I just heard that news. I hadn’t heard anything from him in the past several years, but I do remember his entertaining training articles in MILO. His articles were always a source of discussion on training nights. I never got to meet him either but he is a part of USAWA history as he competed once several years ago in one of Kevin Fultons meets.
Yeah, he had some rather unique methods, to say the least. I am going off the fuzzy memory here, but I think the meet was called “old settlers day” (maybe as part of festival in town or something?) and Justa was injured after a lift or two and withdrew. Was that the extent of his participation?
Yes I do believe you are correct on that. Mary Mac knew him well and always encouraged him to lift again in the USAWA but he never did. I don’t know of any other strength comps he ever did. I do wish I would have got to meet him – mainly to see if he actually trained like he wrote about in MILO or if those stories were just to inspire others!