Mabel Rader Nebraska Strength and Power HoF inductee 2022 (Contributor)

By Strength and Power Hall of Fame

 

Mabel Rader

 

Mabel is the co-founder and associate editor of Iron Man Magazine and Iron Man Lifting News. Iron Man was published from 1936 to 1986, and Lifting News was published from 1954 to 1969. In 1950, Mabel launched the column Vivacious Womanhood in Iron Man Magazine. The article included the first regular weight training articles showing women working out with barbells and dumbbells and pregnant women training with weights.

 

Mabel was an early advocate and one of the founders of women’s weightlifting and powerlifting. She formed the committee that explored the first weightlifting US Nationals for women in 1980, eventually leading to the first IWF Women’s World Championships in 1987 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mabel was the first female referee for weightlifting and powerlifting. She officiated at the first ADFPA women’s nationals. Mabel is a member of the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame and the Powerlifting Hall of Fame.

 

Mabel was an administrator and promotor of weightlifting and powerlifting for over 50 years.  She and her husband Peary donated thousands of dollars and hours to weightlifting and powerlifting during their lives. Mabel and Peary were not controversial, as were many of the publishing peers of their day. Hopefully, someone will write a book about the Raders and their tremendous impact on the growth of weightlifting and powerlifting.

 

Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Tue Oct 25 17:42:12 UTC 2022 | Last Updated: Tue Dec 26 17:04:09 UTC 2023