Editors Note: I already wrote this in HardGainer 2.0 (issue #12) but I just realized I did not put anything on NaturalStrength, so here it is:
I wanted to acknowledge the passing of Iron Game legend Marvin Eder on February 1, 2022, at the age of 90. Marvin was known as “the biceps from the Bronx” and was one of the greatest figures in the history of Physical Culture. In my opinion, he was pound-for- pound the strongest drug-free man ever!
My good friend and great Iron Game historian, Osmo Kiiha, gave me Marvin’s phone number in the late 1990s, and we became friends. We had many long conversations over more than 20 years. I even had him as a guest on my podcast. Marvin was the recipient of the Physical Culture Award at my final Capital City Strength Clinic.
Here’s what Osmo wrote about Marvin:
“Marvin set the strength world on notice in the early 1950s. His incredible power, along with a world-class physique, set him apart from other men of his era. He had tremendous natural gifts: thick joints, great leverage. All his lifting was done way before the era of drugs.
“Marvin’s strength feats were almost superhuman; he was able to surpass the efforts of almost all super-heavies of the time, [although] weighing only 196-198 pounds. He was the third man in the world to bench press 500 pounds and the only man under 200 pounds to accomplish this fabulous feat in the 1950s. His one single parallel bar dip has never been equaled: 434 pounds, at the bodyweight of 198. He cleaned and military pressed 355 as a middle-heavyweight in 1953, which exceeded the official American record by 74 pounds; but due to being declared a professional athlete at the time, he was unable to claim his rightful place as the American and world record holder.
“Marvin was the original high intensity training kid; very few could stand up to his training volume or load. Truly, Marvin Eder was pound-for-pound the Strongest Man who ever walked the face of the earth.”
Rest in peace Marvin. You’ll be missed!
Below is an autographed picture that Marvin gave me. It was on the wall at WST for many years. I still have it hanging in my bedroom.
