Frank Remschel of Pittsburgh discovered weightlifting while watching the 1960 Rome Olympics on TV. "My heart beat faster from that moment on," he recalls. Frank lifted from 1960 until 1988, winning many titles and lifting at two Olympic trials. He has also coached many successful young athletes over the years. For both his weightlifting and coaching accomplishments, he is today being inducted into the Allegheny Mountain Association Weightlifting Hall of Fame.

Like many fine athletes who eventually mastered the sport of weightlifting, Frank's success traces back to some rough starts. At the 1965 AMA seniors at the Pittsburgh Boys Club, Frank missed all of his presses at 180 pounds, weighing 165 pounds.

The following year, he was in the 181-pound class and took ninth place with a 200-pound clean-and-press, 195-pound snatch and 265-pound clean-and-jerk for a 715-pound total. Just four months later, at the Pittsburgh Boys Club's Teenage Open in March 1967, he took first place in the 181s and was named the meet's Best Lifter with lifts of 215-205-295 for his 735-pound total. Frank continued to progress throughout 1967 and '68, totaling 765 at the 1967 Pittsburgh Boys Club Thanksgiving Open and 725 at the April 1968 AMA Seniors.

In August of 1968, just before leaving for the Marines, Frank nearly qualified for the Olympic trials during a meet at his gym. He pressed 275, snatched 235 and clean-and-jerked 330, for an 840-pound total. During 1969, his duties as a Marine prevented him from competing. But in 1970, he was able to start competing again, totaling 763 pounds at the February 1970 Southern California Championships. By the end of 1970, he was stronger than ever: he totaled 965 for first place and Best Lifter at the Pittsburgh Boys Club's Open meet that September.

At the same meet a year later, Frank broke the 1,000-pound milestone: he totaled 1005 with lifts of 355-275-375. He again took home the 1st Place honors and the Best Lifter trophy. In January 1972, Frank took fourth lace at the Philadelphia Open with a 1,010 pound total. In June 1972, he competed at the Olympic trials, achieving the highest total of his career: 1,040 pounds with a press of 363, a snatch of 275, and a clean-and-jerk of 402. He took fourth place, weighing 239 pounds. A few months later, he had his personal record press of 365 pounds at the September 1972 AMA Open.

1973 was the year the press was eliminated from competition, allowing Frank to concentrate on snatches and clean-and-jerks. Frank calls the highlight of his career the 1973 Nationals, when he snatched 303 pounds and clean-and-jerked 419 pounds at a body weight of 234 pounds. At the time, his clean-and-jerk was the second best in the U.S. and the fifth best in the world.

At the January 1974 Philadelphia Open, Frank achieved his personal record snatch of 310 pounds. Combined with his 400-pound clean-and-jerk, he earned second place. Frank achieved his best clean-and-jerk - 424 pounds - at the January 1975 Philadelphia Open. Combined with his 303-pound snatch, he took first place.

Unfortunately, in May 1975, Frank was in an industrial accident and was out of commission for a few months. But he was able to make a strong comeback, a year later earning eighth place at the 1976 Olympic trials in June with a snatch of 297 and clean-and-jerk of 407.

After the 1976 Olympic trials, Frank mainly lifted in local meets with the exception of the 1979 Nationals. At the 1980 Ambridge Open in January, he snatched 303 pounds and clean-and-jerked 413 pounds, qualifying for the Olympic trials once again. However, he chose not to go.

Frank continued to compete until 1988 with an occasional 300-pound snatch and 400-pound clean-and-jerk. He continues to be a passionate fan of weightlifting, helping out at numerous meets as well as coaching many young athletes. The sport is indebted to him for his work on and off the platform.