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Strong Man Lifts W. Va. Troopers into Public Eye
Everyone likes coworkers who pull their own weight. But Senior Trooper Brian Allen of the West Virginia State Troopers Association/CWA Local goes beyond that. Recently at a strong man competition in Myrtle Beach, S.C., he pulled a 36,000-pound dump truck 100 feet in 31 seconds.
That feat and several others won him the title “Beast of the East” and the right to compete in the upcoming National Strong Man Competition in St. Louis, Mo.
In Myrtle Beach in June for “Bike Week” — he’s an avid Harley rider — Allen joined in the strength contest at the coaxing of a buddy, Jeff Andreas, also a senior trooper.
Local 2019 Executive Board Chairman Andreas said he was proud that Allen stood out among several police officers who entered, and he said the local will sponsor him in the nationals. “He’s one of the hardest workers we have in the department, and he’s great PR — all the people in the stands loved him,” he said.
The lightest of eight competitors in the super heavyweight division, Allen flipped a 770-pound tire 90 feet in 54 seconds, pressed 230 pounds over his head nine times and carried 270 pounds in each hand for 149 feet.
At 6 feet 1 inch, Allen weighs 265 pounds — about half the weight of competitors who tipped the scales over 500 pounds.
In everyday life, he’s more of a gentle giant than a beast. He’d prefer to use his bulk to intimidate rather than fight crime perpetrators. “The last time I had a physical confrontation was over a year ago,” he said.
And his strength has helped him save lives. “We had a wreck on Saturday night. The driver was pinned in the vehicle,” he said. “I was able to get him out before the fire department got there with the Jaws of Life.” His effort shaved critical minutes off the time it took to get the man to the hospital.
Allen is married and has two sons, ages 6 and 3. Dalton, the oldest, once went along to the gym with Dad in a baby carrier so Allen could work out. Both boys’ dressers are covered with his trophies.
Allen started lifting weights 18 years ago when he played linebacker at Murray State College in Kentucky.
He competed as a body builder from 1986 to 1993 and won the “Mr. West Virginia” title in 1992. That competition involved no displays of strength, but, joked Allen, “You have to lift weights to get your body in shape to get up on the stage in your underwear.”
His first strong man competition was in Pittsburgh a year ago, when he took second place in the heavyweight division.
In Myrtle Beach, Andreas served as Allen’s second, taped his hands and ankles, kept the times on his events and was his chief promoter.
“Jeff’s the best pit crew a guy can have. Now he says he’s my manager,” Allen said.
That feat and several others won him the title “Beast of the East” and the right to compete in the upcoming National Strong Man Competition in St. Louis, Mo.
In Myrtle Beach in June for “Bike Week” — he’s an avid Harley rider — Allen joined in the strength contest at the coaxing of a buddy, Jeff Andreas, also a senior trooper.
Local 2019 Executive Board Chairman Andreas said he was proud that Allen stood out among several police officers who entered, and he said the local will sponsor him in the nationals. “He’s one of the hardest workers we have in the department, and he’s great PR — all the people in the stands loved him,” he said.
The lightest of eight competitors in the super heavyweight division, Allen flipped a 770-pound tire 90 feet in 54 seconds, pressed 230 pounds over his head nine times and carried 270 pounds in each hand for 149 feet.
At 6 feet 1 inch, Allen weighs 265 pounds — about half the weight of competitors who tipped the scales over 500 pounds.
In everyday life, he’s more of a gentle giant than a beast. He’d prefer to use his bulk to intimidate rather than fight crime perpetrators. “The last time I had a physical confrontation was over a year ago,” he said.
And his strength has helped him save lives. “We had a wreck on Saturday night. The driver was pinned in the vehicle,” he said. “I was able to get him out before the fire department got there with the Jaws of Life.” His effort shaved critical minutes off the time it took to get the man to the hospital.
Allen is married and has two sons, ages 6 and 3. Dalton, the oldest, once went along to the gym with Dad in a baby carrier so Allen could work out. Both boys’ dressers are covered with his trophies.
Allen started lifting weights 18 years ago when he played linebacker at Murray State College in Kentucky.
He competed as a body builder from 1986 to 1993 and won the “Mr. West Virginia” title in 1992. That competition involved no displays of strength, but, joked Allen, “You have to lift weights to get your body in shape to get up on the stage in your underwear.”
His first strong man competition was in Pittsburgh a year ago, when he took second place in the heavyweight division.
In Myrtle Beach, Andreas served as Allen’s second, taped his hands and ankles, kept the times on his events and was his chief promoter.
“Jeff’s the best pit crew a guy can have. Now he says he’s my manager,” Allen said.