Robert Raymond BARTHOLOMEW

Bob Bartholomew got into lifting weights when he started bodybuilding in high school. He competed in the Mr. Pennsylvania, Mr. America, and Mr. America Physique competitions, but disliked the subjectivity of the sport and changed to weightlifting. In 1966 Batholomew won the AAU title, the Junior AAU title, and the North American Championship as a middle-heavyweight.

Raised mostly by his mother, with an absentee father, Bartholomew was a father figure to his younger siblings, but still attended night school to learn to become a welder. He was a welder for many years at Steamfitters Local 420. He settled in Catasauqua in the Poconos in Pennsylvania, where he became very involved with the Masons Organization.