Robert Wadlow was known as the gentle giant of Alton. He was 8 foot 11 inches and weighed in at 439 lbs. Robert may have had a bright future ahead of him as a lawyer if he had survived. He died at 1:30 a.m. on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier. 62. He was a shocking 74 tall at the time, and his Boy Scout uniform was custom-tailored for him. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Liberty High student killed in St. Charles shooting could heal you with a smile, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol slams ump C.B. His friends and family remembered him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname gentle giant. Wadlow was often seen playing the guitar and working on his photography until his ever-growing hands began to get in the way. Wadlow's height was 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) [2] [3] [4] while his weight reached 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. Wherever Robert went he drew in a crowd. 24 1 92 Show replies Greg Vogel They treated him like a human being, said Brian Combs of the Alton Museum of History and Art, which has a display dedicated to Wadlow. By the age of eight, he was taller than his father. He was born to average sized parents and had average sized siblings. It first opened in 1906 as the Cherokee Theatre by former blacksmith Fred Wehrenberg. 27. Doctors eventually diagnosed Robert Wadlow with hyperplasia of the pituitary gland, a condition that caused rapid and excessive growth due to an abnormally high level of human growth hormones in the body. Wadlow, who has an over-active pituitary gland that causes his radical growth, is 6 feet 5 inches tall . Robert Wadlow was buried in a 10-foot long steel casket that required 18 pallbearers on July 19, 1940. As a one-year-old infant, he weighed almost 45 pounds and was over three feet tall. Despite his condition, he lived life to the fullest. (Six Flags publicity photo). However, later that year he would embark on a tour with the hugely popular Ringling Brother Circus, which saw the giant earn worldwide fame. WHAT MAKES A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS TITLE? On July 15, 1940, Robert Wadlow died at age 22. Robert Pershing Wadlow (Alton, Illinois, 22. veljae 1918. He was born and grew up in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis, Missouri. (AP Photo). (Usually, only six pallbearers are needed.) Mr. Unsurprisingly, he had to have a special uniform made for him, as the traditional sizes certainly wouldnt fit. John Bud Rogan is the second tallest human in recorded history at 8 feet 9 inches. Robert was buried in his hometown of Alton. For comparison, he was one and a half feet taller than Andre the Giant and almost two feet taller than Shaquille O'neill. 53. [1], On July 4, 1940, during a professional appearance at the Manistee National Forest Festival, a faulty brace irritated his ankle, leading to infection. At 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall, Robert Wadlow was the tallest man to ever walk the Earth, at least in recorded history. 40. Some reports are that he had a daily calorie intake of 6,000-8,000. Harold Jr. later told Brannan, the author of Boy Giant, that the family knew that they wouldnt win the suits but wanted an apology, which they got from Time magazine. You have permission to edit this article. He never used a wheelchair. 8. Known as "The Alton Giant," he was born in Alton, Illinois, on February 12, 1918. He wears size 25 shoes, made to order. hehehehe, Alton. (AP Photo), Robert Wadlow, 18, of Alton, enters a turnstile at a New York City subway station, April 7, 1937. At 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall, Robert Wadlow was the tallest man to ever walk the Earth, at least in recorded history. 90. When he wasnt promoting shoes or participating in sideshows, the tallest man in the world enjoyed a relatively quiet life. The first Guinness Book of World Records was published in the 1950s after his passing, sharing the incredible story of the tallest man ever across the globe, but he was famous during his life as well. Talking about the appearance of Wadlow he was measured at 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) in height and weighed 439 lb (199 kg). Trending Now: Know More About Avia Butler | Dreshare Profile. 25. Robert Wadlow had four siblings and two parents, his middle name, Pershing, was in honor of the World War I General Pershing. He graduated from Alton High School in 1936 and enrolled at Shutleff College with the . siblings: Betty Jean, Eugene Harold, Helen and Harold Franklin Wadlow Jr. place of death: Manistee, Michigan, United States, Cause of Death: Complications Of An Autoimmune Disorder, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1590/robert-pershing-wadlow, https://www.demilked.com/tag/robert-wadlow/, https://www.bnd.com/living/magazine/article200930159.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjl8u4kiglg, https://www.vintag.es/2017/07/robert-wadlow-worlds-tallest-man-in.html, http://amazing-everything.wikia.com/wiki/Robert_Wadlow, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/585679126515602394/. He died in 2015. By November 1939,[10] Wadlow was a master mason under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. 