
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 16, 1994                   TAG: 9408160094
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIDALIA, GA.                                LENGTH: Short

GUINNESS BOOK STRONGMAN DIES

Paul Anderson, once recognized as the strongest man in the world, died Monday at a Vidalia hospital after a long struggle with kidney failure and arthritis. He was 61.

Anderson, a native of Toccoa, Ga., set nine world records and 18 American records in weightlifting in the 1950s. He won an Olympic gold medal in 1956.

He is still listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having lifted the most weight with his back - 6,270 pounds.

Anderson's health problems started in 1983. He received a kidney transplant from his sister, Dot Johnson of Toccoa. Anderson's colon ruptured a year later, and he went into a coma for 10 days.

During the 1960s, Anderson opened cottages housing 32 youths in Vidalia and eventually was operating three youth homes - one in Georgia and two in Texas.

His health problems later forced him to turn the Texas homes over to others. His wife now runs the home in Georgia. A memorial service is tentatively scheduled for Thursday at Murchison's Funeral Home in Vidalia. Other arrangements were incomplete.

by CNB