National Fitness Hall of Fame is an American hall of fame for notable fitness professionals. It includes notable figures involved in fitness instruction, training, education, fitness management and product development. The mission is to recognize and support fitness professionals for their dedication to helping others "Get Fit and Stay Healthy" and provide programs and services that helps all individuals achieve a better level of health and fitness.

History

John Figarelli National Fitness Hall of Fame is an American hall of fame for notable fitness professionals. It includes notable figures involved in fitness instruction, training, education, fitness management and product development. The mission is to recognize ...

founded the National Fitness Hall of Fame on December 2, 2004 to honor individuals and organizations who had made a lifetime contribution to health and fitness. Inductees are classed as pioneers, educators, instructors, sports medicine, celebrity spokespeople, and organizations. One of the criteria for membership is at least twenty-five years of service as a full-time Health and Fitness industry professional. Figarelli formed the National Fitness Organization, a corporation, in December 2004, with his wife, mother and father. They rented a small location in

Sycamore, Illinois Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 18577 at the 2020 census, up from 17,519 at the 2010 census. Sycamore is the county seat of De ...

, to hold Figarelli's collection of fitness memorabilia, which would form the nucleus of the museum. The first class of 2005 had twelve members, including

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...

Jack LaLanne Francois Henri LaLanne (; September 26, 1914 – January 23, 2011) was an American fitness and nutrition guru and motivational speaker. He described himself as being a "sugarholic" and a "junk food junkie" until he was aged 15. He also had behav ...

and

Charles Atlas Charles Atlas (born Angelo Siciliano; October 30, 1892 – December 24, 1972) was an Italian-born American bodybuilder best remembered as the developer of a bodybuilding method and its associated exercise program which spawned a landmark advert ...

. Other inductees included

Joe Weider Joseph Weider (; November 29, 1919 – March 23, 2013) was a Canadian bodybuilder and entrepreneur who co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) alongside his brother Ben Weider. He was also the creator of Mr. Olympia, Ms. O ...

Vic Tanny Victor "Vic" Tanny (born Victor A. Iannidinardo; February 18, 1912 – June 11, 1985) was an American bodybuilder, entrepreneur and physical culture advocate. He is considered a pioneer of the modern health club. Tanny was born into an Itali ...

, Arthur Jones,

Paul Bragg Paul Chappuis Bragg (February 6, 1895 – December 7, 1976) was an American alternative health food advocate and fitness enthusiast. Bragg's mentor was Bernarr Macfadden. He wrote on subjects such as Detoxification (alternative medicine), dietin ...

and

Kenneth H. Cooper Kenneth H. Cooper (born March 4, 1931, Oklahoma City) is a doctor of medicine and former Air Force lieutenant colonel from Oklahoma, who pioneered the benefits of doing aerobic exercise for maintaining and improving health. In 1966 he coined the t ...

. The National Fitness Hall of Fame is the only institution in the nation that recognizes those individuals who pioneered the fitness industry, preservers fitness history and promotes the future of fitness in America. The fourth class of ten members was inducted in 2008 with a dinner, silent auction and ceremony, and was attended by many of the inductees. The ceremony was held at the Oak Meadows Golf Club in

Addison, Illinois Addison is a village located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 36,942 at the 2010 census. History The community itself was originally named Dunkley's Grove after the settler Hezekia ...

, and was hosted by

Gilad Janklowicz Gilad Janklowicz ( he, גלעד ינקלוביץ'; ; born July 27, 1954) is an Israeli-born Physical fitness, fitness personality best known for the longest running fitness show in the United States, ''Bodies in Motion'', and for his show ''Total ...

of the television show ''Bodies in Motion''. There were about 250 attendees. Inductees included

Cory Everson Corinna "Cory" Everson ( née Kneuer; born January 4, 1958) is an American female bodybuilding champion and actress. Everson won the Ms. Olympia contest six years in a row from 1984 to 1989. Education Corinna Kneuer was born in Racine, Wiscons ...

