Cliff Crowder Virginia Strength and Power HoF inductee 2021

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

Clifford “Cliff” Crowder

 

Cliff is a Geological Engineer and moved to Virginia about 1970 to work for the U.S. Patent Office. After retiring from the Patent Office Cliff obtained a law degree and now lives in Northwest Virginia. Cliff began lifting when he was 22 years old and made rapid progress to the national level in the 198lb class.

 

5^th 181lb class 1970 Region 2 Olympic Weightlifting Championships

1^st 181lb class 1971 DCAAU Weightlifting Championships

4^th 181lb class 1971 Chesapeake Bay Invitational Weightlifting Contest

1^st 181lb class 1971 Henderson Hall Open (USMC) Weightlifting Championships

1^st 198lb class 1971 Fort Belvoir Tri-Association Weightlifting Championships

5^th 198lb class 1973 Jean Dame Memorial Paris France

1^st 198lb class 1973 Region 2 Championships

2^nd 198lb class 1973 Philadelphia Open

1^st 198lb class 1973 Junior Nationals

5^th 198lb class 1973 Senior Nationals (Lost 4^th on BW)

 

Cliff’s best lifts at 198lbs were 315 snatch, 396lb C&J and 710lb total. These were probably State records at the time. The records as off 11/1969 were 300 snatch and 345 Clean and Jerk held by Jim Bishop. It is my assumption that Cliff held all the State records in the 198lb class in 1973.

 

At the 1973 Philadelphia Open Cliff was leading National Champion and 2x Olympian Phil Grippaldi by 25lbs after the snatch. Phil had to Clean and Jerk 415lbs to beat Cliff. Due to Cliffs performance at the Philadelphia Open, Cliff was selected for the Jean Dame Memorial team to compete in Paris France. Cliff tied for 4^th place but was 5^th as he was heavier than Phil Grippaldi.

 

July 1973 Strength and Health Page 54 states that Cliffs best lifts were 310lb snatch and 400lbs clean and jerk. Cliff snatched 315 lbs at the 1973 Junior Nationals. I am not sure where Cliff cleaned and jerked 400lbs but having trained with him at Henderson Hall (Arlington Va.) for several years I do not doubt that he successfully clean and jerked 400lbs officially.

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Mon Aug 23 21:25:38 UTC 2021 | Last Updated: Fri Dec 22 22:43:50 UTC 2023