Founded in 1974 by partners Tom Campanaro, Larry Westfall, and Dale Mc Murray, Total Gym has always been committed to manufacturing top-quality functional exercise and rehabilitation equipment. Listed below is a brief timeline of the company and its place in the fitness equipment industry. 1974: Total Gym Inc. established; San Diego, California. 1978: Scientifically researched study, by Syracuse University, confirms Total Gym non-compressive training as a safe and effective exercise program. 1984: USA Olympic Gold Medalist Volleyball Team select Total Gym as a training device. 1984: Consumer Reports judges Total Gym the best training equipment for exercising the torso. 1984: The medical community recognizes Total Gym for effective early, unloaded, closed kinetic chain rehabilitation for physical therapy patients. 1993: Indiana University selects Total Gym for use in a three-year, nationwide middle school study to research the impact of fitness in building self-esteem in children. 1994: The Total Gym Home Therapy System, designed for post-rehab care and conditioning, entered the home healthcare market with wide acceptance. 1996: Total Gym airs first television infomercial featuring long time user and friend Chuck Norris and co-host Christy Brinkley. 1998: Total Gym is considered standard equipment in hospitals, rehab, and athletic training facilities worldwide. 2000: Total Gym launches fourth TV infomercial making it the most successful in television history. 2001: Total Gym releases TotalGymWorkout.com, a web-based, online training system for Total Gym owners, the first of its kind among fitness equipment manufacturers.