Editing Charles Gaines (section)

== Timeline ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Event
|-
| 6 January 1942
| Born in Jacksonville, Florida
|-
| 1963
| Marries Patricia Ellisor
|-
| 1972
| Publishes ''Stay Hungry''
|-
| 1974
| Publishes ''Pumping Iron'' with George Butler
|-
| 1976
| Film adaptation of ''Stay Hungry'' released
|-
| 1977
| ''Pumping Iron'' documentary released
|-
| July 1980
| Debates survival skills with Hayes Noel on Martha's Vineyard
|-
| September 1980
| Receives agricultural catalogue from George Butler
|-
| October 1980
| Tests Nel-Spot 007 pistols with Noel
|-
| October 1980
| Discusses organising a larger game with Noel and Bob Gurnsey
|-
| 27 June 1981
| Participates in the first organised paintball game
|-
| 1981–1982
| Co-founds National Survival Game
|-
| Early 1980s
| Responsible for National Survival Game publicity and promotion
|-
| 24 July 2004
| Participates in a Pennsylvania scenario paintball event
|-
| 2018
| Inducted into Alabama Writers Hall of Fame
|-
| 2020
| Receives Truman Capote Prize
|-
| February/March 2024
| Publishes firsthand history of paintball in ''Garden & Gun''
|-
| 23 April 2026
| Receives American Museum of Fly Fishing Heritage Award
|-
| 21 July 2026
| Dies in Nova Scotia, aged 84
|}