Don Reinhoudt at a school assembly in 2019.

Former World’s Strongest Man and legendary Power Lifter Don Reinhoudt died on July 3, 2023 at the age of 78 following a single vehicle crash in the town of Pomfret. It was reported that Don had just finished working out at a local gym and was heading home.

The letter below was written to Don to be included in a memory book given to him on the occasion of his retirement from working as the Director of the Chautauqua County Youth Bureau. The world will not see the likes of Don Reinhoudt ever again.

January 2008

Dear Don,

When I was a boy of about 10 or 11, my parents gave my two older brothers a barbell set for Christmas. I was a chubby weak kid. When we tested our strength on the barbell set my brothers, as brothers will do, teased me mercilessly. Although their taunts were not anything more than kids’ stuff, my brothers’ teasing really had an effect on me.

Right about that time I started seeing small articles in the OBSERVER about this incredibly strong man named Don Reinhoudt, who was setting world records in Power Lifting. Even as young boy I realized that these articles were nowhere near as in depth or as detailed as they should’ve been in describing such important events. My brothers’ teasing and the stories of this World Champion Strongman motivated me. I wanted to be like Don Reinhoudt.

I read books about Power Lifting and Bodybuilding. I started sneaking down into the basement when my brothers weren’t around and working out on their barbell set three times a week. I loved working out and I soon discovered that I liked having sore muscles. I liked the effect that weight training had on my body and the feeling of strength that it gave me. I was hooked on working out and I watched the newspaper and TV anxiously for more news, any news, about Don Reinhoudt. I delighted in reading about your Power Lifting accomplishments and watching you on television.

Several years later my brother brought some friends over to our house. While shooting pool in the basement, my brother’s friend Ron noticed the bench press and the assortment of weights in our basement. He also noticed the chart that hung on the wall and recorded my personal bests in various lifts. Ron told my brother to call me down to the basement. I entered the room fully prepared to be ridiculed by my brother and his friends. But Ron was very supportive. He seemed genuinely impressed by my weightlifting efforts. Ron actually convinced my brother and the rest of his friends that I was a pretty strong little kid.

After that, whenever I would see Ron, we would talk about working out and other things. It was through these conversations that I discovered that Ron actually knew the World Champion Powerlifter Don Reinhoudt. Not only did Ron know him, but Ron had actually trained with him.

As soon as I was old enough not to be an embarrassment to him, Ron and I became friends. We trained together for a number of years. Ron always spoke so highly of you and of all the things that you have done for him. Although Ron and I have drifted apart over the years, I have very fond memories of the time spent training with Ron in his garage and in my basement. Many of the things that Ron taught me about weight training he said he learned from you. As much as I hinted around and even eventually begged, Ron never did introduce me to you. I think he wanted to keep you all to himself.

Eventually I moved my workouts from my parents’ basement to one of the area gyms. I would see you at The Fitness Center, Darwin’s, The Ramada and other places. As much as I wanted to approach you, introduce myself and tell you what a big fan I was, I always felt like that would seem like sucking up to you. The last thing I wanted was for the World’s Strongest Man to think I was some suck up.

It wasn’t until years later, when I started seeing you on a regular basis at Lifestyles and at my school that I felt comfortable speaking with you. It was through these contacts that I realized that you weren’t just the World’s Strongest Man. On the inside you are a sensitive guy with a huge heart and a tremendous spirit, who loves people and who has some of the same problems as everybody else. Watching the dignified way that you have handled health challenges and other crises has been an example to all. Watching the genuine affection that you have for all people underscores your humanity. You are a tremendous, kind and inspiring human being.

I want to wish you well in your retirement and to let you know how much you have meant to me and to thousands of others. It has been an honor, a privilege and a gift having you in my life as a hero, role model and friend.

God Bless You.

Andrew Ludwig is a retired math teacher and a retired public school and Catholic school administrator. He currently works as a substitute teacher in Chautauqua County.