Bob Likins

Bob Likins

Personal information
Full name	Robert William Likins
Nickname	Bob
National team	USA
Born	May 12, 1921 Portland, Oregon
Died	November 21, 1962(1962-11-21) (aged 41) Upland, California
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	207 lb (94 kg)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event	Javelin throw
University team	San Jose State University
Achievements and titles
Personal best	JT – 69.01 (226-5) (1948)

Robert William Likins (May 12, 1921 – November 21, 1962)^[1] was an American javelin thrower who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.^[2]

Life

Robert William Likins was born May 12, 1921 in Portland, Oregon. He attended Grant High School, where he played football and threw javelin, becoming a two-time Oregon State Champion in Javelin and set a state record in 1938, and graduated in 1940.^[3]

After high school he enrolled at Glendale Junior College, where he set the National Junior College Javelin record.^[3] He then transferred to the University of Southern California, but dropped out to serve in World War II. When the war ended he enrolled at San Jose State University, where he would continue to throw javelin.^[4] In 1946 and 1947, while competing for San Jose State, Likins won NCAA track and field championships for javelin throwing.^[5]

He qualified for and competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics, in London, England. He finished 12th in the qualifying round and 8th in the final.^[6]

Later in life, Likins became the athletic director for the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington. From 1951 to 60 he worked for various Keyser Industries and then was briefly with Arthur Young & Co. until he was forced to retire due to illness.^[2]

Likins died on November 21, in Upland, California 1962 at age 41.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.^[3]

References

1. "Bob Likins' genealogical profile". Archived from the original on 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bob Likins". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
3. "Bob Likins *". PIL Hall of Fame CyberMuseum. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
4. "Olympedia – Bob Likins". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
5. "NCAA Division I Men's Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
6. "Athletics at the 1948 London Summer Games: Men's Javelin Throw". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2018.