This is Robert Wadlow (1918- 1940) visiting Thomas. Robert was also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois. He became famous as the tallest person on record for whom there is irrefutable evidence.
He was 8 ft 11.1 in height and weighed 439 lb at his death at age 22. He showed no signs of an end to his growth even at the time of his death. He was in Thomas because he was promoting shoes for the International Shoe Company for which he had a contract. His own shoe size was 37aa. When he was in Thomas, his height was 8′ 8 1/2 inches tall. Because he was so tall, he had to wear leg braces to help him walk. One of the braces rubbed a blister on his ankle which then caused an infection. The doctors tried various treatment even a blood transfusion but because of an autoimmune disorder he perished just 11 days after the infection set in. The picture was taken around 1938-1940.
