1927
Robert goes to the 'Globe-Democrat'
While Robert and Harold were visiting St. Louis, one of Harold's friends suggested that they go to the local newspaper office, the 'Globe-Democrat'. Harold was hesitant, but he allowed the curious 'Globe' reporters measured and weighed him. But what happened next made Harold even more worried...

Robert appears in the paper
In April of that year, Robert was featured in the local newspaper- Alton Evening Telegraph- for the very first time in an article titled 'Here's Robert Wadlow and His Size 17 Shoes'. Shortly after, multiple papers across the country reported about Robert and he became a superstar... even if his shy self didn't like it..

1928
Robert's desk breaks
One Monday morning in January, a 'crash' sounded through one of the  classrooms at Milton. The worried principal arrived to investigate, but was reassured by the students' happy laughter. With a mass of splinters at his feet, Robert stood from a cloud of dust and told the principal that his desk broke. A big armchair designed for heavyset men was used while a new desk was made. The desk can still be seen at the Alton Museum of History and Art!

Robert joins the Long Fellows
After school one March afternoon, S.W. Harris, the president of the National Society of Long Fellows' St. Louis branch, extended a personal invitation to Robert. After measuring Robert and finding out that he was three inches over the minimum requirement of 6 ft. 1, the astonished president made Robert a member of the society (which wanted bigger things for tall people).

Robert stars in a Tom Thumb wedding
At Milton School, the second and third graders put on a 'Tom Thumb Wedding' play every year. This year, Robert- a fourth grader- played the minister. When the night of the play arrived, Robert was nowhere to be found. His teacher eventually found him crying behind the building of the auditorium. He said he tore the seat of his pants and was cheered up when he was sent home to get a new pair. When he said his final line- 'I now pronounce you husband and wife'- everyone erupted into thunderous applause.

Robert spends time with his best friend
In May of that year, Harold Swinney moved next door to Robert. They quickly became friends and made a hut out of the weed patch that divided their houses. They also played marbles, saw Western movies in Upper Alton and swam in Wood River Creek. On Saturdays, the boys would haul off old cans and bottles in their wagons and shot them with their Daisy single shot BB guns. They even went to summer school together at Milton and Horace Mann School.

 

Robert the movie star

On December first, Robert was in a Fox Movietone newsreel. This was his sixth time in front of a movie camera... and his first talkie! He shyly proclaimed that his shoes were the largest ever made and compared his feet to a normal sized man's. The little film also showed him standing beside his parents, roughhousing and playing an exciting game of leapfrog with his friends and getting into a car with his family. The film was screened in theaters throughout the eastern United States the following spring.

1929
Robert joins the YMCA
During the summer of that year, Robert joined the local YMCA. He swam, played basketball, read magazines in the lounge and collected stamps. After getting an impressive collection, he decided that the hobby was getting too expensive and joined the camera club instead.

Robert has his first airplane ride
In mid-July, the Wadlows took a trip to Wichita, Kansas to visit Harold's cousins, Newman and his twin brother Truman, who were aviators. The brothers gave the Wadlows a chance to fly one-by-one in a plane. Robert loved the thrilling experience, so much so that he would prefer to travel by plane later in life.

Robert becomes class president
In September, Robert began his first year of junior high. Early on in the year, the students had nominations for class president. Just before the nomination time ended, Robert decided to nominate... himself! After a whirlwind campaign, Robert won by a 'comfortable majority' and was an amazing president of class 7B.

Robert is interviewed at home
In October, Robert was interviewed by the St Louis Globe Democrat at his house on Gilham Avenue. The Wadlow kids played a running game in the front yard, which had poppies. Chicken pens were in the backyard!

Robert visits 'The Telegraph
In December, Robert, along with Helen, Eugene and Harold, visited the new building for the Alton Telegraph. He was delighted when the name 'Robert P. Wadlow' was set in type for him and enjoyed seeing all the departments. When asked what he wanted for Christmas by a Telegraph reporter, Robert said he wanted a foot-long toy truck and planned to be 'his own Santa' by purchasing presents for his family using money he earned from selling magazines.