Jim Williams (powerlifter)

Williams died on January 23, 2007, at age 66 after battling diabetes for over 12 years.

*** surpassed by Big James Henderson's 683 lbs without a bench shirt in July, 1996.

* surpassed by Anthony Clark's 683 lbs with a bench shirt on July 31, 1994.

** surpassed by Ted Arcidi's 705 lbs in a prototype supportive bench press shirt made out of polyester and cotton on March 3, 1985.

His lifting career was not long and Williams did not compete officially after 1973. Shortly after the 1972 World Championships the U.S. Secret Service arrested Williams again and charged him with counterfeiting. In late 1979 he trained for a comeback, but suffered a serious quad tear, which ultimately ended his attempt as well as his lifting career.

On November 9, 1972, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the second World Powerlifting Championships ever, Williams achieved second place again, this time behind fellow training partner John Kuc. He also made his best official bench result with a 675 pounds press with only ace bandages of a specified length on his elbows, wearing a T-shirt and singlet. This lift would have been recognized as the official world record, but it was done one year before the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) was formed and began keeping "official" world records. Still, Williams' 675 pound bench press went into the books as an American Record and it was the all-time bench press world record, regardless of governing organization nonetheless. In addition to that, it stood as the American record in the AAU and later in the USPF for over 20 years from November 9, 1972, until July 31, 1994, when Anthony Clark established a new mark at 683 pounds with the help of a bench shirt. Williams had even attempted 700 at the 1972 World Championships and got it 3/4 of the way up. Although he never did it in competition, Williams had reportedly done 700 pounds in training on numerous occasions, with a best of 720 pounds. The legendary powerlifter John Kuc himself was one of the witnesses of Williams' 700 pounds bench press (as well as three international referees) at the York Gym and stated: "That was more enjoyable to watch than the 675 (official) lift, but it wasn't official." Williams always lifted in a raw fashion – supportive equipment was not available in his day, and a two-second pause at the chest was required. Many experts consider him to be one of the greatest bench pressers of all time.

On November 6, 1971, at the inaugural AAU World Championships he set another record with a 660 pound bench press. He was also the favorite to win the World Championships, but surprisingly came in second to Hugh Cassidy, who totaled 2160 pounds as well, but being lighter got the victory for having the lower bodyweight.

On August 30, 1969, he crossed the magical 600 lb barrier to become only the second man in history to achieve an official 600 lb bench press. Williams broke Casey's world record in 1971 at the Eastern USA Open, hitting 635 pounds, which was recognized as the American record.

In his early life Big Jim Williams became involved in criminal activity and in 1961 was sentenced to ten years in prison for assault, battery and strong-arm robbery. It was there in captivity when Williams got into lifting weights seriously. When he was released, he was an immediate sensation in the powerlifting world, literally just showing up with his training partner John Kuc in tow and taking over.

James Talbot Williams (February 25, 1940 – January 23, 2007) was a record holder professional competitive powerlifter from the United States of America. He competed in powerlifting just prior to the formation of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). During the early 1970s he set numerous bench press national and world records in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). On November 9, 1972, he performed his greatest official bench press of 675 lbs (with ace bandages on elbows/without a bench shirt), which is considered raw by today's standards. Since that day Jim Williams is officially the first man in history to bench press 300 kg (661.41 bs) in competition - since 1981 however, Bill Kazmaier is given credit for being the first person to bench press 300 kg after the formation of the IPF - the international governing body for the sport of powerlifting. By consistently pressing 650+ lbs raw and even touching 700+ lbs in training, Williams was without competition in his time and still is one of only 5-10 men in history who bench pressed in excess of 670 lbs officially.