Jack Delinger (June 22, 1926 – December 28, 1992) was an American professional bodybuilder. He won the 1949 AAU Mr. America and the 1956 Mr. Universe.

About

At 16 Delinger began training at the local YMCA. He looked to

John Grimek John Carroll Grimek (June 17, 1910 – November 20, 1998) was an American bodybuilder and weightlifter active in the 1930s and 1940s. He was Mr. America in 1940 and 1941, and Mr. Universe in 1948. Throughout his career he carried the nicknam ...

for inspiration throughout his training. At

Oakland Technical High School Oakland Technical High School, known locally as Oakland Tech or simply "Tech", is a public high school in Oakland, California, United States, and is operated under the jurisdiction of the Oakland Unified School District. It is one of six compre ...

, Delinger was a member of the gymnastics team. Soon after, he joined Ed Yarick's gym. Yarick was a man whom Delinger looked up to and who was a role model for aspiring bodybuilders. In 1946 Delinger won his first contest, Mr. Northern California. Delinger had great upper body strength but it was noted that his legs were somewhat underdeveloped. With much hard work he corrected this problem. In 1949 he went on to win the AAU Mr. America. In 1956, at 30 years of age, Delinger won the NABBA Pro Mr. Universe. Delinger and his wife Loretta went on to open their own gym in

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara ( es, Santa Bárbara, meaning "Saint Barbara") is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Co ...

, and later at Broadway at College Avenue in

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

Family

Delinger was married to Loretta Soper. Fifteen months after their marriage, the two had their only child named John. Their son died on November 23, 1992, at 41 years of age from a cerebral brain hemorrhage.

Death

Delinger died from a heart attack in

on December 28, 1992, at the age of 66.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delinger, Jack 1926 births 1992 deaths American bodybuilders People associated with physical culture Professional bodybuilders Sportspeople from Oakland, California