Those of us who grew up during the 1950s might well remember the weekly western television shows…
“The Lone Ranger,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Gene Autry,” “Roy Rogers,” “Maverick,” “Gun Smoke,” “The Rifleman,” and…
“Cheyenne!”
Clint Walker starred as Cheyenne Bodie, and stood a towering 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed in at very muscular 255 pounds!
While there were a few other tall cowboys such as James Arness, Chuck Connors, and James Garner, none were as muscular as Clint Walker.
Part Cherokee Native American, Norman Eugene Walker and his twin sister, Lucy, were born on May 30th in 1927.
He grew up during the hard times of the Great Depression so he always had a job after school and had no time for sports.
Because of his size, most of his jobs involved heavy, hard, work.
He had jobs like loading 100 pound bags of cement, setting pins at bowling alleys, and working in foundries, etc.
He traveled to Texas and worked for a sheet rock contractor.
Then he moved on to California where he worked as a carpenter building houses, then did security work where he met a talent agent.
Because of his stature, he worked at night as a bouncer in nightclubs then went on interviews for acting jobs.
Although best known for his starring role as Cheyenne Bodie, of the popular western television series of the 1950s, “Cheyenne,” he starred in over a dozen films including Posey in “The Dirty Dozen.”
Walker’s favorite movie is, “Night of the Grizzly.”
As a matter of fact, while filming “The Dirty Dozen,” he stopped by to hand out trophies with John Grimek at the 1966 NABBA Mr. Universe where Chet Yorton beat Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Because of his television series, a number of young men wanted to look like Cheyenne so he influenced them to begin lifting weights.
Clint Walker also had quite a singing voice and had sung at rodeos.
He became interested in working out after he lost a few fights, as a kid, and decided that he wanted to take better care of himself.
He noticed some bodybuilding magazines one day, and while admiring the physiques, he figured nobody is going to mess with them.
He couldn’t afford a gym membership so he started out with the Charles Atlas course.
He combined weight training with calisthenics by making his first “weights” out of concrete and coffee cans, then joined the local YMCA.
During a stint with the Merchant Marines, he used heavy shackles as dumbbells.
He admired Steve Reeves greatly but had no desire to be a Mr. Universe.
He didn’t want to be that well developed because he wanted to be more well rounded, just wanted to be healthy and in good shape, and had other things to do.
Some years later, he joined Vince’s Gym and learned a great deal from Vince, whom he considered a genuine, no nonsense, guy.
His home gym contained a lot of equipment that he personally designed and hand made including the welding.
He even invented a few things along the way.
Around 1973, Walker had a “near death experience” when he fell while skiing and stuck a ski pole in his body at Mammoth Mountain, California.
Clint talked about the accident where a ski pole went through his heart.
He gathered himself up and skied on his own to the Ski Patrol Building to seek help.
He said he was pronounced dead, but a specialist that was visiting happened to see him and asked what had happened to him.
He then discovered that Clint was still alive!
He was up and around in a couple of months.
Doctors considered him a medical phenomenon because of his physical condition and spiritual attitude.
A truly amazing ‘super human’ feat!
Another tragedy struck when he lost his wife of many years to cancer in 1994.
Another little known fact is that Walker’s twin sister, Lucy, owned a health food store in Belleville, Illinois, for many years.
She died in 2000 at her residence in Hartford, Illinois, aged 73.
Clint Walker continued to maintain his phenomenal strength by exercising with barbells throughout his life.
For example, while in his 60s, he curled a pair of 90 pound dumbbells!
Clint had giant hands and looked like he could palm a bowling ball.
In May of 1995, Walker met Arthur Jones and spent 13 hours discussing different aspects of exercise with him.
At 80 years of age, he did 11 exercises in under 20 minutes in perfect form.
Remarkably, he continued to train regularly until he passed away at 90 years of age on May 21st 2018.
Based on his experience, he had this advice for baby boomers…
1. Good physical condition is a good foundation for a healthy life.
2. Keep the body in good condition and you will live longer.
3. Health and physical condition must be a priority.
4. A healthy body will make for a long and happy life.
5. Stress is a killer.
6. Don’t have time? Make the time!
7. Don’t make excuses or things will start to go wrong.
8. Use it or lose it.
9. Make a good living.
10. Farmers worked long hours up until dark and lived long lives.
11. He trains heavy every 3rd or 4th day.
12. Do pushups and squats. For added resistance, add a back pack.
13. He does lighter exercises on certain muscles.
14. While watching TV, exercise the forearms.
15. Don’t compete with anyone else, do what you can do comfortably.
16. He believes in developing your physique honestly, that is, he is against steroids.
17. “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”
18. He believes in fresh fruit and vegetables.
19. Sugar is deadly to the body.
20. The biggest problem today is lack of exercise.
In most of his interviews, he was quick to praise his co-stars and give them credit for his performances being good.
Walker still received film offers in later years but had not found one that met his standards.
He said, “There is a lot of stuff now that is in bad taste, and I don’t see the necessity for it all. We didn’t have to do it in our time, and they don’t have to do it now.”
To sum up, Clint Walker was a handsome, quiet and honorable man, in great physical condition.
Who better to play the part of…
Cheyenne!
Until the next time…
Yours for greater strength,
Bill Hinbern
Super Strength Training
P.S. Adjustable, plate loading, barbells and dumbbells must be used properly to receive the best and longest lasting results.
Click on the following link and order one of the very best training manuals available:
“A Complete Guide to Effective Barbell Training” by Bradley J. Steiner
P.P.S. Please let me know if you would like to read more stories of famous people who trained with barbells.