Short Story: Mr. America

Don and Frances Howorth lived a few houses west of us on Gleason Street in East L.A.  They had one child, Don Jr. (nicknamed Dickie). You never would have guessed that this skinny boy would achieve one title after another in the years to come.

If you grew up in the 50’s, you’ll recall opening a comic book and seeing a 97-pound weakling at the beach, having sand kicked in his face by a muscular or herculean man, known to us as Charles Atlas. That weakling could have been Don Jr., as could the herculean man years later when Don’s manly strength and muscular development earned him one prestigious title after another in the bodybuilding world.

Mom and Dad and the Howorth’s were very close friends; they went on outings together, they always attended the Benson Family Reunion, and they even went on a trip to Michigan together to visit Don Sr.’s parents. They were friends right to the end.

They moved to San Gabriel in 1941, but they always came back to visit or to play cards and dominoes. Frances always wanted a girl, so she took me under her wing, and I stayed with them for a week during summer vacations.

Dickie was four years older than I, and was always gone with his friends who lived in the area.  

Dickie (now Don) went to Mark Keppel High School in Alhambra. He participated in gymnastics and became a standout in free exercise, high bar, and tumbling. Looking back, I do recall seeing his gym equipment in their garage.

He met Steve Reeves at a gym in 1956 and was inspired by his aspirations in bodybuilding. He then joined the gym and started his bodybuilding regimen and, in time, became known as one of the original gurus or classic bodybuilders of the Golden Era.

Born in 1935, he won the title of Mr. Los Angeles in 1962. He went on to become Mr. California in 1963 and, after competing three times, he won the title of Mr. America in 1967.

It was total commitment and sacrifice to his workout that helped him become so legendary. His shoulder to waist ratio earned him the title of “The Duke of Delts.”

Then movie offers came along. He appeared in a television version of “The Wild, Wild West”, and a few others. He was photographed with Mickey Hargitay (who was married to Jayne Mansfield), and he gave training advice to Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Thinking back over the years and particularly if you lived on Gleason Street, you would find it very difficult to believe that the skinny kid of the block achieved title after title and became legendary long before he was renowned worldwide as Mr. America.