The King of Fitness: Ray Wilson

Ray Wilson and his companies have opened more gyms, health clubs, and fitness centers than anyone in the world. Ray is a capitalist who has had great success in operating his businesses in a socialistic manner by sharing ownership with his key employees. Coming from the cotton fields and migrant workers, Ray found it so hard to get opportunity himself that he likes to help other ambitious individuals. Ray’s home base for the past thirty years has been San Diego, California.

Fitness Companies Ray has founded include the following:
                                                                                                                        Number of
                                                                                                                        Employee
                                                                                    Started             Sold     Shareholders

American Health Studios (U.S. & Canada)                 1952                1958                62
Silhouette Figure Salons (U.S. & Canada)                  1954                1958                40
Club International (Mexico)                                        1958                1960                12
Silhouetta International (Mexico)                                1958                1960                15
Trim & Swim Health Spas (Texas)                             1960                1965                14
President’s Health Club (Houston)                             1960                1966                10
European Health Spas            (U.S.)                           1960                1975                46
European Health Spas (Canada)                                 1962                1970                21
Life Cycle Exercise Bike (International)                   1975                1984                8
Family Fitness Centers (Western U.S.)                    1977                1995                110
Ray Wilson California Fitness Centers (Asia)           1995                2000                16
Ray Wilson California Fitness Centers (Ohio)          1997                2005                28

Ray Wilson also founded two fitness equipment manufacturing companies, three finance companies and one real estate development company. Ray had employee shareholders in these companies also just as he had in all of the above fitness related companies.

On February 19th, 2008, Ray turned 80 years young. For the past three years, Ray and his nephew have been experimenting with small non intimidating clubs with one half hour circuit workouts. These new clubs are designed for people of all ages who want a fast way to get in shape and stay in shape (without devoting their life to it). These clubs are designed after the way Ray himself has worked out in his experimental home gym since he turned 50.

The final experiment on these new Ray Wilson Fitness Centers is now underway at 3509 Cannon Road in Vista / Oceanside (phone number 760-726-1600). Ray’s nephew, Lenny Wilson, is the manager. Ray says Lenny in one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on nutrition and fitness. Ray says that on occasion he gets nutrition and fitness advice for himself from Lenny (as Lenny keeps right up to date on all information for the fitness industry).

Even though Ray is pretty well retired, he advises Lenny on this new phase of the fitness industry. Ray says that this is the “sixth” phase in the fitness industry and that he has been one of the leaders in each of the other “five” phases during the past sixty years. Ray says that this “sixth” phase is the most important as it will help the fitness of the people who need it the most. Ray says that the industry (himself included) has from inception always catered primarily to the “hard body” 18 to 35 year olds, as they found that it was by far the most profitable market.

Ray Wilson’s and Lenny Wilson’s latest Fitness Centers are for people of all ages who want to get in shape and stay in shape with minimum time.

Wilson’s rise to fitness fame included many stops ---- one of the most noted being the development of Life Cycle exercise bike and other exercise equipment. Sitting on a Life Cycle in the gym at his palatial home in La Costa, he explained how the seeds for the Lifecycle machine were planted during a fishing trip with Capt. James Lovell, who flew in the Apollo 8 and 13 missions and was later appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be chairman of the President’s Physical Fitness Council. While on the fishing trip, Capt. Lovell made Ray promise him that he would not open any additional fitness centers without a cardiovascular machine that all of the members would use. Ray asked Capt. Lovell, “Where do I get such a machine?” Capt. Lovell replied, “Ray, you like challenges, so I am sure you will figure it out.” It took Ray seven years, but he figured it out.

With Capt. Lovell’s leadership, the President’s Physical Fitness Council was educating all U.S. students that cardiovascular exercise was vital for good health. Capt. Lovell pointed out to Ray that each year as the students graduated, Ray’s business would get better if he had cardiovascular equipment.

