emerald
Wednesday, May 13,1981
George Pessell knows
that in bodybuilding it’s
Tough
to stay
strong
“One more! One more!”
“Push it back! Push it back!”
George Pessell’s facial muscles pull taut as the bar
hovers over his chest. Massive metal plates push the bar
down as Pessell's equally massive arms struggle to push it
UP
With his spotter and a couple friends cheering him on,
Pessell lets loose a loud cry and shoves the bar upward, his
body shaking as his elbows lock into place.
Pessell repeats this bench press routine, along with
many others, five days a week at the Autzen Stadium
weight room. It’s a muscle-tearing pace, but that’s just the
idea. Pessell wasn’t named Mr. Oregon last year for
playing tiddly-winks.
Pessell stands 5-8Vi and weighs 195 pounds. His chest
measures 49 inches and his biceps are 181/4 inches. He is,
basically, a pretty big guy.
He is also a University senior who will graduate in June
with a business degree in quantitative methods. Just
Continued on Page 4B
Pessell strikes a pose at the recent Collegiate Mr. America
competition (right), where he placed third in his weight
class. Back in Eugene (below), he works out five days a
week at the Autzen Stadium weight room.
Photo by Jody Murray
Photo courtesy of George Pessell