Born in Whittier, Bob came to Whittier College from Whittier High School, where he first participated in track & field in his junior year. His first coach, Tom Phelan ‘29, had been a classmate of Bob’s father at Whittier High. Bob was co-captain of the championship Whittier High Cross-Country team which was undefeated his senior year (1950), winning both the CIF championship and the Compton Invitational.
Bob continued running at Whittier College, setting a new freshman school record in the two mile run and finishing first in the All Conference Frosh run. He ran with Russ Bonham, Bruce Weed and Sam Waltmire on the 1952 championship cross country team which was undefeated in the conference and easily won the All Conference meet, sweeping the first four places.
During his years at Whittier, Bob competed in the Drake Relays, the Compton Invitational and the Coliseum and Long Beach Relays. He participated on the winning Whittier distance medley team in both the 1952 and 1953 Southern California College Relays. He was co-captain of the 1954 cross country team.
In addition to his athletic endeavors, Bob was an active member of the college community as a member of Knights, Squires and the Franklin Society. He was editor of the Quaker Campus in 1953 and 1954 and was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1954.
Currently residing in Whittier with his wife Carol, Bob is general manager of the Fire Magic Barbecue division of the Robert H, Peterson Co.
Inducted on March 14, 1993