Ray was already convinced, but later when Ray attended a health fair at his fifth grade son’s school, Ray became completely sold. Ray said that in the school gym, they had a very large heart display which showed how the blood flowed faster when they simulated exercise. Ray said he then realized that everything Capt. Lovell had told him they would accomplish had been accomplished (and Ray said these fifth grade students knew more about cardiovascular exercising than did the instructors in the gyms). Wilson has started many chains of gyms, health clubs and fitness centers, but said he considers the Life Cycle one of the best things he has done for the fitness industry. His longtime friend and fellow industry guru, Bob Delmontique, agrees. “Ray had the foresight,” Delmontique said. “He was a visionary. He saw things in advance.”

”He is the leading pioneer in the fitness industry,” said Norm Cates Jr., owner and publisher of The Club Insider, a magazine covering the fitness industry with a worldwide circulation. “Ray Wilson has had six phases in his career, including the newest Ray Wilson Fitness Centers.”

Ray believes that he and the industry have made a big mistake by targeting primarily the 18 to 35 year old market (and neglecting the rest of the market). Ray believes that there is a market of over two hundred million people who are too intimidated (for one reason or another) to attend the huge hard body clubs. Ray believes that it is not just the middle age and older people who are “intimidated.” Ray believes there are many reasons that make people feel “intimidated” (such as being overweight, being out of shape, shyness, lack of confidence, fear of the unknown, lack of knowledge about exercise, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the club, too complicated, uncomfortable with all of the beautiful hard bodies and several other reasons).

The non hard body people as well as the middle age and older people need fitness much more than the ordinary 18 to 35 year olds (to get trim muscle tone, to prevent the loss of bone density, for cardiovascular fitness, for mobility and for general fitness and health). Ray’s new small 30 minute circuit workout clubs are designed for this “intimidated” market.

Ray’s latest small, quick workout neighborhood clubs are designed for everyone who wants to get in shape and stay in shape (without having to dedicate their lives to it). Because these clubs are small, they can be located much closer to residential neighborhoods, which will help make them very popular because of high gas prices.

Ray’s and Lenny’s plan is to expand this concept first throughout the San Diego area (as Ray did at the beginning of Family Fitness Centers) and then throughout the US and perhaps internationally. Because of the lower overhead of these small clubs, they can be successful at only $19 per month (on a month to month basis, no long term contracts).

Phone 760-726-1600 and ask for Ray’s nephew, Lenny Wilson, to get your one week free with no obligation.


