Show C2 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Wednesday April 2 2003 Death of LIZARD LICK NC(AP) — Johnny Perry’s favorite declared to the world what few would dare say to his face: “Freak" At and 37S pounds Perry towered like a colossus over most of the folks who worked out with him His tattooed biceps were 23 inches bigger around than the waists of some of the girls who swooned over him Perry knew he was a genetic anomaly and he reveled in it At 27 the Carolina farmboy world of entered the professional strongmen — towing trucks flipping tractor tires and shouldering boulders There wasn’t much money in it but he got to travel the world and be seen by millions on cable sports channels A mere three years after turning pro Perry was ranked second in the United States and fourth in the world But his goal was to be crowned world’s strongest man the first American to hold the title in 20 years And if genetics alone couldn’t get him there he would use steroids to help nature along Perry was in a hurry Despite his Olympian aura he knew all too well the limits of his mortality “I’ll never make it past 40 43” he would tell Ronnie Shirley his bos6 weight trainer and boyhood best Man friend “That's my cutoff shirt on Blit as he neared high school his body began converting that fat into height and muscle His mother Gail Perry says Johnny’s size made him a magnet for trouble like the gunfighter every young Turk wants to challenge In high school he played football but quit suddenly “I’ll hurt somebody I’m too big” he told Shirley Instead he got into bodybuilding Shirley says a sprat where “die rally person he could hurt was hisself” Perry lovedhis physique — esper cially his arms “He would just sit in the mirror and flex and look at himself” says stepTaylor Lana his daughter Penydabbled in semiprofessional wrestling appearing under the stage name “Steel” But he told his mother that was too “fakey” and that he wanted “to show my own strength” That’s when he found Strongman You can catch them as filler between basketball or football games on ESPN: Massive men tossing kegs over a high bar or running down a track with a concrete boulder perched on one shoulder Atlas-lik- e The World’s Strongest Man competition was created in 1977 by CBS and is now owned by Trans World irt Johnny Perry was bom big — 10 pounds 9 ounces Growing up in tobacco country east of Raleigh Perry was always aware he was different — sometimes painfully aware Other kids would call him “fat boy” for years he wouldn’t go swimming without a shades sftFeirajslinmaini - - - AP photo Johnny Pony works out in Raieigh NC in this July 27 2000 file photo Perry (fled of a heart attack at age 30 on Nov 21 2002 Perry had high levels of cocaine and a banned performance-enhancin- g drug in his system when he (fled his career — though he now warns young people to stay away from diem Steroid use has been linked to a range of health problems from liver damage and prostate cancer to increased disk of strokes and heart attacks Shirley says Peny had studied the substances and was willing to take the risk “To be No 1" Shirley says “this is what you have to sacrifice” Though Perry was known for raising money for disabled children sharing advice with budding strength athletes being what Shirley called “the most docile human being” he had a dark side that some blamed on steroids Less than a month before he died his estranged wife Mary Cabell Petty sought a domestic-violenc- e Perry worked as a repo man for Shirley’s Lizard Lick Towing and Recovery He improvised his own equipment using oxygen cylinders to practice the Farmer’s Walk in which the athlete runs down a trade with a 245-pouweight in each hand Schroeder watched as Perry blazed through the ranks She felt 2003 was Perry’s year “He was America’s hope to win world’s strongest man" she says But Perry was convinced he couldn’t do it without some help International Like American stock-ca- r racing the pro ranks are fed by amateurs who compete at county fairs and festivals And like NASCAR competitors go from event to event stacking up points in search of that coveted nd title The last American to own the tro- phy was Wisconsin native Bill Kaztitan maier — a 6-- 3 320-pouKazmaier was the world’s strongest man three years running from 1980 to ’82 Perry idolized Kazmaier and he was determined to reclaim the crown for the United States Perry’s first competition was in 1999 the East Coast Strongman nd - wcarDdl victions for assault destruction of property and other lesser crimes dating back to 1991 Use of anabolic steroids has been linked to increased aggressiveness a phenomenon known as “’raid rage" Results of Perry’s autopsy have yet to be released But Peny’s supporters seem almost desperate to point to any other cause for his death Shirley says Perry