From:
http://www.sandowplus.co.uk/Competition/Hoffman/hoffmanindex.htmGreat, great this web page about the origins of weightraining and bodybuilding.
BOB HOFFMAN
1898 - 1985
Bob Hoffman - athlete, nutritionist, weightlifter, coach and philantropist - was born on a farm in Tifton, Georgia on Nov 9th 1898. His family stock was good. Bob was never the seven stone weakling claimed by other physical culturists. His father was a large strong man who liked to demonstrate the hardness of his tensed muscles. Given this it his easy to see how Bob was influenced in his formative years.
When Bob was 5 years old the family moved to Wilkinsburg near Pittsburgh where his athletic career started from a very young age. He was an exceptional athlete especially in aquatic sports - his favorite being canoeing.
The First World War saw Bob as a hero. He gained 3 Croix de Guerres with two palms and a Silver Star from France. From Belgium he was awarded The Belgian Order of Leopold and from Italy the Italian War Cross and the Purple Heart.
His business started in the 1920s, at first selling oil burners, before developing into the massive York Barbell Company.
Bob Hoffman, never a great coach or great weightlifter, was a man who influenced and guided weightlifting and bodybuilding for half a century. He died on July 18th 1985 suffering heart disease and dementia.
His writings and ideas have been criticised - we make no comment - but present them for you to form your own conclusions.
Gil Waldron