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The King of Fitness: Ray Wilson Ray Wilson and his companies have opened more gyms, health clubs, and fitness centers than anyone in the world. Ray is a capitalist who has had great success in operating his businesses in a socialistic manner by sharing ownership with his key employees. Coming from the cotton fields and migrant workers, Ray found it so hard to get opportunity himself that he likes to help other ambitious individuals. Ray’s home base for the past thirty years has been San Diego, California. Fitness Companies Ray has founded include the following: Number of Employee Started Sold Shareholders American Health Studios (U.S. & Canada) 1952 1958 62 Silhouette Figure Salons (U.S. & Canada) 1954 1958 40 Club International (Mexico) 1958 1960 12 Silhouetta International (Mexico) 1958 1960 15 Trim & Swim Health Spas (Texas) 1960 1965 14 President’s Health Club (Houston) 1960 1966 10 European Health Spas (U.S.) 1960 1975 46 European Health Spas (Canada) 1962 1970 21 Life Cycle Exercise Bike (International) 1975 1984 8 Family Fitness Centers (Western U.S.) 1977 1995 110 Ray Wilson California Fitness Centers (Asia) 1995 2000 16 Ray Wilson California Fitness Centers (Ohio) 1997 2005 28 Ray Wilson also founded two fitness equipment manufacturing companies, three finance companies and one real estate development company. Ray had employee shareholders in these companies also just as he had in all of the above fitness related companies. On February 19th, 2008, Ray turned 80 years young. For the past three years, Ray and his nephew have been experimenting with small non intimidating clubs with one half hour circuit workouts. These new clubs are designed for people of all ages who want a fast way to get in shape and stay in shape (without devoting their life to it). These clubs are designed after the way Ray himself has worked out in his experimental home gym since he turned 50. The final experiment on these new Ray Wilson Fitness Centers is now underway at 3509 Cannon Road in Vista / Oceanside (phone number 760-726-1600). Ray’s nephew, Lenny Wilson, is the manager. Ray says Lenny in one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on nutrition and fitness. Ray says that on occasion he gets nutrition and fitness advice for himself from Lenny (as Lenny keeps right up to date on all information for the fitness industry). Even though Ray is pretty well retired, he advises Lenny on this new phase of the fitness industry. Ray says that this is the “sixth” phase in the fitness industry and that he has been one of the leaders in each of the other “five” phases during the past sixty years. Ray says that this “sixth” phase is the most important as it will help the fitness of the people who need it the most. Ray says that the industry (himself included) has from inception always catered primarily to the “hard body” 18 to 35 year olds, as they found that it was by far the most profitable market. Ray Wilson’s and Lenny Wilson’s latest Fitness Centers are for people of all ages who want to get in shape and stay in shape with minimum time. Wilson’s rise to fitness fame included many stops ---- one of the most noted being the development of Life Cycle exercise bike and other exercise equipment. Sitting on a Life Cycle in the gym at his palatial home in La Costa, he explained how the seeds for the Lifecycle machine were planted during a fishing trip with Capt. James Lovell, who flew in the Apollo 8 and 13 missions and was later appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be chairman of the President’s Physical Fitness Council. While on the fishing trip, Capt. Lovell made Ray promise him that he would not open any additional fitness centers without a cardiovascular machine that all of the members would use. Ray asked Capt. Lovell, “Where do I get such a machine?” Capt. Lovell replied, “Ray, you like challenges, so I am sure you will figure it out.” It took Ray seven years, but he figured it out. With Capt. Lovell’s leadership, the President’s Physical Fitness Council was educating all U.S. students that cardiovascular exercise was vital for good health. Capt. Lovell pointed out to Ray that each year as the students graduated, Ray’s business would get better if he had cardiovascular equipment. Ray was already convinced, but later when Ray attended a health fair at his fifth grade son’s school, Ray became completely sold. Ray said that in the school gym, they had a very large heart display which showed how the blood flowed faster when they simulated exercise. Ray said he then realized that everything Capt. Lovell had told him they would accomplish had been accomplished (and Ray said these fifth grade students knew more about cardiovascular exercising than did the instructors in the gyms). Wilson has started many chains of gyms, health clubs and fitness centers, but said he considers the Life Cycle one of the best things he has done for the fitness industry. His longtime friend and fellow industry guru, Bob Delmontique, agrees. “Ray had the foresight,” Delmontique said. “He was a visionary. He saw things in advance.” ”He is the leading pioneer in the fitness industry,” said Norm Cates Jr., owner and publisher of The Club Insider, a magazine covering the fitness industry with a worldwide circulation. “Ray Wilson has had six phases in his career, including the newest Ray Wilson Fitness Centers.” Ray believes that he and the industry have made a big mistake by targeting primarily the 18 to 35 year old market (and neglecting the rest of the market). Ray believes that there is a market of over two hundred million people who are too intimidated (for one reason or another) to attend the huge hard body clubs. Ray believes that it is not just the middle age and older people who are “intimidated.” Ray believes there are many reasons that make people feel “intimidated” (such as being overweight, being out of shape, shyness, lack of confidence, fear of the unknown, lack of knowledge about exercise, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the club, too complicated, uncomfortable with all of the beautiful hard bodies and several other reasons). The non hard body people as well as the middle age and older people need fitness much more than the ordinary 18 to 35 year olds (to get trim muscle tone, to prevent the loss of bone density, for cardiovascular fitness, for mobility and for general fitness and health). Ray’s new small 30 minute circuit workout clubs are designed for this “intimidated” market. Ray’s latest small, quick workout neighborhood clubs are designed for everyone who wants to get in shape and stay in shape (without having to dedicate their lives to it). Because these clubs are small, they can be located much closer to residential neighborhoods, which will help make them very popular because of high gas prices. Ray’s and Lenny’s plan is to expand this concept first throughout the San Diego area (as Ray did at the beginning of Family Fitness Centers) and then throughout the US and perhaps internationally. Because of the lower overhead of these small clubs, they can be successful at only $19 per month (on a month to month basis, no long term contracts). Phone 760-726-1600 and ask for Ray’s nephew, Lenny Wilson, to get your one week free with no obligation.