*ROBERT ALLMAN, Pennsylvania ’39 was a three-time EIWA runner-up for Penn from 1937-39 at 118 and 121 – truly remarkable for a man competing blind; he became America’s first blind collegiate athlete to earn a varsity letter. After finishing with a career 44-12 record (Captain in ’39 and winner at the Middle Atlantic AAU Tournament), he edged Lou Gehrig for the Philadelphia Sportswriters “Most Courageous Athlete.”  He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the PA Wrestling Hall of Fame.

      The Phi Beta Kappa graduated from Penn Law School, then set up a general law practice specializing in adoption cases. A committeeman in Overbrook’s 34th Ward, Robert served on community organization boards and often spoke to children about overcoming adversity. Born in Atlantic City, he was 4 when an accident left him blind. He learned Braille at Overbrook School for the Blind and created a form of baseball called "groundball" still played today. Allman hosted a weekly sports program on KYW Radio from 1947 -50, founded the Middle Atlantic Blind Golfers Association and was president of the U.S. Blind Golfers Association. Two sons wrestled for Penn (Lee was team captain in 1988) before their father died in 1994.