Long-time NPC official John Kemper passed away today. Kemper, who was 67 years old, was an NPC National Vice President and New Jersey State Chairman as well as a promoter and NPC/IFBB Judge.
Kemper won his first bodybuilding contest at the age of 16 – the Teenage New Jersey – the beginning of his life-long devotion to the sport. He would go on to win the Heavyweight and Overall titles at the 1983 NPC Junior USAs and the 1987 Masters Nationals and appear in virtually every major bodybuilding magazine, including Muscle & Fitness, FLEX, Muscular Development and Ironman.
Kemper opened Diamond Gym in the mid-1970s. Located in Maplewood, New Jersey, the gym became one of the most well-known hardcore gyms on the East Coast, producing champions such as 1984 Ms. Olympia Carla Dunlap and IFBB Pro Johnnie Morant. Kemper also appeared as Conan the Barbarian on various book covers illustrated by fantasy artst Boris Vallejo, a former member of Diamond Gym.
John Kemper will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to his family.
