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Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was an American who became famous as the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He was born and raised in Alton, Illinois.[1]
Wadlow reached 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m)[2][4][5] in height and weighed 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH). He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death.
Wadlow reached 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m)[2][4][5] in height and weighed 439 lb (199 kg) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood were due to hyperplasia of his pituitary gland, which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone (HGH). He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death.
Robert Wadlow - Wikipedia
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Human Bigfoot - 9 FOOT TALL - World's Tallest Man
Story of Robert Wadlow Jr. ------------- http://www.thebigfootreport.com/ (Home of the Extinct Podcast series) http://www.bigfootevidence.blogspot.com/ (Nexu...
Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that February 22 is the anniversary of the birth of the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois Robert Pershing Wadlow who became famous as the tallest person ever in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence.
Unsurprisingly his size caused him difficulty which required braces to stand and health issues unimaginable to most of us. He sadly died at age 22 of an infection.
"One year before his death, Wadlow passed John Rogan as the tallest person ever. On June 27, 1940 (eighteen days before his death), he was measured at 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) by doctors C. M. Charles and Cyril MacBryde of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 4, 1940, during a professional appearance at the Manistee National Forest Festival, a faulty brace irritated his ankle, causing a blister and subsequent infection. Doctors treated him with a blood transfusion and emergency surgery, but his condition worsened due to an autoimmune disorder, and on July 15, 1940, 11 days after contracting the infection, he died in his sleep at the age of 22.[citation needed] His coffin measured 10 feet 9 inches (3.28 m) long by 32 inches (81 cm) wide by 30 inches (76 cm) deep, weighed 1,000 pounds (450 kg) and was carried by twelve pallbearers and eight assistants. His body was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Upper Alton, Madison County, Illinois."
Story of Robert Wadlow Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RexHt_1ra3c
Images:
1. Headstone of Robert Wadlow;
2. 1930s Photographic postcard of Robert Wadlow compared to his father, Harold Franklin;
3. 1930's Robert Wadlow comparing shoe sizes with the Ringling Bros’ Major Mite, a little person traveling with the circus
4. 1930's Robert Wadlow eating dinner with his family at a special raised table made for him
He must have had a friend who was a tailor since Big and Tall stores weren't available back then.
It is unsurprising that he died at age 22 on July 15, 1940 in Manistee, MI.
He was able to enjoy 22 anniversaries of his birthdays before he died.
Background from allthatsinteresting.com/robert-wadlow
"Robert Wadlow — The Tragically Short Life Of The World’s Tallest Man
By Katie Serena
Published January 31, 2018; Updated October 30, 2018
Robert Wadlow was the tallest man to ever live, and though his life was cut tragically short, it was full of excitement worthy of the "gentle giant."
On Feb. 22, 1918, Addie Wadlow gave birth to a healthy, 8.7 pound baby named Robert Pershing Wadlow. Like most babies, he began to grow over the course of his first year of life. Unlike most babies, he grew exceptionally fast and exceptionally tall.
By his first birthday, he was 45 pounds, and 3 feet, 3.5 inches tall.
By his eighth birthday, he had exceeded his father’s height of 5 feet, 11 inches.
At 13, he became the world’s tallest Boy Scout at 7 feet, 4 inches.
By the time he graduated high school, he was 8 feet, 4 inches tall.
Doctors eventually diagnosed young Robert 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. Even at the time of his death, his body was continuing to grow and had shown no signs of slowing down.
Despite his increasingly gargantuan size, Robert Wadlow’s parents tried to make his life as normal as possible. For him to participate in elementary school, a special desk was made for him. As the oldest of his four brothers and sisters, he was expected to play with his siblings and participate in the same activities they did.
Due to his extreme height, he suffered from a lack of feeling in his legs and feet. If he did feel anything, it was nothing more than a constant tingling. However, though it would have aided him greatly, he never once used a wheelchair, preferring to walk on his own.
In 1936, Wadlow was noticed by the Ringling Brothers and their traveling circus. The Ringling’s knew he would make an excellent addition to their show, particularly when he was showcased alongside the troupe of little people already employed by the circus. And, indeed, the world’s tallest man presence drew a huge crowd, turning him into somewhat of a celebrity.
