, ▁so ▁he ▁grew ▁up ▁in ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁fost er ▁homes . ▁He ▁started ▁weight ▁training ▁at ▁age ▁ 1 7 , ▁we igh ing ▁ 1 3 5 ▁pounds ▁at ▁a ▁height ▁of ▁ 5 ' 1 0 ". ▁He ▁was ▁motiv ated ▁by ▁the ▁Japanese ▁attack ▁on ▁Pear l ▁Har bor ▁to ▁en list ▁in ▁the ▁Air ▁Force , ▁which ▁he ▁did ▁on ▁October ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁at ▁San ▁Francisco , ▁and ▁was ▁then ▁station ed ▁in ▁Las ▁Veg as . ▁ ▁Ar ound ▁this ▁time ▁he ▁married ▁his ▁wife . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Ross ▁won ▁the ▁AA U ▁Mr . ▁America ▁contest ▁in ▁Los ▁Angeles . ▁After ▁this ▁success , ▁he ▁started ▁to ▁appear ▁on ▁the ▁covers ▁of ▁popular ▁phys ique ▁mag az ines ▁such ▁as ▁Your ▁Phys ique , ▁Iron ▁Man , ▁Mus cle ▁Power , ▁and ▁Health ▁and ▁Str ength . ▁After ▁leaving ▁the ▁service ▁in ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Ross ▁opened ▁a ▁g ym ▁in ▁Al amed a , ▁California . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁Ross ▁opened ▁a ▁body building ▁g ym ▁in ▁the ▁Y g na cio ▁Pla za ▁Sho pping ▁Center , ▁ 1 8 5 3 ▁Y g na cio ▁Valley ▁R d , ▁Wal nut ▁Creek , ▁CA ▁ 9 4 5 9 8 , ▁where ▁he ▁ran ▁it ▁until ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁when ▁he ▁sold ▁the ▁g ym ▁to ▁Win ▁Paris , ▁who