Imperial Valley press., 1942-11-04
SPOK s
PARADE
By JACK CUDDY


McGovern. the famous trainer who
made America girth-conscious, was
buried today, but his philosophy Of
physical fitness lives on, more ro-
bustly than ever before.
McGovern. who was SO terribly
battered in his youthful prizeiight-
ing days that he had TO resort to
plastic surgery. expert dentistry and
even have his ears wired, made II
fashionable-as well as healthy-to
be lean.
Little Artie'S legacy-his lasting
contribution to national health
probably was the most important
ever left b. any trainer or physical
culture expert. His theories and his
exercises attracted nationwide at
tention because Of the big-name men
and women who used them with
success. His clients included such
famous athletes as Babe Ruth. Jack
Dempsey. Gene Sarazen. Vincent
Richards. etc. Also persons diStin-
guished in other fields. such as john
J. RaSkob. Whitney Warren, John
Philip Sousa, Henry Morgnthau. lr.,
Hendrix Willem Van Loon, Eddy
Duchin. Miss Helen Clay Frlck. etc.
DIED SUDDENLY
Little Artie died Sunday At Post
Graduate hospital after the sudden
complication OF kidney ailmenJ
that had fingered with him since
mis- ring days. McGoFarn. who had
about 200 fights around the small
New York clubs but WEo never was
known nationally. never recovered
completely from the savage body
gatherings he took before hanging
up his gloves in 1910.
McGovern quit then, not because
of his kidneys. but because of a
fractured hand. which requird
months Of tratment. He W2s only
% when he retired-young enough
to revamp his life. And Tor an un-
educated newsboE who came failing
out Of Hell's Kitchen. Artie did a
notable job in reVamping
While having his hand treatd by
Dr.. William Hills Sheldon. McGovern
became interested in helping the
charity patients at the Corneu clinic
on first avenue. Dr.. Sheldon had
asked him if some system OF eXer-
else could be designed for them. 1t
would be a gratis job. but idle Artie
might pick up useful information,
in case he ever decided to start his
own gym. Artie worked with the
clinic patients. and soon became
physical director at the New York
Physicians club. Meanwhile he open
ed a small gymnasium above Dur
lands riding academy. His friends
among the physicians sent their
patients to him. and the gymnasium
prospered.
MORE GYMNASIUMS
Other gynnasiums followed. IL
1887 McGovern had a big uptown
gym on 42nd St. and another new
one downtown on Pine St, in the
financial district This latter health
emporium was the largest and most
lavish private gymnasium in his
tory. 1t was complete. even to a
cocktail lounge. At that time, Nc
Govern employed q staff Of more
than 100 at both GYMS, and he had
oil 444F aAilAC@4L VI tiDO1L 2-CO-Dto Ill
equipment.
He was one of the busiest men in
New York. Before the day opened
at his health centers, he made the
rounds of a half-dozn deluxe clients.
who preferred to take their eXer-
cises at home. Some Ct these he had
TO drag out of bed.
Meanwhile Artie lecturd almost
nightly before various organizations.
He wrote a series Tor a syndicate
and turned out a book. The Secret
of Keeping Fit, which had an eX-
ceptional sale and still is used wide
~ as a basis for conditioning.
Because OF his kidney ailment. Mo
Govern-a short, dark-haired. bar
rel-chested chap-curtailed his ac-
tivities. He gave up the lavish down
town gym. and concentrated On the
42nd st. place.
A year ago he went TO Arizona
TO rest up. He returned 70 New York
a few weeks ago. and tried to enlist
in the army so that he could help
condition the soldiers. Because Of
his physical condition he was re
iected. He was stricken suddenly and
died Sunday.