In 1938, the International Shoe Company contacted him, offering him a job. They had noticed him on his travels with the Ringling Brothers and asked if he wouldn’t mind joining him on a promotional tour. Wadlow agreed, and became the face of the company, promoting the brand, and receiving all of his specially-made, size 37AA shoes free of charge.
When he wasn’t traveling the world, selling shoes or participating in sideshows, the tallest man in the world enjoyed a quiet life. His friends and family remembered him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname “gentle giant.” Until his ever-growing limbs began to prevent it, Wadlow was often seen playing the guitar and practicing photography.
Though the life of the gentle giant was no doubt an exciting one, it was no doubt a difficult one. Homes, public spaces, and general household items weren’t exactly equipped for a man of his height, and he often had to make concessions and adjustments to be able to perform simple tasks.
Furthermore, to walk properly, special braces had to be fitted to his legs. Though they ended up allowing him to stand upright, the braces were also his downfall.
Due to the lack of feeling in his legs, he didn’t notice that the braces were rubbing against his ankle. In 1940, a blister formed that became infected, causing doctors to resort to a blood transfusion and emergency surgery. Unfortunately, his great height also left him with a weakened immune system, and he eventually succumbed to the infection.
On July 15, 1940, Robert Wadlow died in his sleep. Eighteen days prior, he had been measured for the final time, clocking in at 8 feet, 11.1 inches. His body was laid to rest in a casket fit for the gentle giant, reaching a length of 10 feet, 9 inches, and weighing 1,000 pounds. It took twelve men to carry it out of the funeral, supported by eight assistants.
Though he died at just 22 years of age, Robert Wadlow left behind a legacy as large as he was – literally. A life-size bronze statue of Wadlow stands in his hometown of Alton, Illinois, while three others stand in Guinness Museums around North America. Several wax models of him reside in Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums, some of them lying in gigantic caskets, some of them towering over the awestruck crowd.
________________________________________
Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting.
FYI Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 John M. MSG Andrew White SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SSgt Brian Brakke Sgt Arthur Caesar SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Unsurprisingly his size caused him difficulty which required braces to stand and health issues unimaginable to most of us. He sadly died at age 22 of an infection.
"One year before his death, Wadlow passed John Rogan as the tallest person ever. On June 27, 1940 (eighteen days before his death), he was measured at 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) by doctors C. M. Charles and Cyril MacBryde of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 4, 1940, during a professional appearance at the Manistee National Forest Festival, a faulty brace irritated his ankle, causing a blister and subsequent infection. Doctors treated him with a blood transfusion and emergency surgery, but his condition worsened due to an autoimmune disorder, and on July 15, 1940, 11 days after contracting the infection, he died in his sleep at the age of 22.[citation needed] His coffin measured 10 feet 9 inches (3.28 m) long by 32 inches (81 cm) wide by 30 inches (76 cm) deep, weighed 1,000 pounds (450 kg) and was carried by twelve pallbearers and eight assistants. His body was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Upper Alton, Madison County, Illinois."
Story of Robert Wadlow Jr.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RexHt_1ra3c
Images:
1. Headstone of Robert Wadlow;
2. 1930s Photographic postcard of Robert Wadlow compared to his father, Harold Franklin;
3. 1930's Robert Wadlow comparing shoe sizes with the Ringling Bros’ Major Mite, a little person traveling with the circus
4. 1930's Robert Wadlow eating dinner with his family at a special raised table made for him
He must have had a friend who was a tailor since Big and Tall stores weren't available back then.
It is unsurprising that he died at age 22 on July 15, 1940 in Manistee, MI.
He was able to enjoy 22 anniversaries of his birthdays before he died.
Background from allthatsinteresting.com/robert-wadlow
"Robert Wadlow — The Tragically Short Life Of The World’s Tallest Man
By Katie Serena
Published January 31, 2018; Updated October 30, 2018
Robert Wadlow was the tallest man to ever live, and though his life was cut tragically short, it was full of excitement worthy of the "gentle giant."
On Feb. 22, 1918, Addie Wadlow gave birth to a healthy, 8.7 pound baby named Robert Pershing Wadlow. Like most babies, he began to grow over the course of his first year of life. Unlike most babies, he grew exceptionally fast and exceptionally tall.
