User:Citruscandle/sandbox

Description

Steve Daniel Klisanin was born on the 17th of May 1929 in McKeesport Pennsylvania. Klisanin passed away on the 9th of May 2005, and is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Cypress, California. Klisanin was known for his service as a US marine and his passion and dedication to bodybuilding. Klisanin was particularly well known for his time as a bodybuilder, highlighted by his Mr. Universe title in 1956.

Early years

Klisanin was of Croatian descent, with his parents, John Klisanin and Luba Yanvetich being Croatian immigrants of America. Klisanin had a brother named William John Klisanin who was born on the 26th of June 1930. The family of four lived on Cornell street in McKeesport with one of their cousins named Frances Genelius throughout their early years. Klisanin attended McKeesport high school which is where he was recognized as a promising athlete, excelling in basketball, football and athletics. During his last year of high school, he became especially interested in weight training, weighing in at 135 pounds. After four months of continual training Steve had gained twenty pounds and people were starting to recognize the change in his figure.

Life after school

Upon his completion of high school, Steve joined the Marine Corps in 1946. Here, he was able to continue to train and work on his powerlifting, aspiring to compete in competitions later in life. In 1947, Klisanin was discharged from the Marine Corps and commenced at Kiski Prep Pennsylvania to further his studies in the fall of 1948. At Kiski Prep, Klisanin played center and was the captain of the football team and after a promising year of sporting achievements he was named the ‘outstanding athlete of the year’ over Bob Mathias who later became an Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon. After his promising year of sporting accomplishments at Kiski Prep, Klisanin was offered a football scholarship to Duke University in 1949. For Duke, he played quarterback and was the captain of the team, leading freshman squad to an undefeated season. After completing a year at Duke University, Klisanin was offered a promising job at a mining company in New Mexico. After taking up this abundant opportunity, he transferred to the University of New Mexico and undertook a Bachelor of Science in Geology. However, Klisanin was ineligible to play football due to the transfer, which encouraged Klisanin to spend more time training for weight lifting.

In 1952, Klisanin had an emergency operation on his appendix and also had a slight hernia repair. After the significant operation, Klisanin was notified that his professional athletic career would be over as the operation had taken a significant toll on his body. The operation had caused Klisanin to lose thirty-five pounds and as a result he now weighed 150 pounds. After the operation, Klisanin resumed his studies at the University of New Mexico where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Geology. He also started back his weight training, focusing on upper body lifts whilst waiting for his abdominal region to recover adequately.

Klisanin was recalled back into the Marine Corps in January of 1954, where he was posted in Quantico, Virginia. During his time in Quantico he continued to train and compete in events, adding title to his name. In July of 1954, Klisanin was sent overseas with the Marine Corp which made it very difficult to train effectively due to the lack of resources and facilities available.

Bodybuilding and weightlifting career

Klisanin started his weightlifting career in 1948 at the McKeesport Y.M.C.A Barbell Club. He won his first few titles, Mr. Pittsburg, Mr. Allegheny and Mr. Pennsylvania in 1949 which proved to be just the beginning of his career. In 1950, Klisanin placed seventh in the Mr. America contest and third in the Jnr. Mr. America contest, however, winning the best back award at the Jnr. Mr. America contest. In 1951, he was crowned Mr. New Mexico, Mr. Southwest and Mr. Albuquerque. To add to his titles, in 1953, he was named Jnr. Mr. America and Mr. Health. He was also named Mr. Virginia, Mr. Delaware Valley and Mr. America in 1955.

Klisanin not only competed as a bodybuilder but also competed as a weightlifter. From 1947-1951 Klisanin won weightlifting competitions in the Allegheny Mountain Association, from 1951-1954 in the New Mexico Association, in 1951 he won the Rocky Mountain Association, the Virginia State Association, the D.C. Association and the Delaware Valley Association as well as being the Jr. National middle heavyweight champion in 1954. Throughout 1951, 1953 and 1954, Klisanin was named in Bob Hoffman’s all-American lifting team.

Klisanin best official lifts consisted of a 270 lbs. press, a 262.5 lbs. snatch and a 342.5 lbs. clean and jerk which equated to a total of 875 lbs. Klisanins’ measurements were 17.5” arms, 49” chest, 31” waist, 25” thighs and 17” calves.

Time as a US Marine:

Steve served from 1946-1957 in the US marine corps. He served in many different states across the United States as a private, an enlisted volunteer and a sergeant.