# Bob Mathias

> American athlete and congressman (1930–2006)

**Wikidata**: [Q52627](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52627)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Mathias)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bob-mathias

## Summary
Bob Mathias (born Robert Bruce Mathias) was an American athlete, politician, and actor who lived from 1930 to 2006. He is best known as a decorated athletics competitor who won the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award and later served as a United States Congressman.

## Biography
- **Born:** November 17, 1930
- **Died:** September 2, 2006
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Stanford University
- **Known for:** Athletics competition, political service, and television acting
- **Field(s):** Sports, Politics, Military, Entertainment
- **Aliases:** Robert Bruce Mathias

## Contributions
Bob Mathias held a diverse range of roles across public service and entertainment. As an athletics competitor, he achieved significant recognition, culminating in receiving the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award. In the political sphere, he served as a politician and United States Congressman. He also served as a military officer and worked as a television actor.

## FAQs
**What awards did Bob Mathias receive?**
Bob Mathias was the recipient of the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award and the Theodore Roosevelt Award, a prestigious American collegiate athletics honor established in 1967.

**Where was Bob Mathias educated?**
Bob Mathias attended Stanford University, a private research university located in Stanford, California.

**What professional roles did Bob Mathias hold outside of athletics?**
Beyond his career as an athlete, Mathias served as a military officer, worked as a television actor, and held political office as a politician and congressman.

## Why They Matter
Bob Mathias matters as a multifaceted public figure who successfully transitioned between elite athletics, military service, and national politics. His recognition as Athlete of the Year highlights his impact on American sports history, while his election to Congress demonstrates a significant shift from physical achievement to civic leadership. He stands as a notable example of an athlete leveraging public prominence into a substantive political career.

## Notable For
- **Associated Press Athlete of the Year:** Recipient of this distinguished award.
- **Theodore Roosevelt Award:** Honored with this American collegiate athletics award.
- **United States Congressman:** Served as a politician in the U.S. government.
- **Stanford University Alumnus:** Affiliated with the private research institution.
- **Television Actor:** Performed as an actor on television.
- **Military Service:** Served as a military officer.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Robert Bruce Mathias was born on November 17, 1930. He pursued higher education in the United States, attending Stanford University. The university, a private research institution located in Stanford, California, was founded in 1885 and is situated within the United States.

### Athletic Career
Mathias established his primary reputation as an athletics competitor, a designation for sportspeople competing in track and field, running, or walking events. His success in this field was marked by significant national recognition. He was named the recipient of the Associated Press Athlete of the Year award, an honor established in 1931. Additionally, he received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, an American collegiate athletics award instituted in 1967.

### Political and Military Service
Transitioning from sports, Mathias embarked on a career in public service. He is identified as a politician, defined as a person who holds or seeks positions in government. Specifically, he served as a United States Congressman. Parallel to his political career, he was a military officer, holding a position of authority within the armed forces.

### Acting Career
In addition to his athletic and political endeavors, Mathias worked as a television actor. This role involved performing on television, adding a dimension of entertainment to his professional life.

### Legacy
Bob Mathias passed away on September 2, 2006. His life spanned multiple distinct careers: as an athletics competitor, a military officer, a television actor, and a U.S. Congressman. He is remembered for his contributions to American sports and his service to the country through both military and legislative roles.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-mathias/M000242)
2. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
3. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
4. SNAC
5. Find a Grave
6. World Athletics database
7. Munzinger Personen
8. [Source](http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060902/NEWS03/60902005)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013