Honoring a lifetime of strength, vision, and achievement
Fifty-Year Celebration
A milestone few in sports ever reach, Boyd’s fifty years of service marked not only personal achievement but the lasting impact of his work on strength and conditioning worldwide. This timeline honors the people, programs, and principles that defined his career.
Celebrating 50 years of Husker Power, from 1969 to 2019.
In 1969…
Richard Nixon was President, Postage stamps were 6 cents, gas was 35 cents, Apollo 11 made a trip to the moon and Woodstock was held in New York Aug 15-18. Also on August 15th Nebraska’s Athletic Director and Head Football Coach hired me as their first strength coach. Minimum wage was $1.60 an hour and they paid me $2 an hour.
Popular cars were Dodge Charger and Plymouth Road Runner. Best Picture was Midnight Cowboy, Best Actor John Wayne in True Grit, Best Actress was Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. The top song that year was Sugar Sugar by the Archies. The New York Mets were World Series Champs, the Kansas Chiefs were Pro Football Champions and the Boston Celtics the NBA champions. Top TV shows were Gunsmoke and I Love Lucy. Popular toys were G.I. Joe and Barbie.
2019
Chapters Written for Strength Coaching Book
Mike Arthur and I were asked to each write a chapter in a book with 30 other strength coaches which gave the opportunity to tell a little about Nebraska’s 50 year history of strength and conditioning.
2019
50 Years of Husker Power Celebration
While Nebraska was preparing to celebrate 50 years of Husker Power strength and conditioning ESPN was preparing to celebrate 150 years of College Football and the NFL was celebrating 100 years of NFL football.
ESPN flew me to Hollywood to help create a feature on Innovation in College Football. This photo was taken at a bar in Kansas City from a friend that saw the show on the t.v. screens at the bar.
Bill Moss approved a huge promotion to celebrate the 50 year Husker Power anniversary including a patch to be put on the Adidas workout shirts for athletes in each sport in 2019. The logo was created by Dave Webster from Omaha.
August 2019
50 Year Celebration for Husker Power.
November 2017
Boyd Epley Lifter of the Year Announced
Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos invited my family to the field during the first quarter of the first game of the season to announce the Lifter of the Year award would change to the Boyd Epley Lifter of the Year Award. He and I then presented one of the awards to Rik Bonness our first football winner from 1974 and to Jamie Hagedorn our first women’s basketball winner from On my left is my son J.R., my wife Jane, my daughter Jenna, her husband Chase Beideck and their three sons, Cash, Colt and Crew.
All former Lifter of the Year winners were invited to extend the Nebraska Tunnel Walk as the football team came out to warm-up for the first game of the season. The night before the game some 250 special guests, former strength coaches, University Administrators and coaches gathered to recognize a 50 Year Husker Power Team. One athlete from each sport and 10 from football were recognized along with Tom Osborne as Coach of the 50 Year Husker Power Team.
Johnny Rodgers not only was named the Outstanding Receiver for the first 50 years of Husker Power he was recognized by ESPN and one of the top 100 players to ever play football in the first 150 years.
August 1, 2019
Bill Moos changes the Lifter of the Year award to the Boyd Epley Lifter of the Year Award
2019
Reflecting on 50 Years of Husker Power
My Nebraska strength coaching career started at age 22 and ends 50 years later.
I have great memories some and I have many to thank for my career success. My parents of course had a big influence on my life but I’d like to recognize Tom Osborne as someone who was always there for me and had a tremendous influence on my career path and me personally.
Unfortunately there is no way to thank everyone that has impacted my career and my life. I wish there was but there isn’t so I’ll leave you with two Mottos:
The Great Ones Adjust!
Your Work Habits Determine Your Future!
