LEXINGTON, Va. March 25, 2026 — Two years after he set multiple powerlifting records, Col. Dan Barr ’74, professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering at Virginia Military Institute, has once again achieved new heights.

Since 2023, Barr has received training and competition advice from Rebecca Owen, assistant coach with VMI’s powerlifting club. In February 2024, he competed in his age bracket at the United States Powerlifting Coalition (USPC) meet held in Cocke Hall. It was there that he set both state and national records in squat with 249.1 pounds, bench press with 238 pounds, and deadlift with 319.6 pounds, for a total of 806.7 pounds.

During the recent 2026 USPC meet Barr, who is now 73 years old, broke his own record in squat with 275.5 pounds, bench press with 253.5 pounds, and deadlift with 365.9 pounds, for a total of 894.9 pounds, improving his overall total by 88 pounds.

According to Barr, the USPC does not normally issue a certificate for each attempt that breaks a record. “So, I set three records in 2024, then this year on my first attempts, set three more, and on second attempts, broke those, and received the four national records certificate,” he shared proudly.

Additionally, last summer Barr was inducted into the hall of fame at his alma mater, Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, California, for being an athlete, warrior, patriot, educator, and inspirational leader. Barr joins his sister, Sharon Spalding, an athlete in her own right and already in the school’s hall of fame, making them the sole brother-sister pair holding the honor.

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE