MOKING

The

Austin

Experiment

Two views of the unique privately financed barbell gymnasium set up in Austin, Indiana, by Mr. Jack Morgan, of The Morgan Packing Company, for the use of his sons and their friends. Lloyd G. Young, of Jamaica, a veteran gym instructor and physical therapist, designed the gym (completely York equipped), and supervised the boys' training routines.

NIVE YEARS AGO, I became acquainted with Mr. Jack Morgan and his wife, while they were vacationing in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where I live and where I have conducted a gym for some years. I give physical therapy treatments to many of the guests in the hotels, and the Morgans became patients. They became enthusiastic about weight training, when they came to my gym and saw my pupils work out.

The Morgans returned to their native Indiana, but they came again, and again, to Jamaica, and each time became a little more enthusiastic about the merits of sensible weight training. Having several young boys in their family, they began to think about giving them the benefits of barbell training, too, and as a result, last year they brought me north from Montego Bay to install a gym for the use of the boys.

After I had the gym set up (with York equipment), the boys began working out, and besides the Morgan boys, a number of their friends availed themselves of the gym facilities. We had a wonderful time, training faithfully three times a week. My records at this time extend over a period of two month (approximately), and we tried to keep a complete record of each boy, with Before and After photographs. I am sending some of these to you. (Editor's Note: We have about a dozen of these case histories, but lack of space prevents using them all at this time, SO we have selected two typical cases, one of which is shown with this article, and another in the Boys Club department.)

The boys worked out for about 12 hours each training day, and continued their regular sports activities at school, such as football, basketball, cross-country running, etc., sports which would tend to take quite a bit of energy from their barbell work, but they succeeded in

STRENGTH

AND HEALTH

making very nice physical gains despite this extra activity.

The boys used the York courses, which you may see on the wall, in some of these photos, and we also kept Hoffman's Hi-Proteen, mixed with honey, for use of the lads during their training sessions.

My work as a physical therapist came in handy, as nearly all of the boys had some physical defect, such as round shoulders, bad posture, receding chests. Little John Morgan (see Boys Club) the smallest of the gang (nine years old), has been an asthmatic sufferer from birth and had severe attacks of this malady frequently. I put him on a program stressing deep and correct breathing (breathing squats), with breathing pullovers, and light dumbell breathing exercises on a bench. He has not had an asthmatic attack since he started training. In the two month. period he gained 6 solid pounds.

None of these cases are sensational. It would have been possible to force gains to a much greater extent, but I have always questioned the value of building bulk too rapidly. Further, I do not believe in overworking boys, who need a lot of their energy to play the games and enjoy the sports that other schoolboys play.

I call this article The Austin Experiment, but actually it is no experiment, because I knew weight training would work for these boys just as it has for countless thousands of boys the world over. It has worked so well, and so satisfied Mr. Morgan that he has offered to completely equip a gym for the local High School, and I will supervise its installation when I return from Jamaica where I am flying now to take care of my regular winter clientele. at Montego Bay.

It would be wonderful if there were more public spirited men like Mr. Jack Morgan to carry this idea into every city and town in America.

•

NOVEMBER,

1957

The Author

What can a wealthy and successful father do for his sons? Give them an unlimited allowance and a sport car? Or can he give them the most precious of all things, a strong, healthy body and the knowledge to care for it throughout a useful lifetime? Mr. Jack Morgan financed this worthwhile bodybuilding experiment at Austin, Indiana, for his sons and their friends.

by Lloyd G. Young

The Author kept a careful record of each boy, with before and after photographs. and measurements throughout the course. The two pictures above show Ivan Morgan, aged 17, as a typical example. At left is the BEFORE photo, carrying these measurements: Neck 142, Biceps 122, Forearm 114, Wrist 6%, Chest 382, Waist 31, Hips 364, Thigh 20%, Knee 14%, Calf 134, Ankle 82, Height 6 ft. 2 inch, Weight 154 pounds. AFTER two months training: Neck 154, Biceps 13%, Forearm 12, Wrist 7%, Chest 41 %, Waist 291⁄2, Hips 35, Thigh 22%, Knee 14. Calf 134, Ankle 8%, Height 6 ft. 8 inch, Weight 165 pounds.