POTTSVILLE — After 12 years of promoting bodybuilding competitions in the city, Warren Egebo is ready to step down.
Egebo, 75, the promoter of the Mr. Anthracite Natural and Mr. Coal Natural competitions since 2013, hopes the events will continue in some form after the latest edition, scheduled for July 12 at the Pottsville Hotel.
Egebo is the driving force behind the popular annual bodybuilding display, which consists of two events: Mr. Anthracite Natural, open to those who live, work and/or attend school in Schuylkill, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Northumberland or Carbon counties; and Mr. Coal Natural, which is open to anyone. The shows are hosted by the National Gym Association.
Both shows will be held on July 12 in the ballroom of the Pottsville Hotel, 101 S. Progress Ave. The event will start at noon with a pre-judging event, and finals will be at 3 p.m.
Egebo, a retired pastor, began promoting Mr. Anthracite in 2013, after it had been inactive for 20 years. At the time, he was the pastor of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hegins and St. James Lutheran Church in Pitman.
A few years later, he launched Mr. Coal Natural, a similar show for those from outside the five-county region. Both events are traditionally held together; they were initially held at the former Ramada (now Pottsville Hotel).
Egebo, who had lived in Schuylkill County since 2000, moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, after retiring from the ministry in 2017. He has continued promoting the local competitions in addition to other bodybuilding shows in Green Bay and Philadelphia.
Now, due to his age and the 1,200 miles that separate his home from Pottsville, Egebo is ready to give up promoting duties in Pennsylvania.
“It’s been a great ride,” Egebo said. “I’ve met some very inspirational people (through the events).”
Egebo said he saw many local competitors “change a lot, not only on their physical bodies, but mentally,” as a result of dedication to bodybuilding. Many of them continued their fitness journeys and goals afterward, he said, and some went on to become trainers.
Some competitors began with certain setbacks in their lives, Egebo said, but found redemption through bodybuilding. For example, a football player whose career was cut short by an injury or a medical condition could find in the art of bodybuilding a tough, meaningful hobby that satisfied their competitive urges.
A former bodybuilder himself, Egebo tells competitors to heed the event’s keyword — natural. He also doesn’t put a lot of stock into fitness content on social media. Instead, he recommends people connect with a trainer, and if that person is willing to help prepare them for a specific competition, they would be the best source of advice, he said.
Preparing for a competition like Mr. Anthracite or Mr. Coal Natural, Egebo said, is approximately 60% diet, 30% training and 10% aerobics.
“You’ve got to eat the right calories,” he said.
Egebo is unsure what will become of the competition after this year, but he knows of a few people who are interested in continuing it.
Egebo has ceded promotional duties of his other Pennsylvania show — Mr. and Ms. Natural Philly — to a promoter in Lewistown. He isn’t stepping away from bodybuilding for good — he’ll continue to promote his local show, Mr. and Ms. Green Bay Natural Hardbodies.
Egebo is hopeful that someone will take over the concept of Mr. Anthracite and Mr. Coal and run a similar, successful bodybuilding event, regardless of where it may be or what it might look like. He already is in talks with a few parties, including a Scranton-based promoter, he said.
Anyone interested in preserving the competition’s legacy can contact Egebo at ufta567@gmail.com.
How to apply
Registration is still open for Mr. Anthracite Natural and Mr. Coal Natural. To apply, visit www.naturalphillybodybuilding.com.
Both shows are divided into three categories: Men’s Physique, Men’s Classic Physique and Men’s Bodybuilding.
The shows are open to the public. Admission is $10 for prejudging at noon and $15 for the finals at 3 p.m.
As of Monday afternoon, three people had signed up for Mr. Anthracite and 13 for Mr. Coal, according to Egebo.
While the events were held at the Ramada Inn for several years, they were later moved to D.H.H. Lengel Middle School. However, a recent air-conditioning issue caused the event to be moved back to its original venue for this year’s edition, Egebo said.