WESTERN PHOTOGRAPHY GUILD
Box 2801
Denver, Colo. 80201

SERIES 61: GENE GARRAMONE

An extraordinary thing happened to Gene Garramone when he was 16. He won the Jr. Mr. Colorado contest.

Gene Garramone by Don Whitman / Western Photography Guild

No one was more surprised than Gene. The contest is open to all teenagers, and the winner is usually 18 or 19. It had never before been won by a 16-year-old, and it never has since. Gene had gone all-out, spending every spare minute of the summer either working out in the gym or acquiring a golden tan. But he had never entered before, and his aims were limited to acquiring experience and making a good showing. When he was announced the victor over a strong lineup of young stalwarts, most of them three or four years older, he said he felt like he'd been hit by a ton of bricks.

It wasn't the only time Gene has come through against great odds. A couple of years ago, when he was 18, Gene was riding his Italian ten-speed bicycle down the hairpin curves of Lookout Mountain west of Denver at a high speed when he lost control, went off the road and down the mountain 30 feet before he crashed into an elderberry bush. The bush probably saved Gene's life, but it was touch and go for several days, and his doctors said one of lesser constitution would probably not have recovered.

When he got out of the hospital, Gene typically wanted to resume his bike riding, but his mother talked him out of it. He still chafes at the restriction, but has settled for skiing as a substitute.

Another instance of Gene's ability to come through in a pinch occurred recently. Gene had joined a karate club and become one of its best practitioners and secretary of the group. Some of the members conceived the idea of trying to get an instructional series on Denver's TV education channel. Gene's persuasive presentation convinced station authorities, and a weekly group of four half-hour programs was set up.

Gene has a rich, well-modulated voice, and he was chosen to narrate the series with club members demonstrating different aspects of karate. The programs were carefully worked out, so well that the program director decided they could be live rather than taped. On the first program everything went well, right on cue, except that when Gene reached the end of the script there were still seven minutes remaining. Undaunted, Gene plunged right ahead ad libbing and calling for demonstrations to illustrate his words from the somewhat surprised performers. He not only filled the seven minutes, ending on time, but did it so well that only those in the know were aware that it had been planned any differently. The series was very well received, and may be taped for national presentation later.

Gene doesn't fit the stereotyped view of a body builder (few body builders do), and more often than not he comes through with the unexpected. Winning the Jr. Mr. Colorado contest made him eligible for the senior contest the following year. At 17 Gene would have to compete against more than a dozen others at least three years older than him. For this reason, he was expected to sit out a year or two. Nevertheless, he entered, and not only won second place, but also received the best legs trophy. Then, the following year, when he was regarded as the favorite for the title, he decided not to enter, and hasn't since.

Whether he ever competes again, he believes body building has amply repaid him through the extra strength and confidence he has gained, as well as the new outlooks and friends he has acquired.

Gene was born Eugene Charles Garramone (Gair-uh-moan'-ee) in Denver on October 4th twenty years ago of Italian and French background. He grew up on the north side, source of the largest number of fine physiques in Denver, and had a normal childhood with better-than-average grades and marked athletic ability in school. Though given to the usual amount of mischief, he was a favorite with his teachers because of an original, creative turn of mind.

He particularly liked reading and baseball, and in junior high school divided his spare time between devouring at least two books a week and playing a fast and accurate shortstop. He also managed to carry a daily paper route for two years.

He first became aware of the possibilities in weight training in his sophomore year when he signed up at the Workman gym. Gene's strength soared rapidly, and before long he was leading the gym in dumbbell curls, requiring Les to get 120-pounders to accommodate him. Les urged him to enter the Jr. Mr. Colorado contest, and he too was surprised when Gene scored his youthful victory.

Unlike some body builders, Gene is just as impressive attired as with his clothes off. He has excellent taste in clothes, and makes a handsome appearance in a suit, sports shirt and slacks, Bermuda shorts or swimming trunks. At 5' 9½" and a normal 195 pounds, he is an eye-catching young man with pleasant, open features, clear light brown eyes and a lustrous head of chestnut hair. His weight has gone as high as 225 pounds as he has experimented with different workout and diet routines. He particularly likes open-collared white shirts with sweaters, of which he has a large collection in almost every conceivable color.

Gene lives with his mother, and drives a yellow sports car, which he keeps spotless. However, he is not hung up on cars, as are so many his age. Girls gave him some trouble for a time, and he was liable to go overboard about once a month as each new lovely came along. Now, however, he keeps them in perspective. He never lacks a date when he wants one, but is in no hurry to consider marriage until he is older and finds just the right girl. Gene is a devotee of both water skiing and snow skiing, boating, swimming and tennis, and more often than not his weekend includes a trip to the mountains or a nearby lake.

His measurements include: neck 16”, chest normal 44”, expanded 46”, biceps 16 ½”, forearm 14 ½”, waist 29”, hips 35”, thigh 24”, calf 16 1/2 “ and ankle 10 ½”.

In front of the cameras Gene is a joy to work with. Unlike some models, he isn't ready to pose on short notice; he wants everything to be just right. But when the sky is a dazzling blue and he feels he's in good shape, Gene carries off a picture-taking session with the aplomb of a veteran. He has an outstanding ability to feel a pose throughout his entire body and yet have the details (hands, head, etc.) just right. He understands the value of using sweeping body motions to get into a pose and in the process give it a look of authority rather than hesitancy.

Personally, Gene is an extremely likeable young man. His ego is undoubted, but it is never obtrusive so long as it is respected. Gene has a good sense of humor, but he takes himself and others moderately seriously, and doesn't like to be put on. His manner is naturally warm and friendly with very little pretense, and he is either interested in people as individuals or not at all. He is moderately ambitious, but relies on his own abilities to achieve his aims rather than using people for stepping-stones. With his youthful vigor, his undoubted talents and a well-adjusted outlook, it's a good bet Gene will make his mark in this world.

Model Profile: Gene Garramone

SERIES 61: GENE GARRAMONE