Backyard strongman, powerlifter, motivational speaker, Bud Jeffries sadly passed away, as confirmed by his wife via Instagram. Anyone tuned in to the world of strongmen knows his familiar face and backyard performances showcasing his feats of strength. Jeffries was an extraordinary human being. We wanted to celebrate his life and contributions to the fitness world in this post.
WHO IS BUD JEFFRIES?
Jeffries came into the world as an underdog. Before he was born, doctors suggested his mother have an abortion due to her exposure to measles. They thought the pregnancy would lead to a stillborn baby or other serious health conditions, including being born blind and/or disfigured. Instead, bud was born with perfect health even after fetal heart monitors displayed no signs of a heartbeat.
At age 5, he was hit by a vehicle that left his thigh and skull fractured. Once again, doctors doubted him and said he might never walk again. He recovered after 3 months in a body cast. Jeffries then took up Taekwondo to regain his strength. This would be his start in the world of fitness.
At the young age of 14 Jeffries, began strength training while playing high school football. He started winning local, then regional, and national strength competitions.
Tragedy struck once more at age 17 when Jeffries was hit by another car that blew through a stop sign. This severe car accident sent Jeffries into a telephone pole, where he was sent flying into the windshield, rendering him unconscious. And yet again, doctors predicted he wouldn’t survive. He proved them wrong by walking out of the hospital 6 hours later with a concussion and broken nose.
He became a walk-on offensive lineman at the University of Florida while still pursuing powerlifting, strongman, powerlifting, and Highland Games activities.
Jeffries has written several books, including his release in 2000 of “How To Squat 900lbs Without Drugs, Power suits or Knee Wraps,” which highlighted his road to squat 1000 lbs. Additionally, he released numerous books that featured topics such as weight loss, martial arts, strength & endurance.
Jeffries was one of the few strongmen who regularly toured the US from 2010 to 2014, where he performed over 1,000 strength shows; he spoke to over 300,000 students in one of the most popular anti-bullying assemblies.
Bud Jeffries touched so many lives, and we’re sure he transformed people’s perspectives with his positive attitude. He was a minister and was very active in the church.
He and his wife used his platform to create a non-profit, “Noah’s Army Foundation,” in memory of their son, who died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 21. You can donate here, as the foundation supports first responders, women leaving domestic violence, and a music program for children with long-term health care situations.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Bud was a one-of-kind soul that made the world a better place. With more than 30 DVDs published and 9 books to his name, he left his mark on the fitness world in a unique way. We send our condolences to Jeffries’ loved ones. Although the world lost a great man, we think everyone should celebrate all he achieved and the legacy he left behind.
Kiel DiGiovanni
Author