Robert Wadlow(1918-1940)
Robert Pershing Wadlow was born on February 22, 1918 in Alton,
Illinois. His height of 8' 11.1" qualifies him as the tallest person in
history, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. Robert was the
first born of Addie and Harold Wadlow. He had two sisters, Helen and
Betty, and two brothers, Eugene and Harold Jr., all of whom were of
average height and weight. His excessive height was due to an
overactive pituitary gland, for which there was no treatment at the
time. According to records kept in his hometown of Alton, Robert
enjoyed collecting stamps, photography, and the Boy Scouts, becoming
the world's tallest Boy Scout when he was 13 years old. He was also
regarded as being very quiet, earning him the nickname "Gentle Giant."
When he turned 20 Robert traveled for the International Shoe Company,
who provided him with free shoes (which usually cost $100 a pair). His
father had to remove the front passenger seat of the family car so
Robert could sit in the back seat. Due to poor circulation, Robert had
little sensation in his feet and did not notice when problems like
blisters developed. In July of 1940 a blister on his ankle led to an
infection that, despite treatment, ended his life on the morning of
July 15th. Robert was buried in his hometown of Alton. All city
businesses closed for the funeral, which was attended by tens of
thousands of people. The 1,000-pound casket required 12 pallbearers. In
1985 a life-sized bronze statue of Robert was erected on the campus of
the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.
