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Mike Cross Tennessee Strength and Power HoF inductee 2022

BRIEF PERSONAL HISTORY:
The Frye Institute is where my competition years began. I gained wt. and strength as a sophomore I began with Olympic lifting. later that year I began powerlifting as well. Every meet that came up I entered. For my 1st power meet I deadlifted 340. Squat was ok but I’ve always lacked in the bench press. My 3rd power meet was the Sr. National Powerlift Championships in York Pa. I took a Greyhound bus with $ I saved working at a food market. I deadlifted 410 and placed 2nd. in my senior year and several more contests under my belt, I entered the state meet where I broke the American record twice. My deadlift was 468.5 in the 123 class. ....... I joined the Army Reserve in 1970. In 1971 while on leave (the night before I was to return to AIT in California) I was in a Shelby Mustang with a guy. He was pushing it through the gears on a long straightaway. Going into a long curve at around 120 mph his tires caught gravel on the shoulder which caused it to slide 670 feet into a telephone pole on my side hurtling me out and the car landed on me upside down. The GTO that was following us saw the crash and tried to pull me out with me screaming. Unable to they went to the police station where an ambulance was called from Chattanooga. By the time it arrived, enough people had stopped to lift the car enough to drag me out. Surgeons were called in and 2 surgeries were performed on the same day. My lung was punctured, my right eye was hanging out from its socket, and all the facial bones were crushed, along with my chin & both jaws. My nose was pushed upward and broke. A large piece of bone was missing from my forehead causing the frontal lobe of my brain to extend out. Dr. informed mom I’d most likely not make it past 3 days. I also lost some teeth. I was in the hospital for a couple of months and lost from 135 lbs to about 90 at the lowest. I arrived home on crutches weighing 108. One eye remained closed for over a year. My face was a mess. Steel pins under the skin, face numb to the touch & often oozing from the face. On my 1st day at home after eating very little I said I was going to the basement and working out, they said "You have lost your mind “!!! All I could do was 2 sets of 3 reps with the db curl and 2 sets of 3 reps in the db press. I was spent. I made it back up to the kitchen and then another flight of steps up to my bedroom. Dragging my leg onto the bed, I felt I had run a marathon. With a lot of effort, I tried to do a little more each day. Even without weight, I couldn’t do a full squat due to bone taken out of the hip to replace the missing forehead bone. Despite the drawbacks I trained. Many thought it might be wise to retire. Or do you think it’s worth it? That didn't sit well with me. I then determined I would be better than what I was. So, I entered my 1st contest after 7 months, it is now 1972. The wreck was 1971. I deadlifted 440 at 132 wt. My best in 1970 at the Sr. Nationals was 556.5 at 132. Still got a long way to go! This same year & six contests later (still 1972) I entered the world championships & deadlifted 525 in the 132 class. My goal now was to break the world record in the 123 lb. class. Ten to 12 plastic surgeries continued till 1982. In 1974 I entered the Sr. Nationals in Dallas. I lost from 136 down to 123 lbs. the world record was 548 lbs. I realized that if I missed 550 on a 2nd attempt, I would try it again on my 3rd attempt. Therefore, my starting wt. would be 500. I did 500 for 5 reps 2 weeks before weighing 136. I got 500 easily. I went for 550 and got it! After its being weighed it was 549.5 enough to break the world record. I got what I went for, so I declined a 3rd attempt. That year I was selected to lift on the US team in the 123 in Coventry England against the British. I got 1st place. having competed 48 years in combined Olympic lifting, powerlifting & competing in 8 physique contests (of which one was " best legs ", the years have been rewarding despite the challenges of a near-fatal car accident, a broken rib from falling off a ladder, being burned on 35% of my body and 3 weeks in a burn unit and cancer now for the 3rd time. I am currently following a healthy lifestyle modification. One last lifting note: during my career, I’ve deadlifted 500 lbs. or more 57 times in the 123 & 132 lb. class. life is great for I have been surrounded by a beautiful wife, family, and friends. I am currently still competing!

What lead you to your sport?
I lived in Tucson Az from the 3rd-8th grade. mom, brother and I moved to Signal Mt Tn where mom and I lived with her mom. That summer while rummaging in grandpa's barn attic I came across a barbell, bench press & 65lbs of weights. I moved them to the house basement where I did a few things with them off and on. I was registered at Notre Dame HS for the 9th grade. uncle Jim visited us one day & saw the weights he used to use. He showed me a progressive yet simple routine. The concept of that routine has been the basis of much of my training to this day. A classmate invited me to the Frye Institute where there was a weight room & it was free. In my sophomore year I went. I was very impressed in seeing guys lifting impressive weights overhead etc. I continued to do some basic exercises my uncle had shown me. Coach Rye Bell noticed me & started me doing the olympic lifts. He no doubt took me under his wing. Nobody had ever taken that much interest in me. He entered me in a city championship along with the team 6 weeks later. I placed 2nd in the novice division in the 123lb class. I weighed 112 and pressed 110. Snatched 105 & clean & jerked 125. A 6" wooden trophy was my award. I was ecstatic! Wow! That was all it took to take me on a long ride that continues to this day. I had entered the arena of the iron game with apprehension & excitement not knowing what the sport held for me.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOUR SPORT:

* 144 1st place wins in olympic & powerlifting * 10 national powerlifting 1st place wins
* 3 SPF national deadlift 1st place wins
* 3 world powerlifting 1st place wins
* 3 SPF world deadlift 1st place wins
* 1 USA vs great Britain International win
* 26 state powerlift meet wins
* 3 time Chattanooga weightlifter of the year
* Chattanooga athlete of the year
* inducted into Chattanooga " hall of fame "
* Muscular Development " Powerlifter of the Month "
* featured in Sports Illustrated " Faces In the Crowd "
* selected on the " all-American powerlifting team "
* 8 powerlifting best lifter awards

STATE, NATIONAL AND WORLD RECORDS:
* 28 state (olympic & powerlifting) records
* 15 national powerlifting records
* 18 world powerlifting records

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
* placed in 8 physique contests
* awarded " best legs " in Mr. Tennessee physique contest

OTHER ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE SPORT
* volunteered deadlift demonstrations at:
- churches
- singles groups
- Taft boys home for presenting the gospel

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Mon Mar 14 00:24:05 UTC 2022 | Last Updated: Thu Dec 28 21:02:18 UTC 2023