Ron volunteered to upgrade the WABDL website in 2010. The website went from black and white to color and then into the more modern realm of mainstream Internet. Ron guided the website from 2010 until 2021. Most of his work was voluntary, he was paid but many hours were donated.
Ron was, and is one of WABDL’s top world judges. He will be inducted into the WABDL Hall of Fame at WABDL World’s to be held at the Outrigger Kona Resort Hawaii in November of 2025. He has set 4 WABDL World Records in the deadlift in the Master’s Division and currently holds 7 Michigan Deadlift records and 4 Michigan Bench Press records, as well as one Push-Pull record. He was on the cusp of more World records in the 61-67 age group but a back operation left his powerlifting career in doubt. In spite of this Ron is still ranked 9th all time in M47-53 – 242 weight class in Deadlift with 639 lbs. He is ranked 2nd all time in 54-60 – 242 weight class with 658.8 lbs. and 3rd all time in the 259 weight class with 661.2 lbs. He is ranked 5th all time in 61-67 -242 weight class with 617.2 which he did RAW before the WABDL started keeping RAW records.
He has judged many World Cup meets in Wisconsin Dells and many World Championships, as well as many other meets in Michigan. He won 11 WABDL World Chanpionships in the Master’s Deadlift with a best lift of 661.2, and 1 World Championship in the Bench Press with a 514 lift.
Ron also holds World Records in other drug tested federations including the AAPF and ADFPF. Ron’s best all time lifts across all federations are; Squat (single-ply) 710.7 lbs, Bench Press (single-ply) 529 lbs, Deadlift (single-ply) 683.2 lbs and an all time best total of 1,847.2 lbs.
Even after a neck surgery and a back surgery since 2010, as well as a recent should replacement surgery Ron hopes to get back on the competitive platform in April 2025 at Wisconsin Dells, with his sights set on a RAW World Record (M68-74) in the deadlift.
Ron is currently retired from University of Michigan Health, and resides in Delton, Michigan where he and his wife Meg own a cottage on Wall Lake. Ron is a Vietnam Era Veteran involved with Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Saigon) and served time in Guam and Hawaii as well as Camp Pendleton in California.
Ron’s overall presence added to WABDL’s credibility.
Thank you Ron!
Sincerely,
Gus Rethwisch
WABDL President