Muslce Power, Vol 19 No 7, Page 10, August 1956
THE 1956 Mr. America Contest held in the University of Pennsylvania had perhaps the toughest competition of all and ended with 23 year old Ray Schaefer, Korean War Veteran as Bodybuilding King Of The Year.
Ray, a boiler maker by trade, took two months off prior to the contest for intensive training and he certainly showed great improvement over last year when he came second. His added bulk and muscularity was most impressive.
Ron Lacy, the muscular marvel from Lexington, Kentucky, placed second and will certainly be tough to beat in 1957. 38 year old mathematical genius Gene Bohaty took third place honors.
Fourth place went to Arthur Harris who should have been next to Schaefer in my opinion. Art's posing brought down the house. His definition and bulk is amazing and no one was surprised when he took Most Muscular Honors, beating the Mr. America winner, Ray Schaefer.
Despite the fact that Vic Seipke was better than ever, he could only place 5th, a tribute to the caliber of the leading contestants. Harry Johnson, who also looked terrific placed 6th while Tony Silipini came in 5th. Tony would have walked away with some Special Division awards had these been held.
- Top five in the contest. L. to R. Vic Seipke 5th, Ron Lacy 2nd, Mr. America Ray Schaefer, Gene Bohaty 3rd, and sensational Art Harris 4th.
- Posed proudly with his trophy above, and posing for MUSCLE POWER'S camera, left is our new Mr. America for 1956. He's Ray Schaefer as great as any who've gone before.
- "Hey Ray! How about another shot?" calls our roving reporter and Mr. America obliges him.
- Even their muscles have muscles. Line up for the Most Muscular Man award produced these 3 outstanding specimens. L. to R. Bob Hines, 3rd; Arthur Harris of New York City, winner; and Ray Schaefer, second.
- MOST MUSCULAR Most Muscular, we'll say he is. In fact he's the most and he's the great Arthur Harris. many say he should have won or placed second.
- Another shot of Most Muscular contest. It was first contest for Bob Hines, nearest to camera. Harris center, Schaefer, right.
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