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]