Carlos Rodriguez

Carlos J. Rodriguez (1943 to 1991) was a bodybuilder who won the 1978 Mr. Universe title and placed at the Mr. Olympia in both 1979 and 1981. Known on the bodybuilding circuit as the Pride of the U.S. Marines, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1961 to 1966, was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and set a record of 149 push-ups in two minutes and 47 pull-ups in one minute. While serving he planned his training around his daily duties, often using split routines. He won a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games while representing Puerto Rico, and in the late 1980s he worked to make bodybuilding an event at the Olympic Games. He owned the Sportsworld Fitness Center in Tucson, Arizona, where he died on 2 January 1991, and he is buried at Holy Hope Cemetery.