AAU PowerLifting
Hall OF Fame
Men's Power Lifting Profiles Page 8
If greatness is not acknowleged it starts to fade. It is our hope that by honoring these individuals and preserving their accomplishments, history will repeat itself. The strick criterier for admition to the Hall of Fame will ensure that few are inducted, So congradulations to those who have obtained a place in powerifting history!
Martin Drake 2011
Martin started lifting at the tender age of 11 and began his lifting career as an AAU Weightlifter. When the AAU Created the sport of Powerlifting, he made the move to the worlds strongest sport. He continued to compete on a semi-regular basis until 1980. Martin returned to competition in 1989, competing in both Powerlifting and Natural Bodybuilding. Despite sub-optimal genetics, Martin won various Natural Bodybuilding titles including ABA USA Masters Champion, ABA Natural So. California Masters, ABCC Natural America and ABA Natural Universe Master Champion. Competing in the ADFPA and USPF satisfied his powerlifting desires for a while, but he wanted to give back to the sport. When the sport of Powerlifting returned to the AAU, Martin was there. Within the first year, he was appointed to the AAU PL Executive Board and has held senior positions since. In 1996 he brought AAU powerlifting to a new standard when he held the first AAU International event, the AAU North Americans. After the first AAU World Powerliftig Championships in Florida, Martin saw a need for International Single lift events. Thus the AAU World Bench Press Champions were born. Over the years, Martin has drawn lifters from 27 different countries to AAU events. Over the years, Martin has been the Meet Director for > 50 National, International and world events and has been responsible for securing major venues in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas,Mesquite Nevada and Laughlin Nevada. In December 2011 Bill Weinstock presented the idea of adding Feats of Strength to AAU Powerlifting. With the help of a visionary Executive Committee , they were able to host the first AAU National Feats of Strength Nationals five months later. Martin the proposed a bold concept to Steve Wood and the Executive Board. AAU Strength Sports. AAU Powerlifting, Feats of Strength and Weightlifting under one brand. The first AAU Strength Sports Festival was held 6 months later.
As a lifter, Martin has been blessed with good health, resulting in a stellar career thus far. Martin has won 38 World Championship awards in the AAU and other organizations. Of his 72 Best Lifter Awards, 17 have been AAU World Championship Best Lifter awards.
AAU Powerlifter 1964-1978 (AAU Powerlifting ceased until 1994)
AAU Powerlifter 1994-present
AAU International Referee
AAU Feats of Strength International Referee
AAU Weightlifting Referee
38 World Championship Victories
17 AAU World Championship Best Lifter awards
over 380 AAU American and World records.
ANA/INBA Natural Mr Universe Masters divsion
Meet Director of the Largest AAU Powerlifting event 2000 AAU Worlds 534 total lifters
Meet Director of the first AAU World Single Lift Championships
First AAU Meet Director to draw 200 lifters (1997 AAU North Americans)
First AAU Meet Director to draw 300 lifters (2000 AAU Worlds)
Meet Director of > 50 AAU National, International and World Meets
Meet Director of the first AAU Weightlifting adult meet since 1978
Meet Director of the first AAU Weightlifting Nationals since 1978
Co-Meet Director of the first AAU Feats of Strength Nationals
Co-Meet Director of the first AAU Feats of Strength World Championships
Played a pivotal role in bringing Feats of Strength to the AAU
Played a pivotal role in the creation of AAU Strength Sports
Former ADFPA State Chairman
Gordon B. Santee 2012
Gordon was born on September 6, 1946 in Rochester, NY. Most of his early activities were centered in New York State where he graduated from Syracuse University in 1968. Eventually moving west, he relocated to the Los Angeles area in 1976 and in 1979 married Sandee. They bought their home in 1980 where the garage area was perfect for an “at home” gym and when Bill Ennis of Weightlifter’s Warehouse delivered the weights, bars and cage, the rest is history.
Gordon’s first experience with powerlifting was less than a success with an injury during the squat in 1980. Continuing to train, things took a turn for the worse and he broke his back in 1981. Electing not to have surgery, Gordon took the next 18 months to learn to walk and regain his strength. Over the years, his training improved and he won his first world championship in 1989.
In the early 1990s, he dabbled in bodybuilding winning several local and regional contests. In 1992, Gordon won the NPC National Masters. It was fun, but the real thrill comes with powerlifting.
There have been a number of challenges over the years, but nothing that couldn’t be overcome with perseverance, good nutrition and a commitment to not giving up. Surviving cancer, managing hypoglycemia, several biceps reattachments and good old arthritis didn’t dampen his spirit.
In powerlifting, Gordon has won 22 national and 28 world championships in the AAU, USAPL, IPF, USPF, WPF, WABDL, APF, WPC, AAPF, AWPC, USPA and IPL. In the process, he has set or broken 103 American and 104 world records. This has involved travel to locations such as South Africa, Austria, England, Canada, Mexico, Australia and the United States. This has also given Sandee and Gordon a chance to see the world.
Not letting age get in the way, in Cape Town, South Africa in October 2001 at the age of 55, his best deadlift was a RAW 255.5Kg (563 pounds) which was both a world record and a personal best.
Gordon has been an active national and world referee for over thirty years. His mentor was the legendary Brian Smith. He has refereed in over 500 powerlifting events and can sometimes be found on the platform as a referee, lifter or platform manager.
He has been inducted in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU/CA) Hall of Fame 2003, United States Powerlifting Federation (USPF/CA) Hall of Fame 2004, United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Hall of Fame 2011 and World Association of Bench Pressers/Deadlifters (WABDL) Hall of Fame 2012.