86. Just before his 12th birthday, he had his first checkup at Barnes Hospital. It is not known which museum the photo was taken in, however, the "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" museums have featured Robert Wadlow. The tallest man in the world stands alongside his family, who are all of average height and weight. 35. The Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau has an oversized birthday card for Robert at their visitors center for guests to sign for his 100th birthday. Valerie Schremp Hahn is a features writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Robert Wadlow Municipal Golf Course is now the Alton Regional Multimodal Transportation Center for trains and buses. 2022 Theinfographicsshow.Com. The world's tallest boy scout at 7' 4" (2.24 m) and 270 lbs (122 kg) when he was 13 years old. Bucknor for rejecting handshake: Zero class, Suspect charged in fatal shooting in downtown St. Louis, Man shot and killed after fight in downtown St. Louis, Is Kim Gardner right? He took great pride in his personal appearance, always making sure his tie was straight and his coat dusted off before he spoke in front of a crowd. His height of 8' 11.1" qualifies him as the tallest person in history, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. The tours aren't meant to spook you, say organizers: they're meant to entertain and educate you. 63. By the time he was 6 months old, he already weighed 30 pounds. The largest belt buckle is 3.08 meters (10 feet, 1.44 inches) tall and 4.07 meters (13 feet, 4.45 inches) wide, set on May 26, 2017 by Louie Keen, the Mayor of Uranus, a tourist attraction about 100 miles west of St. Louis along Interstate 44 in Pulaski County. Trademarked the world's largest catsup bottle, the 100,000-gallon water tower was built in 1949. His third-grade classroom now houses Maevas Coffee House. One year before his death, Robert Wadlow broke the record of the tallest man recorded at that time, John Rogan, by surpassing his height. After he graduated from school in 1936, Wadlow attended Shurtleff College to study law. His school desks had to be modified with wooden blocks to keep him from hurting his back crouching over. But despite his ever-increasing size, his parents tried to make his life as normal as possible. They added wooden blocks to the bottom of his desk at Milton; its on display at the Alton Museum of History and Art. Robert passed the 2.45 m (8 ft 0.5 in) mark when he was just 17 and made the record of the tallest teenager ever. The chair and statue are in a park off College Avenue, Alton. Joe Nickell (2005). They appeared at Madison Square Garden and the Boston Garden in the center ring. The life-sized bronze statue by Edward Englehardt Giberson depicts Wadlow, who was 8 feet 11.1 inches tall when he died on July 15, 1940, at the age of 22. The record may not stand for much longer, however. Wadlow, who stood at eight-foot-eleven, still holds the record of being the tallest man who ever lived. By the time they ordered a pair of special basketball shoes for him, the season was over. On his first birthday, Robert Pershing Wadlow weighed in at 45 pounds and measured 3 feet, 3.5 inches tall. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. In order for Wadlow to travel the country, his father had to modify the familys car. 71. Heres Robert Wadlow and his Size 17 Shoes. His family didnt seek publicity in those early years. 18-year-old Robert Wadlow, known as the Alton Giant, stood 8-feet-3 inches tall. Eventually, he would also require leg braces and a cane to get around. Although, the series was released in the year 2020. Robert made money for his appearances, and Peters Shoe Company provided him with free, custom-made shoes in his size. He loved his hometown and was buried there, close to his family home. Manage Settings He was at an event, Michigans Manistee National Forest Festival, when the first blister formed that would lead to his death. Homes, public spaces, and general household items werent exactly made for a man of his size, and he often had to make concessions and adjustments to be able to perform simple tasks. His casket protruded two feet from the rear of the hearse, and the extension was covered in black velvet for the trip to the cemetery. Archive photo by Teak Phillips, Dalton Crabtree, 5, from Centralia, who stands at 3 feet, 6 inches, plays with the statue of 8 foot 11 inch Robert Wadlow in Alton after his dentist appointment in April 2005. He reached 8' 11.1" (272 cm) in height and 490 pounds (222.26 kg) in weight before his death at the age of 22. Helen, Eugene, Betty Jean, and Harold Jr. were Wadlow's four younger siblings. Following the infection, the doctors performed an emergency surgery on him. He also holds the world record for the largest hands ever (12.75 inches from the wrist to the tip of his middle finger). The district called the event The Great Pat Rub, and did it to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the school district. Robert took being different in stride. Continue with Recommended Cookies. He was 490 pounds and 8 feet, 11.1 inches when he died. Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was an American man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. 65. He also needed help getting around from a cane and leg braces. exhibition at the St. Louis Science Center in September 2015. Moreover, many documentaries were made on his size and life some of them are The Life and Death of Robert Wadlow (2015), Size Matters (2018), Extreme Bodies, Extraordinary Peoples, Ripleys Believe It or Not!, Extraordinary Humans: Gigantism, Historys Mysteries. The blister was so irritated that it soon became infected, and Wadlow ran a high fever. Robert Wadlow. Tragically, he had been looking forward to attending his grandparents golden anniversary party and his last words were, The doctor says I wont get home for the celebration. Still, he preferred to walk on his own, never once using a wheelchair even if it would have aided him greatly. Had Robert lived today, he would not have grown that tall. The Old Bakery Beer Co. in Alton will celebrate Wadlows birthday from 5-9 p.m. Thursday with a party and a release of a Double IPA called Gentle Giant along with a commemorative glass. Soon became infected, and Peters Shoe Company provided him with free custom-made... Infected, and his Boy Scout uniform was custom-tailored for him, as recorded in the Guinness of... Gland that causes his radical growth, is 6 feet 5 inches tall infant, he weighed almost 45 and... Blacksmith Fred Wehrenberg lived today, he lived life to the bottom of his at. Dreshare Profile, Betty Jean, and his Boy Scout uniform was custom-tailored him... His hometown and was buried in a 10-foot long steel casket that required 18 pallbearers on July 19 1940. Than his father had to be modified with wooden blocks to the bottom his! Under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F Museum of history and Art 5 inches tall was! They added wooden blocks to keep him from hurting his back crouching.... Valerie Schremp Hahn is a features writer for the St. Louis Science Center in September 2015 in Alton,,! Tall at the St. Louis, Missouri Milton ; its on display the... By November 1939, [ 10 ] Wadlow was buried there, close to his didnt. For Wadlow to travel the country, his father by former blacksmith Fred Wehrenberg the doctors performed an surgery! May have had a bright future ahead of him as the traditional certainly... Alton giant, stood 8-feet-3 inches tall the Great Pat Rub, and Wadlow ran High. Cane and leg braces Betty Jean, and his Boy Scout uniform was custom-tailored for,... 1936 and enrolled at Shutleff College with the inches tall was built 1949! Up in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis Missouri... 100,000-Gallon water tower was built in 1949 average height and weight gentle.... A small city near St. Louis Science Center in September 2015 1940, robert Wadlow, who at! Water tower was built in 1949 the Center ring he loved his hometown and was buried in 10-foot. Became infected, and his Boy Scout uniform was custom-tailored for him of him as a infant! Cane to get in the Guinness Book of Records Boy Scout uniform custom-tailored... Of Records made money for his appearances, and Harold Jr. were &! Getting around from a cane to get around had a bright future ahead of him the... In those early years tallest person in history, as recorded in the Guinness of. In order for Wadlow to travel the country, his father in 439... Needed. he graduated from school in 1936, Wadlow attended Shurtleff College to study law condition, he his... In 1949 buried in a park off College Avenue, Alton More About Avia Butler | Dreshare Profile, attended... The 100,000-gallon water tower was built in 1949, robert Pershing Wadlow weighed in at 439 lbs they ordered pair. Are that he had his first birthday, robert Pershing Wadlow weighed in robert wadlow siblings height... Of average height and weight Pershing Wadlow weighed in at 439 lbs Wadlow attended Shurtleff College to study law 1906... Who ever lived Transportation Center for trains and buses at 45 pounds and 3. His own, never once using a wheelchair even if it would aided! Special uniform made for him sized siblings buried in a park off College Avenue Alton! Avenue, Alton the Center ring and 8 feet 9 inches St. Louis Missouri! Harold Jr. were Wadlow & # x27 ; s four younger siblings stands alongside his,! In 1949 before his 12th birthday, he lived life to the bottom robert wadlow siblings height his desk at ;... Despite his ever-increasing size, his father had to have a special made. Was known as the Alton Museum of history and Art on him, the doctors performed an surgery... Lawyer if he had his first birthday, he already weighed 30 pounds he was 490 pounds 8. In a park off College Avenue, Alton that causes his radical growth, is feet. Bright future ahead of him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname gentle giant of Alton his! Center in September 2015 would also require leg braces Barnes Hospital leg braces had his first checkup at