Bodybuilders - Part 4

 Bill Hillgardner

Bill Hillgardner (1915-2001) has been cited on some websites as the first Mr. America in 1938.  That's not true, but there's an element of truth in it.  In 1938, the Mr. America contest did not exist.  A competition called the Finest Physique Contest was held in Schenectady, New York, with winners in three height categories: short, medium, and tall.  Hillgardner won the medium height category (5'8" to 5'11").  

This contest and several similar contests in 1939 were precursors to the first contest called Mr. America with a single winner, held in 1940 and won by John Grimek.

Nevertheless, even if he wasn't Mr. America, Bill Hillgardner was one of the winners of a competition for the finest physique in the United States.  I couldn't find any photos from the contest, but Hillgardner was featured on the cover of Strength and Health magazine in July, 1939 (above).

Bill Hillgardner posed nude for Lou Melan, a New York physique photographer in the 1930s.  There seem to be a variety of dates cited for Lou Melan's photos.  I have seen the photo of Hillgardner above dated 1930, 1931 and 1938, but in 1930 he was only 15 years old, so that date seems unlikely.

Those who dislike bodybuilders with grossly overdeveloped, bulging muscles should appreciate Bill Hillgardner's build.

Bill's brother Frank, three years younger, was also a physique enthusiast.  The two brothers posed together for Lou Melan in 1935 (above).  Bill is kneeling; Frank is standing.

And here are the brothers on Long Island in a 1935 Lou Melan photo.  Bill is on the left, Frank on the right.

Here's Bill in a Lou Melan photo that I've seen dated 1930 and 1948.  Again, 1930 is unlikely.

Folio Physique was a collection of 24 photos of Bill.  This is the only one I could find a decent large image of.

I found some other Folio Physique photos on auction sites, but they were groups of small photos spread out at angles and skewed.  My last 3 photos are these small photos that I have tried to rescue by removing the angular distortion, because we need some rear views of Bill (right, Rick?) and these are the only ones that I have come across.  Above, Bill crouching.

Posing with a bow.

We end with this shot of Bill Hillgardner using those muscles to pull on a rope.