reprinted from the Monroe Guardian march 19, 1998
FRENCHTOWN TWP - About a dozen of Monroe County's strongest men gathered saturday at Frenchtown Square Mall to test their strength for a good cause.
The Second Annual Roy Begley Memorial Bench Press Challenge featured men benching as much as two times their bodyweights. Rob Beaudrie, who manages Powerhouse Gym of Monroe, took top honors putting up 410 pounds. "I've done a lot more than that before," the 25 year old Beaudrie said.
The event was held in honor of Roy Begley, who died at the age of 24 of complications of muscular dystrophy in 1995. An avid weightlifter, Begley was a security officer at the mall. Tom Pearch, a friend of Begley, coordinated the event that raised more than $1,400 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The event's top fundraiser was Steve Favreau, 29, of Monroe, who collected $440. Favreau, who put up 400 pounds on the bench, said he got much of his pledges from his co-workers at Delta USA. "I got into it because I knew Roy, and the money goes to a good cause," he said.
The event drew more than 100 spectators. It also featured Anthony Clark, whose 805 pound bench press broke a world record. Following that feat, he was dubbed "World's Strongest Man." Clark, a Houston, Texas native, spoke to the crowd and signed autographs. He is also a motivational speaker, talking to youths in classrooms all over the country. "The (title of) World's Strongets Man doesn't mean anything to me," he said. "It's just something that allows me to get into schools to talk to kids."
Also at the event were Michigan State Troopers Scott Beard and Ron Crampton, along with Southern Michigan Timberwolves football players Robert Moody and Chad Larkins, who spotted the lifters. Begley's parents, the Rev. Austin and Ella Begley, were also recognized at the event, which is already being planned again for next year.