James "Butch" Curry Jr California Strength and Power HoF inductee 2022

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

 

 

James “Butch” Curry Jr.

 

Butch started lifting in the mid-1960s and was coached by his father. He joined the Lost Battalion Hall Weightlifting Club and, after moving to California, lifted for the Sports Palace and was coached by Jim Schmitz. Butch is an Olympian and a 2X Senior National Champion. Butch won many local, State, and regional competitions during his long career. Butch has supported weightlifting for almost 60 years as an athlete, coach, meet director and administrator.

 

 

4^th 148lb class 1968 Teenage Nationals

1^st 165lb class 1970 Teenage Nationals

2^nd 165lb class 1971 Teenage Nationals

2^nd 181lb class 1972 National Collegiate

12^th 181lb class 1972 Jr. Nationals

9^th 165lb class 1974 Jr. Nationals

3^rd 181lb class 1975 Philadelphia Open

2^nd 181lb class 1976 Jr. Nationals

3^rd 181lb class 1976 Philadelphia Open

5^th 198lb class 1978 Senior Nationals

1^st 198lb class 1979 Senior Nationals

1^st 198lb class 1980 Senior Nationals

      198lb class 1980 Olympics (Boycott)

2^nd 198lb class 1980 Shanghai International Friendship Invitational

3^rd 198lb class 1980 America Cup International

9^th 198lb class 1982 Senior Nationals

1^st 198lb class 1982 America Cup 2

6^th 181lb class 1983 Senior Nationals

6^th 198lb class 1985 Senior Nationals

 

USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame

Metropolitan Weightlifting Hall of Fame (NY)

 

I have been involved with the sport of Weightlifting for almost 50 years as an athlete, official, coach and administrator.

 

I began competing in weightlifting at the age of 13 in a Junior Olympic competition. I have competed at every level in the United States and have represented the United States eight times Internationally. I won the 1979 and 1980 Senior National Championships in the 90 kg class and was selected for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Team.

 

I became a local official in the Metropolitan LWC in the early 1970s and have been a National Referee since 1975. I have officiated at various local competitions and National Championships. I was an official at three Olympic Festivals and worked both the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

 

I was Executive Director and Assistant Coach at the Marin Training Center from December 1991 until its closure in May 1996. During that time, I was co-meet director (along with Steve Gough) for more than two dozen competitions. This included the 1993 American Open, which was the largest National Weightlifting Championships event ever held in this Country until that time.

 

I am an International Coach and have had 9 Coaching Assignments. This includes a year as the Mentor Coach in the Resident Program at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Besides my duties in the Gym, I was an RA in the Dorm and helped the National Office with various tasks as needed.

 

I am in my eighteenth term as LWC President of the Pacific Weightlifting Association. I have been an Athlete’s Representative or Delegate for the Pacific Association for approximately 30 years and have been to every BOG Meeting during that period.

 

I served on the USAW Board of Directors as an Athletes’ Representative (1992-1993) and as an Alternate (1994-1995). I have served as USA Weightlifting’s representative to the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Advisory Council (1989-1993) and was on the USOC Board of Directors during the same period.  I am proud to say that I have never missed a meeting or left any meeting early while in any of these positions.

 

I would appreciate your support.

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Mon Jul 25 15:18:07 UTC 2022 | Last Updated: Wed Dec 27 14:08:59 UTC 2023