If you haven't heard already, Jack LaLanne died Sunday afternoon at the age of 96. This is very sad to me as he has impacted my life any many others. He was a true trailblazer and into fitness way before it became popular. He is the Grandfather of modern gyms and home fitness. Having opened his own gym way back in 1936, 30 years before Gold's gym. Many people don't know he invented several of the gym machines you use today, such as the leg extension and smith machine. Unfortunately, he didn't patent those ideas and reap all the monetary benefits of all his ideas.

He also was the first to have his own home fitness television show. It started in 1951 and ran for 34 years! I can only imagine how many people he has helped during his career. I've often used him as a example when I'm told by others they are too old to workout. His strength and energy was impressive for someone even it their 20's! I admire the man for practicing what he preached for his whole life. I'd like to note that his death was caused by pneumonia, not cardio vascular disease or cancer. One of his best quotes was "I can't die, it would ruin my reputation!". Well Jack LaLanne I don't think it ruined your reputation... I think some will learn how to live by the memory of you. Thanks for being such a pioneer in the industry.

Below are all his firsts, feats, and honors 

The follow comes straight from Jack LaLanne's web page  http://www.jacklalanne.com

FIRSTS

• Opened the first modern health spa
• The first to have a nationally syndicated exercise show on television
• The first to have athletes working out with weights
• The first to have women working out with weights
• The first to have the elderly working out with weights
• The first to have a combination Health Food Bar and Gym
• The first to have a weight loss Instant Breakfast meal replacement drink
• The first to have a Coed health club
• The first to combine weight training with nutrition
• The first to have an edible snack nutrition bar
• The first to sell vitamins and exercise equipment on television
• The first to teach scientific body building by changing the program every 2 to 3 weeks
• The first to encourage the physically challenged to exercise… to work around their disabilities
• The first to do feats of strength and endurance to emphasize what exercise and nutrition can do for you
• Developed the first:
  • Leg Extension Machine
  • Weight selector machine
  • Cable/Pulley machines
  • Calf machines
  • Wrist roll machines

FEATS AND HONORS

1954 Age 40: Swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge underwater with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks… an undisputed world record.

1955 Age 41: Swam, handcuffed, from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf in
San Francisco, CA.

1956 Age 42: Set a world record of 1,033 pushups in 23 minutes on “You Asked for It, a TV Show with Art Baker.

1957 Age 43: Swam the treacherous Golden Gate Channel, towing a 2,500-pound cabin cruiser. This involved fighting the cold, swift ocean currents that made the 1 mile swim a 6 ½ mile test of strength and endurance.

1958 Age 44: Maneuvered a paddleboard 30 miles, 9-½ hours non-stop from Farallon Islands to the San Francisco shore.

1959 Age 45: Completed 1,000 pushups and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hours and 22
minutes. “Happy” is born and The Jack LaLanne Show goes nationwide

1974 Age 60: Swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf, for a second time handcuffed, shackled and towing a 1,000-pound boat.

1975 Age 61: Swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge, underwater, for a second time handcuffed, shackled and towing a 1,000-pound boat.

1976 Age 62: Commemorating the “Spirit of ‘76”, swam 1 mile in Long Beach Harbor, handcuffed, shackled and towing 13 boats (representing the 13 original colonies) containing 76 people.

1979 Age 65: Towed 65 boats filled with 6,500-pounds of Lousiana Pacific wood pulp while handcuffed and shackled in Lake Ashinoko, near Tokyo, Japan.

1980 Age 66: Towed 10 boats in North Miami, Florida filled with 77 people for over a mile in less than 1 hour.

1984 Age 70: Handcuffed, shackled and fighting strong winds and currents, towed 70 boats with 70 people from the Queen’s Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary, 1 ½ miles.
1992 Age 78: Academy of Body Building and Fitness Award

1994 Age 80: State of California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness Lifetime Achievement Award

1996 Age 82: Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award

1999 Age 85: Spirit of Muscle Beach Award

2002 Age 88: Jack receives his very own star on the Hollywood Blvd. Walk of Fame

2004 Age 90: Jack celebrates his birthday with a major media blitz in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. ESPN Classic runs a 24 Hour marathon of the original Jack LaLanne Shows

2005 Age 91: Received the Jack Webb Award from the Los Angeles Police Historical Society, the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, Interglobal’s International Infomercial Award, the Freddie, Medical Media Public Service Award, and he was a Free Spirit honoree at Al Neuharth’s Freedom Fourm.

2007 Age 93: Received the Treasures of Los Angeles Award, Lifetime Achievement Award from Muscle Beach, and the Y.M.C.A. Impact Award.

2008 Age 94: Inducted into the California Hall of Fame, Parker Seminars Award, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from the Southern California University of Health Sciences, receives the People of Vision Award from the RP International, receives the Heroes Humanity Award, and was inducted into the Gallery of Legends hosted by the World Acrobatics Society.

2009 Age 95: Jack receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Club Industry. Jack LaLanne days were observed in San Francisco and Los Angeles.