John Terpak competed for the United States at the 1936 and 1948 Olympics, just missing a medal both times. He was much more successful at the World Championships, winning the middleweight class in 1937 and the light-heavyweight class in 1947. Terpak also won a silver and bronze medal at Worlds as a middleweight, placing second in 1946 and third in 1938. He was a 10-time US champion, winning as a middleweight in 1937-42 and 1944-45, and as a light-heavy in 1943 and 1947. Terpak started working for York Barbell Company in 1935 and stayed with them his entire business career, eventually becoming executive vice-president, and then CEO and chairman of the board.
United States