strength. If I would sweet talk my wife I could have her find a copy of Sport's Illustrated magazine with a picture of Al and myself in the finals. I also had the chance of talking to Al at a east coast tourney year's later some where around 1987 to 1989. He was a great puller and greater gentleman.
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Post by Kurt Howgate on Feb 8, 2010 12:36:56 GMT -5
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Post by Arturo Garcia on Feb 8, 2010 14:07:02 GMT -5
Kurt, you being the owner of this board and all, it would be great if you could find that very long thread I was talking about, where Jim Drysdale (sp?) posted dozens and dozens of pictures, articles, and scrap notes of Al Turner. I'm sure everyone interested would enjoy going through that thread page-by-page, and it was over 10 pages long!!
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Post by Felix Bürger on Feb 8, 2010 15:15:53 GMT -5
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Post by Rick "Lummox" North on Feb 8, 2010 17:04:24 GMT -5
I can't believe I never read that link!! That was awesome!! Are any of his training buddies still around?? Steve Stanaway? I know Norm Devio is still a beast!! I love the pic in the article at age 33, he's still a stud!! Is there anyone who has a good history of the sport?? I love seeing what the sport was like back in the day!! Do they still do sit-down tourneys??
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Post by John Wilson on Feb 8, 2010 18:07:56 GMT -5
Thank you for posting that link, Felix. What an amazing man. I wish I had gotten to meet Mr. Turner.
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Post by Doug Letic on Feb 8, 2010 21:45:25 GMT -5
great Al Turner thread that one.. I`d like to see a simillar thread about Johnny Walker.. suprised there isnt one already..
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Post by Karen Brisson on Feb 9, 2010 13:56:43 GMT -5
makes me chuckle to think about Al.
He taught me the 'proper " way to drink a beer then helped me get through customs in brazil when i was a bit crapfaced..... I was 16 or 17 I think...... what a great man
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Post by Ray Darling on Feb 10, 2010 12:21:05 GMT -5
i have the honor of being the last person defeated by al tuner @ wpaa world's in detroit 1985. his next match was john brezink.
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