Guinness World Records 2018

0

25

cm

100

cm

50

cm

75

cm

18

YEARS OLD

252.7

cm (8

ft 3.5

in)

YEARS OLD

264.7

cm (8

ft 8.25

in)

22 YEARS OLD^272

cm (8

ft 11.1

in)

Robert graduated from high school in

1936 and

enrolled in college. His size posed challenges – not least clothing! Robert also had the largest feet ever

.

His shoes were a US size 37AA (UK size

36,

roughly a European size

75) – equivalent

to 47

cm (18.5

in) long.

His shoes could cost as much as $100, equal to $1,500 (£1,026) in today’s money.

Together with his father Harold, Robert embarked on a busy schedule of tours and personal appearances, visiting 800

towns in

41

states. He went to

Hollywood and was photographed with movie stars such as Mary Pickford. However, Robert’s immense size was taking its toll on his body. He needed leg

braces to walk, and had little feeling in his feet.

Robert died on 15

Jul 1940 in Manistee, Michigan, USA,

as a result of a septic blister on his ankle caused by a poorly fitted brace. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton, in a coffin 3.28

m (10

ft 9

in) long, 81

cm (32

in)

wide and 76 cm (30 in) deep. His funeral drew 27,000 people wishing to say farewell to Alton’s gentle giant.

In

193 7,

Robert did

promotional work

for the International Shoe Company (left),

the makers of “Peter’s Shoes”. In return, the shoe company provided

Robert with super-

sized footwear

for free.

LASTING LEGACYNearly century after his birth, Robert’s life continues to exert a fascination over people. He is the subject of songs by The Handsome Family (“The Giant of Illinois”) and Sufjan Stevens (“The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders”).

In

2010, the Wadlow exhibit at

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in New York City, USA, was visited by the world’s

shortest living man

, Khagendra

Thapa Magar (NPL). Khagendra measures 67.08

cm (2

ft 2.41

in) tall

• just 20

cm (7.87

in) more than the

length of one of Robert’s shoes!

In

Jul

2016, the

“World’s Biggest LEGO

®^

Brick Show” at Galeria

Kazimierz in Krakow, Poland,

displayed a LEGO statue of Robert, complete with cane. Other statues

can be found in Alton, Niagara

Falls and Farmington Hills,

Michigan, USA.