15 Facts About Roy Hilligenn

Roy Stanley Hilligenn was an American bodybuilder who was awarded the title of Mr South Africa for four years, as well as AAU Mr America in 1951.

Roy Hilligenn, whose name was commonly misspelled as Hilligen in publications, was born in California and won a trophy for being a beautiful baby when he was only six months old.

When Roy Hilligenn was 4-years-old, his father died, and soon after, his mother placed him and his four siblings in an orphanage.

Roy Hilligenn lived at the orphanage until the age of 15, after which he went to school to become an electrician.

Roy Hilligenn had little interest in sports until the age of 17, when he fell four floors while working as an electrician.

Three years after his injury, Roy Hilligenn began competing in novice weightlifting meets.

Roy Hilligenn won his 1st place title in a novice weightlifting meet in 1943.

Roy Hilligenn was in the 148-pound weight class and performed a 160 press, 160 snatch, and 240 clean and jerk.

Roy Hilligenn went on to win the Mr South Africa title in 1943,1944,1946, and 1976.

In 1951 Roy Hilligenn began training for the Mr America competition under Ed Yarick in Oakland, who had worked with former Mr Americas.

The Yarick Gym included both bodybuilding training and weight-lifting, and Roy Hilligenn spent two months training with Yarick as well as living in Yarick's home and with his wife Alice.

Roy Hilligenn was hired as a personal trainer for a St Petersburg family and was accused of fondling a 21-year old female member of the family.

Roy Hilligenn was a vegetarian, claiming not to have eaten meat.

Roy Hilligenn died on August 3,2008, at the age of 85.

Roy Hilligenn developed a blood clot after he fell and hit his head.