This is a Spiritual picture taken of her.

You can see her head.  She is buried in my jacket.  Jo Bannister took this picture of course, not knowing she was in it.  Lighting was candlelight.

Another world champion

By Ron W. Fischer
Western History Writer

In the recent past Ben T. Traywick wrote articles on two world champions. I would feel remiss if I did not write about a third. Danni Hartmann Eldridge was born in Santa Monica, California and raised in Culver City, of that state.

She was a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff for more than 20 years. Before that she worked as a civilian for that department, and for the Los Angeles Police Department in the Homicide Division. Danni was involved in searching, custodial and transporting assignments from high security areas. Some of these cases were quite notorious, such as Charles Manson and family, Sirhan Sirhan, the Black Panthers, SLA, Emily Harris (Patti Hearst), etc.

For about two years Danni also trained police dogs for attack purposes and for weed sniffing. She stated that she was bitten a few times. OUCH!

This industrious lady graduated from Woodbury University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She was a member of Alpha Iota Business Sorority.

Now to her athletic career. Danni played on numerous softbalI/baseball teams, starting in high school and continuing all the way through 1989. Her position, most of the time, was at shortstop.

She stated that she was not a great runner, but she did run in a number of 5k races and in one 10k race. She decided to discontinue her running activity when, on one occasion, two elderly, heavyset women passed her by while engaged in a fun chit-chat.

Danni Hartman Eldridge had a truly outstanding career as a strength athlete. She competed in the sport of powerlifting for nearly 12 twelve years. Keep in mind that while she trained year round to maintain a competitive level, she also worked five to six days a week at her profession.

In 1982 she won the World Championship in a bench press competition, an event that truly tests one's upper body strength. She competed in the 132 pound body weight class against women in the world of all ages. Also in 1982 Danni won the World Championship in the Fire and Police Department games. She also won many A.A.U. Championships on the Regional, State and National levels.

She was the first female to lift in the California Police Olympics. Ergo, all her opposition was of the male gender. She placed 4th. 1982 proved to be a great year for her. Danni won the Athlete of the Year Award for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department. She was inducted into the California Power-lifting Hall of Fame in March, 2004.

She and her late husband, Tom Eldridge, formed what was called "The Top Gun" Powerlifting Team. They competed in the Nationals against 77 teams from all parts of the United States. Danni and Tom's team won the Nationals five consecutive years.

On many occasions Danni was a volunteer at the Special Powerlifting Olympics, including competition for the blind.

Oh, yes - - - Danni is a member of the American Cherokee Confederacy of Georgia. Her Cherokee name is Grayeagle. OSIYO!

It is important to list Danni Eldridge's best lifts, which were performed in the 148 pound weight class, at ages 48-49. Squat: 407 pounds. Bench Press: 270 pounds. Deadlift: 463 pounds.

The combination of these three lifts truly tests one's total body strength. Few men of this body weight, and of any age, could match these poundages. I can say this with some authority, after spending more than 40 years as both competitor and strength coach.

Today, Danni is a trainer at the Cold Iron Gym in Tombstone, Arizona. It is very well equipped, and for those who are interested in weight-training for physical fitness, or powerlifting activities, a World Champion stands ready to provide you with correct information and coaching.

To Danni, who is also known as Shiloh, I say, Congratulations, "Champ."

THANK YOU, MR. RON FISCHER!!!!!