was a big fan of ephedra sometimes popping six at once to “get wired” beforfc a compe-tition The nonprescription fatburn-in- g supplement has been4fed in Baltithe recent death of more Orioles pitcher Steve BecMer Shirley says steroids were just “two grains of sand" on the beadi of Perry’s life and that opponents of their use have made a scapegoat of his friend But they have not gone unheard Starting with the nationals in August strongman competitors will have to undergo testing for steroids and amphetamines “None of us want to profit off athletes that are killing themselves” says Jim Reese vice president of IFSAUSA Phil Pfister a Charleston WVa strongman who has reached a top five world ranking without steroids feels that Perry was a victim of a society that “focuses on the quick fix and die magic wand for everything” “What we lost was finding out what man’s real ability is” he laments “We don’t know how fast a man can really run We don’t know how fat or fast a person can cycle or swim or how much a man can lift It’s all clouded" Perry died with no insurance and many debts He is buried in a field beside his parents’ home with only a tin funeral home plaque to mark his grave Five days before his death Schroeder gave Perry a gift forjudging one of her contests — a smooth d concrete “light stone” It was the first piece of professional strongman equipment he’d ever owned His mother is thinking of using it for his gravestone - semi-sidesho- w when you’re my size you don't make it to be 50” But even Johnny Perry couldn’t have predicted how soon death would find him The morning of Nov 21 Lori But- ler went to wake her boyfriend so he could pack for a flight to Sweden and his first event in the World Strongman Super Series She found him curled up in the fetal position Johnny Perry was dead of a heart attack at age 30 ‘Ftroailk' Challenge Promoter Gayle Schroed-e- r immediately recognized the marketability of his good looks and Gai Perry once asked her son if he look steroids “Momma you know I wouldn’t do that” he replied Then he smiled af her Shirley says Peny complained that he would never win the world title as long as there were competitors from countries where steroid use was legal According to Shirley Perry had been taking steroids for about 3 imposing presence “He was just a monstrous she says Even his idol Kazmaier has acknowledged using steroids early in man" protective order against him “He’s large full of drugs ” she wrote in a request steroids complaining that two years earlier Peny grabbed her so brad during an argument that he broke her neck In fact Petty had a history of con 12 years : - 240-poun- f Thanks to you Ice arena great To the editor: I would just like to take this opportunitytothankallthbse who have given their time and money to create the Geoige S Eccles Ice Center You can’t imagine what a huge part of so many kids’ life it has become Not only does it provide activities for children as well as whole families to participate in but the programs are so helpful in building self esteem and social skills So many kids have benefited in so many ways other than just learning a skill They have made friends developed self confidence and self discipline physically became better fit learned to encourage others set goals and display good sportsmanship We are so for- tunate to have such a great facility and staff We can’t express enough thanks to Janet Borg for sharing such a wonderful dream with so many others You are an inspiration to so many for seeing this through Also thank you to everyone in the up and coming Cache Valley Figure Skating Club We have enjoyed you all so much and are so proud of your accomplishments We are ever grate- ful for the terrific coaches we have as well you couldn't ask for a better group Tiffany Pace you are outstanding I can’t thank you enough for all you have done not only are you a fantastic coach but a great example as a person and your gentle encouragement and praise has forever changed so many Sammy and Shania Laird Providence Dishonesty harmful To the editor: I am writing this letfor because it seems as though some people forget to think about other’s feelings Oh March 6 my grandmother ( parked her car in front of the Carl Inoway Senior Housing ' building which she lives in She returned to her apartment to retrieve her hospital smock as die had forgotten it on her way to the hospital fra her volunteer shift She has been a' v UTAH volunteer at the hospital for 1 1 years serving four hour shifts faithfully each week At 80 years old I consider this quite a feat When she returned to her car five minutes after parking it she was shocked by what she saw Someone had side swiped her car leaving one person saw your example and then was dishonest with you Volunteers fantastic To the editor Nothing makes spring like a sparkling new coat of fresh paint The wonderful folks at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church recently gave their weekend to give the Chil- - ' dren’s Justice Center a much-neede- d facelift donating many hours of hard work on behalf of abused kids We would particularly like to thank Regina Johnston Jill McCune Pastor Ron Larry and Becky Yeager' John McCurdy Sandra Wein-ga- rt Matt Outsen Tom Dickinson Kim Casselman A J Pegt and everyone else who worked so hard and accomplished so much Regina and Jill also serve on our Friends of the Children’s Justice Center group and donate countless additional hours every month to help fight child abuse Without the selfless dedication of volunteers like these our Center would not be possible and the hundreds of abused children we serve every year would have no place to go Thank you so much! admitting it Perhaps they figured she had insurance to cover the damage they had caused and no long term harm would remain How wrong they were Five years ago when my grandfather died she lost his social security income and veterans pehsioiuThis made finances tight but grandma has always found a way to pay all of her obligations She had to find a way to stretch her social security check One of the ways was to drop her col- lision insurance on her car paying only fra liability to protect the “other guy” Grandma was also hurt financially Estimates on repairs to her car are over a couple thousand dollars Money that is going to be tough to pay This brings me to the point of this letter Destroying my grandma's car did not just effect her It effected the person who did this And it effected those who may have been witnesses If one person caq get away with dishonesty then those who witness it may think they ‘ can too Dishonesty is a sickness The more it happens the more itwill spread The person who did this knows who they are How would you feel if someone damages your property and doesn't say anything Wouldn’t it be ironic if it came full circle and you became the victim because THE RM pot rorrat 2 t HMRV OHAMM g’i'V' IMIYM5 MXTNaattSO Matinees All Seats S200 (CAaipHMErVOUCANi n- - 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Lewis md Gvk Camp (entering SjtrfNMreR4-tapBt79mi-3m- i o-i- a 300 AitniKitatCiapitipij-ii- f To the editor: I have read the Herald Journal’s article about the Cache Community Food Pantry’s search fra a new director to replace retiring Joyce Tarbet I don’t fully understand the circumstances surrounding this search but I wanted to express my sincere gratitude fra all that Tarbet has done to help this community In her position as director ' Tarbet has been professional and caring each time I have had contact with her She treats her clients and contributors alike with respect and dignity I have evert noticed i WESTATES - Jus- Tarbet a good leader 0 7:00-9:1- Daily I AMD SeaioillhYoiiiiitiSlipj-ulM'q-LiL-UMipii- t ra Daily 4:50 Denise Strong Providence Rebekah Alpisa ' SCUMjW GPE4T KANGAROO JACK She was my Cache County ScaitelL ' YuUcx's LuxutyWM gpeat picture Citizen of the year nomination and T understand that many others in this Community also nominated her Thanks for all of Ms Tarbet’s positive contributions to this commu- nity and hard work over the years : Cache County Children’s tice Center 2 CHILDREN S20Q SEiTS 0PEAT tal Heather Foltz Logan the road littered with glass paint rubber and other debris The policeman told her that it was impossible for the person who hit her car not to have realized what they had done But no one was airound Someone had crushed the side of her car to the point that the driver side doors could not be opened and they had gone away with no thought of the person they had just hurt Most people are honest and we live in a great community so it was hard to believe that someone could do this without tMLarhe that at times clients are treated like family by Ms Tarbet and her helpers She is and has terrific compassion that translates into a successful food pantry program on which all of us can rely during hard times 752-307- $300 ADULTS P or 7 10 M 300 MO grade) un Bringing Down The New! - ro-- i Sup fern the Laid: (ipsf-tt-) Scoios DoteAapstu-1- 6 1 Sommer Story Series (ages 30 435 CACHE VALLE Yj 3 9:00 un -- zoo pja 4-- Loid Of 7) (Semfeeiti5bSNItaf2oforno(Hneaib(n) SeHmb'IsdiJiBe24ialJilviiiid8iO'OOLa-i(xxi-OK- lha Rings rc-i450 Haad Of State pG-ia- a 10 i -' -- WednesdnsJiuiei8ll25indJidy2aid9MKOQ SemILTindaJi5221aidAoptst5udi21Krao-inxi- 300 North Main Bahind iho Mol aooa BootiipM 430 ZOO 900 CINEMA3 — 60 WhI IOO North Pigleft Big Moria n po-- i Shmhai (MiktaAdnncedngitinepnfapunqiMSpacti &CedLCUflbSDfcaJViR4iavGmterjRgrirtRtfKmfibnN9(ioRat MO A ViW From Itw Tap ro-- i 430 MO MO Banks rat Agmt Cady 430 MO no Gift X V loabAmiaUa at Mania 5 and Stadium 8 |