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Robert R. Hecker

Robert R. Hecker

  • Nickname:
    Bob
  • Class Year:
    1950
  • Induction Year:
    1972
  • Sport(s):
    Football

Robert "Bob" Hecker '50 graduated from BW in 1950 and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1972. He was one of the finest student-athletes to ever grace the fields at Baldwin Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University).

Bob, a lifelong resident of Olmsted Falls, was known at BW as "Mr. First Down". He earned the nickname because he had a 10.5-yard average for every time he touched the football.

In high school at Olmsted Falls, Bob was an outstanding football, basketball and track and field student-athlete. He was inducted into the OFHS Hall of Fame in 1995. He once scored 43 points in a victory against nearby Strongsville H.S.

Folowing fraduation from high school, Bob attended The Ohio State University as a freshman and was the second-team running back for the late and legendary Coach Paul Brown. He was then drafted into the Navy and set to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He spent three years during WWII serving aboard the USS Raymond in the South Pacific.

Former BW great and Hall of Famer Norm Schoen, who coached Hecker in high school, said this of the 170-pound high school, halfback, “Bob Hecker is one of the finest natural athletes to show locally.”

Following the end of World War II, Bob arrived back in Olmsted Falls and came to BW were he played four seasons of football. At BW, Bob Hecker and the legendary Lee Tressel played together and were known as "Mr. Inside" and "Mr. Outside".

Following graduation, Bob played professional football for the Chicago Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and Philadephia Eales.

Bob was married to Shirley (Boykins) and the couple had three children, Darci, Dave and Don. He spent his adult life as a devoted family man, insurance aganet and Olmsted Falls community leader. He passed away in February of 2013.

Bob Hecker as a BW Distinguished Alumni: https://www.bw.edu/Assets/alumni/distinguished-alumni-award-recipients.pdf