Clarence Ross
Encyclopedia
Clarence Ross was a bodybuilder from the United States
.
Ross was born in Oakland, California
on October 26, 1923, the second of the four children of Hershel Ross, a teamster, and his wife Jeannette Levi. His mother died when he was young, so he grew up in a series of foster homes. He started weight training at age 17, weighing 135 pounds at a height of 5'10". He was motivated by the Japan
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
to enlist in the Air Force
, which he did on October 31, 1942 at San Francisco, and was then stationed in Las Vegas
. Around this time he married his wife.
In 1945, Ross won the AAU Mr. America
contest in Los Angeles
. After this success, he started to appear on the covers of popular physique magazines such as Your Physique, Iron Man
, Muscle Power, and Health and Strength. After leaving the service in November, 1945, Ross opened a gym in Alameda, California
.
On March 13, 1948, Ross won the Mr. USA contest in Los Angeles
ahead of the 1947 Mr. America, Steve Reeves
. Ross attempted to defend his title in 1949, but placed second to John Grimek
. However, he finished ahead of Steve Reeves
, becoming one of only two men to beat Reeves twice (along with Grimek).
Ross died on April 30, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Ross was born in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
on October 26, 1923, the second of the four children of Hershel Ross, a teamster, and his wife Jeannette Levi. His mother died when he was young, so he grew up in a series of foster homes. He started weight training at age 17, weighing 135 pounds at a height of 5'10". He was motivated by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
to enlist in the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, which he did on October 31, 1942 at San Francisco, and was then stationed in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Around this time he married his wife.
In 1945, Ross won the AAU Mr. America
AAU Mr. America
AAU Mr. America was a bodybuilding competition started by the Amateur Athletic Union . It was first held on 4 July 1939 and the winner was named "America's Best Built Man". In 1940 this was changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest....
contest in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. After this success, he started to appear on the covers of popular physique magazines such as Your Physique, Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, Muscle Power, and Health and Strength. After leaving the service in November, 1945, Ross opened a gym in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
.
On March 13, 1948, Ross won the Mr. USA contest in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
ahead of the 1947 Mr. America, Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves
Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
. Ross attempted to defend his title in 1949, but placed second to John Grimek
John Grimek
John Carroll Grimek is recognized as one of the world's greatest bodybuilders and weight lifters of the 1930s and 1940s.Grimek was born on June 17, 1910 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, son of Slovak immigrants George and Maria Grimek.Besides his bodybuilding exploits, in which he was never defeated,...
. However, he finished ahead of Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves
Stephen L. Reeves was an American bodybuilder and actor. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid actor in Europe.-Childhood:...
, becoming one of only two men to beat Reeves twice (along with Grimek).
Ross died on April 30, 2008.