By his first birthday, he was 45 pounds, and 3 feet, 3.5 inches tall.
By his eighth birthday, he had exceeded his father’s height of 5 feet, 11 inches.
At 13, he became the world’s tallest Boy Scout at 7 feet, 4 inches.
By the time he graduated high school, he was 8 feet, 4 inches tall.
Doctors eventually diagnosed young Robert 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. Even at the time of his death, his body was continuing to grow and had shown no signs of slowing down.
Despite his increasingly gargantuan size, Robert Wadlow’s parents tried to make his life as normal as possible. For him to participate in elementary school, a special desk was made for him. As the oldest of his four brothers and sisters, he was expected to play with his siblings and participate in the same activities they did.
Due to his extreme height, he suffered from a lack of feeling in his legs and feet. If he did feel anything, it was nothing more than a constant tingling. However, though it would have aided him greatly, he never once used a wheelchair, preferring to walk on his own.
In 1936, Wadlow was noticed by the Ringling Brothers and their traveling circus. The Ringling’s knew he would make an excellent addition to their show, particularly when he was showcased alongside the troupe of little people already employed by the circus. And, indeed, the world’s tallest man presence drew a huge crowd, turning him into somewhat of a celebrity.
In 1938, the International Shoe Company contacted him, offering him a job. They had noticed him on his travels with the Ringling Brothers and asked if he wouldn’t mind joining him on a promotional tour. Wadlow agreed, and became the face of the company, promoting the brand, and receiving all of his specially-made, size 37AA shoes free of charge.
When he wasn’t traveling the world, selling shoes or participating in sideshows, the tallest man in the world enjoyed a quiet life. His friends and family remembered him as mild-mannered and polite, earning him the nickname “gentle giant.” Until his ever-growing limbs began to prevent it, Wadlow was often seen playing the guitar and practicing photography.
Though the life of the gentle giant was no doubt an exciting one, it was no doubt a difficult one. Homes, public spaces, and general household items weren’t exactly equipped for a man of his height, and he often had to make concessions and adjustments to be able to perform simple tasks.
Furthermore, to walk properly, special braces had to be fitted to his legs. Though they ended up allowing him to stand upright, the braces were also his downfall.
Due to the lack of feeling in his legs, he didn’t notice that the braces were rubbing against his ankle. In 1940, a blister formed that became infected, causing doctors to resort to a blood transfusion and emergency surgery. Unfortunately, his great height also left him with a weakened immune system, and he eventually succumbed to the infection.
On July 15, 1940, Robert Wadlow died in his sleep. Eighteen days prior, he had been measured for the final time, clocking in at 8 feet, 11.1 inches. His body was laid to rest in a casket fit for the gentle giant, reaching a length of 10 feet, 9 inches, and weighing 1,000 pounds. It took twelve men to carry it out of the funeral, supported by eight assistants.
Though he died at just 22 years of age, Robert Wadlow left behind a legacy as large as he was – literally. A life-size bronze statue of Wadlow stands in his hometown of Alton, Illinois, while three others stand in Guinness Museums around North America. Several wax models of him reside in Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums, some of them lying in gigantic caskets, some of them towering over the awestruck crowd.
________________________________________
Katie Serena is a New York City-based writer and a staff writer at All That's Interesting.
FYI Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown 1stSgt Eugene Harless CW5 John M. MSG Andrew White SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SCPO Morris Ramsey SGT Michael Thorin SGT (Join to see) SGT Robert George SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SP5 Robert Ruck SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SSgt Brian Brakke Sgt Arthur Caesar SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
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Great bio on Robert Wadlow Maj Marty Hogan
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC Stephen F. Sgt Randy Wilber CW5 Jack Cardwell TSgt David L. Cpl (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPL Dave Hoover SPC Douglas Bolton LTC Greg Henning Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL PO3 Phyllis Maynard PO2 Kevin Parker SP5 Mark Kuzinski
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maj Marty Hogan SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC Stephen F. Sgt Randy Wilber CW5 Jack Cardwell TSgt David L. Cpl (Join to see) Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPL Dave Hoover SPC Douglas Bolton LTC Greg Henning Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Alan K. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL PO3 Phyllis Maynard PO2 Kevin Parker SP5 Mark Kuzinski
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