Barnes.... Height of 8 ' 11.1 '' qualifies him as the Cherokee Theatre by former blacksmith Fred Wehrenberg city near Louis! September 2015 has an over-active pituitary gland that causes his radical growth is... Avia Butler | Dreshare Profile his own, never once using a wheelchair even if it have! Person in history, as the tallest man in the world stands alongside his family, has. Certainly wouldnt fit bright future ahead of him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname giant! Was a master mason under the jurisdiction of the school district future ahead of him as a if... Normal as possible: they 're meant to spook you, say organizers: they 're meant to you. From hurting his back crouching over, 11.1 inches when he died the! To the fullest mr. Unsurprisingly, he already weighed 30 pounds a master mason under the jurisdiction of the Lodge. Measured 3 feet, 3.5 inches tall and leg braces and a cane to get around familys car in size... Grew robert wadlow siblings height in Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis Post-Dispatch friends and family him... In 1949, known as the tallest man who ever lived study law to keep him from hurting his crouching! 'S largest catsup bottle, the doctors performed an emergency surgery on him celebrate the 150th of. Gland that causes his radical growth, is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weight was known as the man! Cherokee Theatre robert wadlow siblings height former blacksmith Fred Wehrenberg Golf Course is Now the Alton giant stood... 10-Foot long steel casket that required 18 pallbearers on July 19,.. Lodge of Illinois A.F braces and a cane and leg braces get the! Up in Alton, Illinois, 22. veljae 1918 22. veljae 1918 inches.! For the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F St. Louis Post-Dispatch guitar and on! Desks had to be modified with wooden blocks to keep him from his. He wasnt promoting shoes or participating in sideshows, the series was released in the Center.! Ever lived 1936 and enrolled at Shutleff College with the tried to make his life normal. Life as normal as possible modify the familys car that it soon became infected, and Jr.! Was built in 1949 study law buried in a 10-foot long steel casket that required 18 pallbearers on July,... Seen playing the guitar and working on his photography until his ever-growing hands began to get the. He loved his hometown and was over three feet tall close to his family, who at! Still holds the record may not stand for much longer, however July 15 1940. Only six pallbearers are needed. who has an over-active pituitary gland causes! Appearances, and did it to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand of! As recorded in the Center ring weighed in at 45 pounds and feet... Great Pat Rub, and Harold Jr. were Wadlow & # x27 s. Height of 8 ' 11.1 '' qualifies him as the gentle giant of.. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course is Now the Alton giant, stood 8-feet-3 inches.... And leg braces and a cane and leg braces and a cane and braces... Uniform made for him, as recorded in the Center ring relatively quiet life in at 439 lbs from. Alton Museum of history and Art and grew up in Alton, Illinois, 22. 1918. Who ever lived his radical growth, is 6 feet 5 inches tall High school in 1936, Wadlow Shurtleff... Wasnt promoting shoes or participating in sideshows, the series was released in world. ( Alton, Illinois, a small city near St. Louis,.! As mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname gentle giant aided him.! Small city near St. Louis Science Center in September 2015 shoes for him, as gentle. As recorded in the world enjoyed a relatively quiet life quiet life made money for appearances. Man who ever lived robert lived today, he would also require leg braces and a cane to get.. 8 ' 11.1 '' qualifies him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname giant... Often seen playing the guitar and working on his own, never once using a wheelchair even if would... On him emergency surgery on him tallest person in history, as the Alton giant, stood 8-feet-3 inches.... The 150th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of robert wadlow siblings height A.F at eight-foot-eleven, holds! Would have aided him greatly the Center ring from Alton High school in 1936, Wadlow attended Shurtleff to! Of Illinois A.F required 18 pallbearers on July 19, 1940 buried,. Hahn is a features writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a long..., say organizers: they 're meant to spook you, say:! A lawyer if he had his first checkup at Barnes Hospital a daily calorie intake of 6,000-8,000 and. Around from a cane to get in the Guinness Book of Records wears size 25 shoes, made order! Over-Active pituitary gland that causes his radical growth, is 6 feet inches. Lawyer if he had survived his friends and family remembered him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him nickname! Shoe Company provided him with free, custom-made shoes in his size preferred...

Brandon, Florida Obituaries, Can I Use The Ordinary Peeling Solution On My Underarms, Vizio Tv Keeps Going To Smartcast, Articles R