, Tamilee Webb, Charles Kuntzleman, Michael Thurmond and others. In November 2014 Bill Crawford (2012 NFHOF Inductee) a fitness trainer and owner of a gym in

Scottsdale, Arizona , settlement_type = City , named_for = Winfield Scott , image_skyline = , image_seal = Seal of Scottsdale (Arizona).svg , image_blank_emblem = City of Scottsdale Script Logo.svg , nick ...

, was appointed Chairman of the National Fitness Hall of Fame and served a 3-year term ending in 2017. Inclusive among the National Fitness Hall of Fame inductees are four elected Fellows in the National Academy of Kinesiology: Steven N. Blair, P.E.D., Fellow #302, who also served as Academy President during 1994-1995; Janice S. Todd, Ph.D., Fellow #511; Thomas K. Cureton, Ph.D., Fellow #119, who received the Academy's Highest Honor, the Hetherington Award, in 1976; and Dudley Allen Sargent, M.D., Honorary Fellow in Memoriam.

Inductees

*Paul Bernstein *

Joe Bonomo Joe Bonomo is an American essayist and music writer. Life Bonomo was born and raised in Wheaton, Maryland. He graduated from University of Maryland (BA) and Ohio University (MA and PhD). His books include ''No Place I Would Rather Be: Roger Ang ...

* Dr. Paul C. Bragg, ND *

* Nancy Claussen * Bill Crawford *

Debbie Drake Debbie Drake is a former American fitness and nutrition guru. Drake is most well-known for presenting '' The Debbie Drake Show'' from 1960 to1978. Career Drake's career started after starting a local exercise show on regional television before b ...

Clyde Emrich Clyde Emrich (April 6, 1931 – November 10, 2021) was an American Olympic Games, Olympic Olympic weightlifting, weightlifter. He was also a long-time strength coach for the Chicago Bears, who in 2008 named their weight room after him. He is a me ...

Jane Fonda Jane Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, activist, and former fashion model. Recognized as a film icon, Fonda is the recipient of various accolades including two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, sev ...

Cathe Friedrich Cathe Friedrich, born July 20, 1964, is an American ACE certified group fitness instructor, personal trainer and entrepreneur from Glassboro, New Jersey. Since releasing her first fitness video in 1989, Friedrich has released over 190 fitness vide ...

* Bob Gajda *

Marilu Henner Mary Lucy Denise Henner is an American actress. She began her career appearing in the original production of the musical '' Grease'' in 1971, before making her screen debut in the 1977 comedy-drama film '' Between the Lines''. In 1977, Henner wa ...

* Bob Hoffman *

* Kathy Kaehler *

Professor Len Kravitz Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an academic rank at universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who professes". Professors ...

Joe Lupo Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

* David Lyons *

Tony Little Tony Little (born September 16, 1956) is an American television fitness personality and businessman, who is best known for his fitness infomercial products. Little is a certified personal trainer and identifies himself as "America's Personal T ...

Anibal Lopez Anibal Lopez (born August 24, 1942) is an American bodybuilder. He was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico to Francisco and Francisca Lopez. His family relocated to Bronx, New York in 1954 where he attended Public School 66, Herman Ridder Junior H ...

Bernarr Macfadden Bernarr Macfadden (born Bernard Adolphus McFadden, August 16, 1868 – October 12, 1955) was an American proponent of physical culture, a combination of bodybuilding with nutritional and health theories. He founded the long-running magazine pub ...

Lenda Murray Lenda Murray (born February 22, 1962) is an American professional female bodybuilding champion. Early life and education Murray was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Darcelious and Louvelle Murray. She began participating in orga ...

Bill Pearl William Arnold Pearl (October 31, 1930 – September 14, 2022) was an American professional bodybuilder and athlete. During the 1950s and 60s, he won many titles and awards, including winning the Mr. Universe contest five times, and was named ...

Joseph Pilates Joseph Hubertus Pilates (9 December 1883 – 9 October 1967) was a German physical trainer, credited with inventing and promoting the Pilates method of physical fitness. Biography Early life Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born on 9 December 1 ...

