Service: US Army, WWII. He attended Marshall University for one year. He loved sports of all kinds and played football and basketball in school. With his brothers Gene and Harry, he participated in racing many kinds of motor vehicles, including stock cars and midgets. The team raced Hudson Hornets in the earliest years of Winston Cup/NASCAR. All three brothers were gifted mechanics. In 1954, while working at a large repair business in Detroit, Bob was injured when the brakes on a car failed as it was being moved into a service dock. Bob's right leg was crushed below the knee, resulting in its having to be amputated at the hospital. In the aftermath of this accident, Bob's first wife passed away. In what is considered a seminal case in law regarding product safety and liability, a suit was filed against the car's manufacturer. This case was covered in a chapter of Ralph Nader's book Unsafe At Any Speed and is still cited in liability cases now. Bob was not comfortable with this publicity, nor was he bitter or vengeful; he compared himself to the Biblical Job, with his similar tribulations and family experience.
Bob did not let the injury slow him down. He continued to work as a mechanic in his family business, and he was active in the community. He loved the outdoors, travel, and helping others. Bob enjoyed movies, music, reading, and corresponding with family. He loved horses and dogs, especially a 4 pound Chihuahua named Tiger who easily fit in one of Bob's hands. He was very active until a very aggressive cancer was diagnosed just two months before his passing.
Bob did not let the injury slow him down. He continued to work as a mechanic in his family business, and he was active in the community. He loved the outdoors, travel, and helping others. Bob enjoyed movies, music, reading, and corresponding with family. He loved horses and dogs, especially a 4 pound Chihuahua named Tiger who easily fit in one of Bob's hands. He was very active until a very aggressive cancer was diagnosed just two months before his passing.
Service: US Army, WWII. He attended Marshall University for one year. He loved sports of all kinds and played football and basketball in school. With his brothers Gene and Harry, he participated in racing many kinds of motor vehicles, including stock cars and midgets. The team raced Hudson Hornets in the earliest years of Winston Cup/NASCAR. All three brothers were gifted mechanics. In 1954, while working at a large repair business in Detroit, Bob was injured when the brakes on a car failed as it was being moved into a service dock. Bob's right leg was crushed below the knee, resulting in its having to be amputated at the hospital. In the aftermath of this accident, Bob's first wife passed away. In what is considered a seminal case in law regarding product safety and liability, a suit was filed against the car's manufacturer. This case was covered in a chapter of Ralph Nader's book Unsafe At Any Speed and is still cited in liability cases now. Bob was not comfortable with this publicity, nor was he bitter or vengeful; he compared himself to the Biblical Job, with his similar tribulations and family experience.
Bob did not let the injury slow him down. He continued to work as a mechanic in his family business, and he was active in the community. He loved the outdoors, travel, and helping others. Bob enjoyed movies, music, reading, and corresponding with family. He loved horses and dogs, especially a 4 pound Chihuahua named Tiger who easily fit in one of Bob's hands. He was very active until a very aggressive cancer was diagnosed just two months before his passing.
Bob did not let the injury slow him down. He continued to work as a mechanic in his family business, and he was active in the community. He loved the outdoors, travel, and helping others. Bob enjoyed movies, music, reading, and corresponding with family. He loved horses and dogs, especially a 4 pound Chihuahua named Tiger who easily fit in one of Bob's hands. He was very active until a very aggressive cancer was diagnosed just two months before his passing.
