The Mr. America contest was a bodybuilding competition started by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). It was first held on 4 July 1939 and the winner was named "America's Best Built Man". In 1940 this was changed to what is now known as the Mr. America contest.
In the mid-1940s, Joe and Ben Weider started the IFBB as an alternative to the AAU. They held their opposing contest the IFBB Mr. America in 1949 and then from 1959 onwards. The AAU voted to discontinue holding bodybuilding competitions in 1999.
In 2004 the World Bodybuilding & Fitness Association (WBFA) announced they had acquired the rights to the Mr. America name and would resume running contests under that banner.
In 2016 the rights of Mr. America were acquired by Bruce Ebel and is currently active.
1988 Mr America-AAU Winner List
Tall
Medium-Tall
Medium
Short