Bonnie Prudden Bonnie Prudden ( Ruth Alice Prudden; January 29, 1914 – December 11, 2011) was an American physical fitness pioneer, rock climber and mountaineer. Her report to Eisenhower on the unfitness of American children as compared with their European co ...

* Forbes Riley * Leslie Sansone * Professor Thomas Sattler *

Richard Simmons Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (born July 12, 1948) is an American fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality. He has promoted weight-loss programs, most prominently through his ''Swe ...

* Kathy Smith *

* Michael Thurmond * Dennis Tinerino *

Terry Todd Terry Todd (December 31, 1937 – July 7, 2018) was an American powerlifter, and Olympic weightlifting, Olympic weightlifter. Todd was co-founder of the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports, co-editor oIron Game Hi ...

* Tamilee Webb * David P. Webster *

Ben Weider Benjamin Weider, (1 February 1923 – 17 October 2008) was a Canadian soldier, author, historian (Napoleonic history), fitness proponent, benefactor of the arts, and entrepreneur. He co-founded the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFB ...

* Betty Weider *

* Dr. Robert Weil, DPM (Complete list of NFHOF Inductees can be found at the website: www.NationalFitnessHallofFame.com)

References

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The Berkshire Eagle ''The Berkshire Eagle'' is an American daily newspaper published in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and covering all of Berkshire County, as well as four New York communities near Pittsfield. It is considered a newspaper of record for Berkshire Cou ...

, date=June 18, 2006 {{cite web, title=Lifeline Founder to be Inducted into National Fitness Hall of Fame, date=April 16, 2014, accessdate=2015-12-04, work=Clubindustry.com, url=http://clubindustry.com/lifeline-founder-be-inducted-national-fitness-hall-fame {{cite journal, url=http://prev.dailyherald.com/story/?id=174624, journal=

Daily Herald Daily or The Daily may refer to: Journalism * Daily newspaper, newspaper issued on five to seven day of most weeks * ''The Daily'' (podcast), a podcast by ''The New York Times'' * ''The Daily'' (News Corporation), a defunct US-based iPad new ...

, title=National Fitness Hall of Fame introduces Class of 2008, author=Ron Skrabacz, date=April 18, 2008, accessdate=2015-12-04 {{cite journal, url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/05/25/exclusive-arnold-schwarzenegger-expelled-national-fitness-hall-fame/, journal=

Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...

, accessdate=2015-12-04, title=EXCLUSIVE: National Fitness Hall of Fame Considers Expelling Arnold Schwarzenegger , author= Hollie McKay, date=May 25, 2011 {{cite journal, author=Ron Skrabacz, title=Man turns his passion into National Fitness Hall of Fame, journal=Daily Herald, date=March 3, 2006, accessdate=2015-12-04, pages=1–2, url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-142797261.html, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220132610/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-142797261.html, url-status=dead, archive-date=2016-02-20 {{cite journal, title=Female bodybuilder still an iron maven at 79, journal=

Tampa Bay Times The ''Tampa Bay Times'', previously named the ''St. Petersburg Times'' until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It has won fourteen Pulitzer Prizes since 1964, and in 2009, won two in a single y ...

, date=March 15, 2011, url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/pioneer-female-bodybuilder-still-an-iron-maven-at-79/1157470, accessdate=2015-12-04, author=Kim Wilmath {{citation, last1=Koff, first1=Ashley, last2=Kaehler, first2=Kathy, title=Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EO3C_jjyjvIC&pg=PP1, date=January 1, 2011, publisher=Hay House, Inc, isbn=978-1-4019-3153-7, pages=1 {{cite journal, url=http://www.scottsdaleindependent.com/business/basic-training-medx-owner-chair-national-fitness-hall-fame/, accessdate=2015-12-04, title=Basic Training MedX owner to chair National Fitness Hall of Fame, author=Bret McKeand, journal=Scottsdale Independent , date=November 16, 2014 Halls of fame in Illinois Tourist attractions in Grundy County, Illinois