Tom Campanaro - 2013 NFHOF Inductee
Tom became a self-taught student of exercise equipment and methods, tinkering in his garage to find or make various objects with which to weight train. By the early 1970s, Tom was competing in regional and national bodybuilding competitions. However, a steady increase in steroid use among professional bodybuilders disillusioned Campanaro, and he soon bowed out of the sport.
Tom founded the Total Gym® Company with business partners Dale McMurray and Doug Marino in 1974, with Larry Westfall joining the team within the year. They developed the Total Gym incline bodyweight trainer, a high-quality version of a machine that encouraged the use of multiple muscle groups together in each exercise—now referred to as “functional training.”
As Campanaro and his partners tirelessly showcased the benefits of Total Gym far and wide, the company grew. Infomercials, the darling of direct response TV, were Campanaro’s next coup. He knew the potential reach of infomercials—combined with the medium that could offer comprehensive demonstrations—was the right marketing strategy. Today, Total Gym is the longest running broadcast infomercial in history, with over 4 million users and a billion dollars’ worth of Total Gyms sold through the infomercial and in retail stores in over 85 countries.
In 2003, the company launched the GRAVITYSystem®, a versatile and turnkey fitness program designed to drive revenue and attract members while putting the Total Gym incline trainer to maximum use. With 6,000 certified GRAVITY Trainers worldwide, over 3 million GRAVITY workouts are offered each year in commercial fitness and wellness facilities around the globe.
These days, Tom, who is originally from Philadelphia, PA, continues to work out on Total Gym at his own home and devotes time to his family, which includes his daughter, Shanan, son, Jesse and his wife Blythe. Joy Campanaro, his wife, works alongside him in the business overseeing the company’s marketing and design departments.
Brenda DyGraf - 2013 NFHOF Inductee
Widely recognized as a top exercise trendsetter in today’s product- driven fitness industry, Brenda is responsible for bringing numerous breakthrough products to fitness enthusiasts worldwide including, but not limited to;
- The Ab Roller Plus - first ab product featuring head and neck support
- The InStride Walker - first ‘A’ frame walker
- The Revolution Cycle - first home spinning bike
- The Lateral Thigh Trainer – unique bi-directional stepper
- The AirClimber Xpress - compact air stepper featuring Air Power Technology
Certifications: Certified by AFAA as Personal Fitness Trainer and selected by them to train upcoming Fitness Instructors, USA/Europe. Certified and Expert Presenter for IDEA and personally trained and certified by Nautilus equipment founder, Arthur Jones as Professional Fitness Trainer.
Spokesperson for 19 different infomercials which have been broadcast in over 30 countries. Brenda has appeared monthly on the Home Shopping Network for 15 years and bi-monthly on QVC for five years.
Brenda continues to reach new heights in the exercise video industry by choreographing and starring in over 190 exercise videos and DVD’s. Featured in a line of Cosmopolitan fitness videos and co-starred in Gilad Janklowicz’s infomercial and videotape series “The Quick Fit System”
Brenda won the prestigious United States Aerobic Championship in two categories; Single Female and Mixed Pairs and also won 18 aerobic championships in three different categories; Single Female, Mixed Pairs and Team
Brenda’s Overall Message; Whether it’s one of Brenda’s exercise videos, infomercials or live performances, her heartfelt message is always the same; “If you rely on the champion within you, you can do anything.”
Clyde Emrich - 2013 NFHOF Inductee
Born: April 6, 1931 | Hometown: Lake Bluff, Illinois
Clyde Emrich born April 6, 1931 and in 1946, at the age of 15, he began lifting weights. With no one to train him, he turned to Strength and Health magazines for guidance, building his own weight training equipment by utilizing homemade cans of sand and cement and cable-chest expanders.
His intense barbell training paid off with several athletic achievements, such as winning his high school wrestling championship and completing the 100-yard dash in 10.2 seconds. He went on to enjoy an incredibly long and successful competitive weightlifting career that stretched from 1948 to 1968, continuing his tradition of self-coaching.
In 1963, Chicago Bear’s Coach Halas invited Clyde to meet with him. He asked Emrich to act as a consultant to the team and to help them set up a basic strength training plan, which Clyde was happy to do. The Bears went on to win the championship that same year, giving further credence to the importance of strength training in maximizing athletic performance. For the next eight years, Emrich continued training with many of the Bears players at the YMCA, lifting competitively himself until 1968, and he continued to act as a consultant to the team. Then, in 1971 the Bears hired him to become their first full-time strength and conditioning coach, making him one of the first strength coaches in the NFL.
He coached in this capacity through 1991. At that point, Clyde moved into administration but in 2005 he to return to the weight room to help the players with their training. In 2008, the franchise honored their longest tenured employee by naming their weight room after him. He has over 49 years of weight lifting experience and continues to be the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Chicago Bears at age 84.
Clyde Emrich, a living legend and pioneering NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach, is a member of the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame, the Illinois State Weightlifting Hall of Fame, the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame, and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame. He is affectionately known as "The Legend", an extremely appropriate tribute to this true Legend in the Field of Strength and Conditioning, who has had such a major impact on the development of the strength and conditioning coaching profession.
Anibal Lopez - 2013 NFHOF Inductee
Born: August 24, 1942 | Hometown: Deltona, Florida
As a teenager, Anibal’s passion began to grow for both weightlifting and bodybuilding. He began training at home with a barbell and pair of dumbbells that he ordered from a Weider magazine for $19.95 and a homemade bench made of wood. In 1969 Anibal joined the AAU and entered his first novice contest, “Mr. Wagner”, and won the over-all title. As he continued to improve, he won such titles as, Mr. New York City, Mr. New York State, Mr. Eastern America, and Mr. Brooklyn. He then qualified to compete in the AAU Jr. and Senior Mr. America contest where he placed 3rd against renowned competitors.
In 1978 Anibal entered the WBBG Pro-Mr. America contest and won the title. He also won Pro Mr. World and most of best body parts awards. This qualified Anibal to compete in the NABBA Mr. Universe contest where he placed 3rd in his division. The doors began to open to traveling, performing posing exhibitions, and appearances on TV and radio. He became a motivational speaker for academic institutions such as Stetson University in Florida, correction institution, schools and recreational organizations.
Over the years Anibal has dedicated his bodybuilding accomplishments to encourage others to use exercise or bodybuilding as a tool to improve or change their lives.
Now, retired from competitive bodybuilding, he continues to exercise and stay in the best shape possible. Anibal stays active as a personal trainer and has his own private personal training facility where he can teach the importance of staying in good physical condition but most of all taking good care of their health.
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