st. john's lodge no 2 - The Trestleboard

the DeMolay Founders Conference in Kansas City during the summer of 1936. He held the office of Chaplain and just four days after his twenty-first birthday in 1939, received his Majority in a special ceremony attended by over 400 at the Franklin Masonic Temple in Alton.

Robert was a conscientious student and ranked well above the average in high school. In high school Robert was popular and active in many extracurricular activities, even serving as the advertising manager for the Tatler–Alton High School yearbook. He was completely accepted by his peers. He graduated in the January class, 1936.

Robert is pictured in the graduating Senior Section for Class of 1935 and then it says "Not Graduating" under his name. There were two graduating classes for many schools in that era; one in the Winter and one in the Summer. In all likelihood he was right on the edge of having enough credits to perhaps make the June 1935 graduating class, but at the last minute didn't make it so he wound up ultimately graduating in the January 1936 class.

After graduating high school Robert enrolled in Shurleff College with the intention of getting a law degree. Although granted a scholarship to Alton's Shurtleff College, he had to quit after one year due to his difficulty in getting from building to building, especially during icy winter conditions.

Robert thought of himself as being a goodwill ambassador, not as a human exhibit, and rejected many invitations to be in the circus. But Ringling's offer in 1937 was simply too good to turn down. He stipulated that he would only appear in engagements at Madison Square Garden and at the Boston Garden and that he would appear only two times a day for three minutes at a time. He demanded to be in the center ring, not the sideshow. He would wear only a plain business suit.

Robert's Shoe

At age 18, Robert wore size 37 shoes, which cost $100 a pair, the equivalent of about $1,500 today. Two years later his shoes were provided free by the International Shoe Company. In 1938, Robert undertook a promotional tour as a goodwill ambassador for the International Shoe Company, promoting Peters Shoes. Harold quit his job as worker at an oil company to devote himself to Robert by being his traveling companion and driver. Robert and his father visited 800 towns and 41 states. Robert traveled in a car that had been modified by his father to accommodate him so that he could travel in relative comfort. His father removed the front passenger seat so Robert could sit at the back and stretch his long legs.

Robert spent the rest of his short life making public appearances. Between the tours, as well as numerous other public appearances, Robert became one of the most popular American celebrities of the time. His placid nature earned him the nickname "Gentle Giant."

Ambassador

When asked in a rare radio interview if he minded having people stare at him while walking out on the street, Robert revealed his good natured attitude while replying, "No, I just overlook them."

In 1939, he petitioned Franklin Lodge #25 in Alton, Illinois, and by late November of that year was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F & A.M. Wadlow's Freemason ring was the largest ever