Dr. Robert “Bob”Bechtel won 12 varsity letters during his collegiate career, four each in football, basketball, and track & field. After finishing third in the conference 2-mile run as a freshman, Bob would go on to win three conference titles at 2-miles and one at one-mile, and set a conference record in the 2-mile run. The McPherson College record holder in both the one- and two-mile runs at the time of his graduation, he was also part of school record setting 2-mile and distance medley relays. In 1953, he concluded his collegiate track career by placing fifth at the 2 nd NAIA national outdoor championships. In basketball, Bechtel became a starter part way through this freshman season. He was member of the Bulldogs’ undefeated 1952 Kansas Conference football team and following his senior season was named to the All-Conference second team as a tight end.

Following his graduation, Bechtel competed for Fort Sam Houston in the 4 th Army and All-Army track & field championships. He continued his education, earning his masters’ and PhD in mathematics, and would go on to teach mathematics at the high school and college levels, retiring in 1991 after 28 years at Purdue University Calumet Campus in Hammond, Ind. The co-author of four mathematics texts and a K-8 elementary mathematics series, Bechtel received the McPherson College Citation of Merit in 1978.